Aging in Place Remodeling in Lyons, NY
Tall pre-war houses on the old village streets, with steep stairs and porches well above the yard. We make them safer to live in without losing what makes them yours.
The trouble spots in old Lyons houses
Houses built before 1940 were not designed with an aging owner in mind. These come up most.
A porch eight steps up
Many older Lyons houses have a front porch well above the yard. We rebuild steps with even risers and sturdy rails, and look at where a ramp or a side entry could work.
The steep back stair
Narrow, steep stairs are common in canal-era houses. Rails on both sides, better light and non-slip treads help. A first-floor bedroom and bath help more.
A clawfoot you cannot climb into
Old tubs look great and are hard to get out of. We take them out and put in a walk-in shower with a seat and a handheld.
Narrow doors everywhere
Interior doors in old houses are often too narrow for a walker. We widen the ones on your daily route and reset the trim to match.
Old houses along the canal town streets
The county seat has some of the oldest housing in Wayne County. The town’s Lyons 2040 plan reports a median year built of 1944, compared with 1966 for the county, and more than 42 percent of homes built before 1939. Those are solid houses with high ceilings, big rooms and stairs everywhere.
We do not try to make an old house feel new. We fix the parts that are getting dangerous: the climb to the bath, the tub wall, the front steps, the dark hallway. Then the house keeps working for you.
- First-floor bath conversions
- Rails and lighting on every stair
- Trim matched when doors widen
Getting started in Lyons
Track one normal day
Front door, kitchen, bath, bedroom. Note every step, reach and turn that feels risky.
Bring in your OT’s notes
If you have an occupational therapist, we build to their measurements for bars, seats and heights.
Walkthrough with us
We measure doorways, check stairs and look for a spot on the first floor for a bath.
Permits at 43 Phelps Street
A new bathroom, ramp or moved wall goes through the Town of Lyons code enforcement office. That includes houses in the former village. We apply.
Do the riskiest thing first
Usually the shower or the entry. The rest can follow in phases.
Details that matter
Real bath replacements
We remove the tub or shower, strip to the studs and build new. No liners, overlays or one-day systems. Curbless or low-curb showers, built-in benches, handhelds and slip-resistant floors are standard choices. A walk-in tub is available if you prefer to soak.
Blocking and bars
Solid wood goes in the walls around the toilet, shower and tub before tile, so bars can be added anywhere later and hold full weight.
First-floor living
Big old Lyons houses often have a back parlor, den or dining room that can become a bedroom, with a nearby pantry or porch turned into a full bath.
Programs and paperwork
We can provide the written scope and price that assistance programs ask for. We do not promise funding.
Nearby
We do the same work in Newark, Clyde, Sodus and Galen across Wayne County.
Our other Lyons services
Lyons owners ask us
Can a big old Lyons house get a bedroom and bath on the first floor?
Usually, yes. Back parlors and dining rooms make good bedrooms, and a pantry or porch near the plumbing can often become a bath.
Do I need a permit for a walk-in shower?
Swapping a shower in the same spot may not. Moving plumbing or walls does. The Town of Lyons code enforcement office handles it and we pull it.
Will you put a liner over my old tub?
No. We take it out and build a new shower or tub properly.
Can you build a ramp to a high front porch?
It depends on the height and the yard. A side or back entry is sometimes easier. We look and give you options.
Can you help pay for it with a grant?
We cannot promise any funding, but we can write the scope and price that programs request.
Tell us what is hard right now
Keep living in your Lyons house
Serving the hamlet of Lyons, Alloway and the whole Town of Lyons, plus all of Wayne County, northern Cayuga County and western Oswego County. See our service area.