High Door Thresholds Create Safety Problems
What is a high door threshold? This would be any doorway
that has a threshold that you have to step over or a threshold that is
higher than the surface you are walking on.
These safety problems are obvious, the high door thresholds are a trip
hazard and for elderly people, can be difficult to step over.
Handicapped people in wheelchairs or motorized scooters won't be able to
access these areas, unless there is an alternative doorway that provides
access for their wheelchairs.
Usually the high door thresholds are located in a garage where someone
has either made a mistake during new construction or simply figured that
it would be easier to install the door a little higher, and to remove
the concrete foundation footing, to install the door properly.
I would like to recommend something here, for anyone who is thinking
about installing a door that will have a high door threshold. Don't do
it, unless you have another reason that is protecting the area from
water, snow or something else that would create a bigger problem if you
lower the door threshold.
Here's what happens to most people. You walk through your home
regularly, travel about and even go to work without running into these
high door thresholds. You come home and subconsciously you're not even
thinking about the raised curb and you trip. One trip to the ground
could cost you more in medical bills than it would have been to remove
and lower the raised door threshold.
You're probably thinking, that's never going to happen to me, but what
if it does. What if it doesn't happen to you but it happens to someone
else in your family? There is a reason why contractors, building
departments and other professionals do things in a specific manner.
If you can't understand or don't even want to bother to understand the
reason why, try to at least follow their examples. You could save
yourself a lot of difficulties in the future, by simply using a little
common sense for safety.