Any business owner will tell you, running a company comes with countless legal requirements. One that many property owners overlook until a problem arises is ADA compliance. The Americans with Disabilities Act requires businesses to be accessible to people with disabilities. Failing to meet these requirements exposes you to lawsuits, costly retrofits, and damage to your reputation.
The good news is that working with the right general contractors in Montgomery County to implement ADA upgrades isn’t as complicated or expensive as many business owners think. Let me walk you through what you need to know and what upgrades actually matter for your business.
Understanding the ADA and Why It Matters
The Americans with Disabilities Act is a federal law passed in 1990. It prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in all areas of public life. For businesses, this means your facilities must be accessible to employees and customers with disabilities.
ADA compliance isn’t optional. Violations can result in:
- Legal action and lawsuits from individuals or civil rights organizations
- Department of Justice investigations
- Significant fines and penalties
- Expensive emergency retrofits
- Damage to your business reputation
- Loss of customers who avoid inaccessible businesses
Many business owners think ADA violations are rare. They’re not. Disability rights organizations actively file lawsuits against non-compliant businesses. The number of ADA-related lawsuits has increased dramatically over the past decade. These lawsuits often settle for substantial amounts.
The legal exposure is real. The cost of being proactive about compliance is far lower than the cost of addressing violations after they’re discovered.
Who Must Comply With the ADA
Most businesses must comply with ADA requirements. The law applies to:
- Retail stores and restaurants
- Medical offices and hospitals
- Hotels and lodging facilities
- Office buildings and workplaces
- Banks and financial institutions
- Schools and educational facilities
- Government buildings
- Entertainment venues
- Any business open to the public
Businesses with fewer than 15 employees have some exemptions, but most still need to provide accessible facilities. Even small businesses benefit from ADA compliance because it opens your doors to customers with disabilities.
Private clubs and religious institutions have limited exemptions. If you’re unsure whether your business is covered, it’s safer to assume it is and implement upgrades.
The Main Areas of ADA Compliance
ADA compliance covers many areas of your business. Understanding each category helps you identify what needs attention.
Parking and Site Access
The path from the parking to your building entrance must be accessible. This includes parking spaces for people with disabilities. A certain percentage of your parking spaces must be reserved for accessible parking. These spaces need proper dimensions and access aisles.
The ground surface from the parking to the entrance must be smooth and hard. It can’t have gaps, cracks, or obstacles. Slopes must not exceed specified limits. This ensures wheelchairs and walkers can navigate safely.
Building Entrance and Doors
Your main entrance must be accessible. If there are steps, you need a ramp as an alternative. Ramps have specific slope and width requirements. Handrails are required on ramps over a certain length.
Doors themselves have accessibility requirements. Door handles must be operable without grasping. They typically need to be lever handles rather than knobs. Door width must allow wheelchair passage. The force needed to open doors is limited.
Many older buildings have narrow doorways. Widening these doorways is a common upgrade. Automatic door openers help businesses with heavy traffic.
Interior Hallways and Pathways
Pathways through your business must be clear and accessible. Wheelchair accessible means a minimum width (typically 36 inches, though 48 inches is better for two-way traffic). Obstacles like furniture or displays that block pathways must be removed or relocated.
Floors must be firm, stable, and slip-resistant. Transitions between different floor heights are problematic. Any step or level change needs a ramp instead.
Restrooms
Accessible restrooms are often where compliance issues first appear. Stalls must be wide enough for wheelchair access. Grab bars must be installed at specific locations. Sinks and fixtures must be at accessible heights. Toilets must be at the correct height from the floor.
Many older buildings have restrooms that don’t meet current standards. Retrofitting restrooms is common for ADA upgrades.
Elevators and Vertical Access
If your business has multiple floors, people with mobility limitations need a way to access all floors. Elevators are the standard solution. Elevators must meet specific accessibility requirements including door width, button placement, and interior dimensions.
Stairlifts are another option for some situations. They allow people with mobility disabilities to access upper floors without a full elevator.
Service Areas and Counter Heights
If customers interact with staff at counters, at least part of the counter must be at a wheelchair-accessible height. This typically means 36 inches or lower. This applies to reception desks, check-out counters, and service windows.
Signage and Wayfinding
Accessible signage helps people with visual disabilities navigate your business. Signage must meet specifications for text size, contrast, and spacing. Tactile signage (raised letters or Braille) is required in certain locations.
Room and space identification signs must be at a specific height and distance from doorways. Directional signage helps people find accessible features.
Identifying Your Current Compliance Status
Before planning upgrades, you need to understand your current situation. This involves an accessibility audit or assessment.
You can hire an accessibility consultant to conduct a thorough review. They’ll evaluate every aspect of your facility against ADA standards. This comprehensive audit costs money but gives you clear direction.
Alternatively, you can walk through your facility and assess common problem areas:
- Can someone in a wheelchair get from the parking lot to your front door?
- Can they enter through your main entrance without assistance?
- Can they navigate your interior hallways and shopping/working areas?
- Can they access your restrooms?
- Can they access all floors if you have multiple levels?
- Can they interact with staff at service counters?
- Is your signage accessible and clear?
If the answer to any of these is no, you have compliance gaps.
Planning Your Upgrade Strategy
You don’t have to fix everything at once. ADA compliance can be accomplished in phases. However, you need a realistic plan for getting there.
- Start by fixing barriers to entry. If someone can’t get into your building or main entrance, nothing else matters. Entrance accessibility is the priority.
- Next, address the path of travel through your facility. Make sure the most direct route to your services is accessible.
- Then work on removing barriers within your space. This includes hallway widths, doorway accessibility, and counter heights.
- Restroom accessibility often comes next since it’s required for customers and employees.
- Finally, address secondary areas like additional entrances or parking refinements.
This phased approach spreads costs over time while maintaining legal responsibility. Document your plan. Show you’re making good-faith efforts toward compliance.
Common Upgrades and Rough Costs
Understanding typical upgrade costs helps with budgeting and planning.
| Upgrade Type | Estimated Cost Range | Key Factors Affecting Price |
| Parking lot improvements | $2,000 – $5,000 | Lot size, current condition, number of accessible spaces needed |
| Ramp installation | $1,500 – $4,000 | Ramp length, handrail requirements, landing area needs |
| Door modifications | $500 – $2,000 (per door) | Doorway widening, accessible handle installation, structural changes |
| Restroom retrofits | $3,000 – $8,000 | Existing layout, fixture replacement, plumbing modifications |
| Counter height adjustments | $500 – $2,000 | Number of counters, material type, extent of modification |
| Elevator installation | $20,000 – $40,000+ | Number of floors, building structure, elevator type |
| Signage and wayfinding updates | $1,000 – $3,000 | Number of signs, material quality, installation complexity |
These are rough estimates. Actual costs vary based on your location, building construction, and specific requirements. Get quotes from a general contractor in Levittown or beyond who specializes in ADA work.
Working With the Right Contractor
Not all contractors understand ADA requirements. You need someone experienced with accessibility work.
When selecting a contractor, ask about their ADA experience. How many accessibility projects have they completed? Do they understand current ADA standards? Can they reference recent work?
Get multiple quotes. ADA work has specific requirements that affect cost. Different contractors may approach solutions differently.
Make sure the contractor understands your timeline and budget. Some upgrades are more expensive than alternatives. A good contractor can explain options and trade-offs.
Ask about their process for ensuring compliance. Do they conduct detailed measurements? Do they work from ADA standards documents? Will they handle permits and approvals if needed?
Verify they have proper licensing and insurance. ADA work should be done right the first time.
Documentation and Legal Protection
Keep documentation of your compliance efforts. This includes:
- Accessibility audits or assessments you’ve conducted
- Photographs of accessibility features
- Records of upgrades and improvements
- Correspondence with contractors about what was done
- Maintenance and repair records
- Your plan for ongoing compliance
This documentation shows you’re making good-faith efforts toward compliance. If someone challenges your accessibility, this evidence helps your defense.
Ongoing Maintenance and Compliance
ADA compliance isn’t one-time. Maintain your accessible features once they’re installed.
Check ramps regularly for snow, ice, or debris. Keep accessible parking spaces clear. Maintain grab bars and ensure they’re secure. Keep pathways clear of obstacles. Repair doors and hardware promptly when they fail.
Train your staff about accessibility. They should understand how to assist customers with disabilities respectfully. They should know how to keep accessible features maintained.
Special Situations and Common Questions
Some business situations create unique compliance challenges.
Older Buildings
Older buildings present retrofit challenges. Historic buildings sometimes get alternative compliance approaches. But most businesses can’t claim historic exemptions. Upgrading older buildings is possible, but it may cost more than new construction.
Small Spaces
Small businesses with limited square footage face constraints. Creative solutions exist. A narrow hallway might use a pull-out section to allow wheelchairs to pass. A small restroom might be modified differently. Work with your contractor on space-efficient solutions.
Outdoor Areas
If your business has outdoor areas, they must be accessible too. This includes patios, gardens, or outdoor seating. Pathways and surfaces must be smooth and firm.
Events and Temporary Setups
If you host events or temporary activities, they must be accessible. This might mean accessible parking for events or ensuring vendor areas can be reached by people with disabilities.
The Business Case for Accessibility
Beyond legal compliance, accessibility is good business. People with disabilities represent a significant market segment. When your business is accessible, you attract these customers. You also attract people who prefer to shop at accessible businesses.
Accessible design often benefits everyone. Wide hallways help people with strollers. Low counters serve shorter people. Clear signage helps people unfamiliar with your business. Automatic doors help anyone carrying items.
Accessibility improvements often increase property values. They make your space more attractive to potential tenants or buyers. They improve your business reputation.
Getting Started
The first step is assessing your current situation. Schedule an accessibility audit or walk through your business with a checklist. Identify your biggest compliance gaps. Then get quotes from experienced contractors like KH Construction Management Corporation. Ask about phased approaches to fit your budget. Create a realistic timeline for upgrades.
Document your planning and efforts. Show you’re committed to becoming compliant. The cost of proactive compliance is far lower than the cost of lawsuits, fines, and emergency retrofits. Addressing ADA compliance now protects your business and opens your doors to more customers.
Your business should serve everyone. With proper planning and with the help of KH Construction Management Corporation, you can achieve ADA compliance and create a truly accessible space for all customers and employees. Get in touch with our team to get started today.