Where we work
Home accessibility modifications in Applecross
Applecross is one of Perth's most established riverside suburbs, with housing that ranges from substantial 1950s and 1960s brick homes on sloping blocks to grander riverfront properties rebuilt or heavily extended in more recent decades. The suburb's terrain matters for accessibility work: many blocks slope west and south toward the Swan River, so a level entry that would be a simple threshold ramp job on the flat may require regrading the approach and thinking about drainage.
The older homes here follow the mid-century pattern familiar across the area - original bathrooms with a step-down shower recess and a hob, hallways designed for a narrower world, and often a step or two up to a verandah from the front path. Knock-down rebuilds and major extensions have introduced a wave of two-storey homes where the main bathroom and bedrooms sit upstairs, which can make creating a functional ground-floor alternative the more practical conversation to have.
From our Williams Road base the drive to Applecross takes under ten minutes. We are in the suburb regularly and it is as easy for us to arrange a visit here as it is anywhere in Melville itself.
What we find in Applecross homes
Every suburb has its own housing character and its own access challenges. Here is what we most often see when we visit homes in Applecross.
Sloping blocks between Canning Highway and the river foreshore mean front and rear entries often sit on a grade. A level path here can mean cut-and-fill earthworks and drainage design, not just a prefabricated ramp panel.
The grander established homes along the river foreshore include properties with multiple external level changes - steps from the street, steps at the entry, and more internal steps between living levels. These need a staged plan rather than a single fix.
Mid-century brick homes east of Canning Highway follow the same pattern as Melville: compact bathrooms, raised shower hobs, and hallways that are often too narrow for a standard walker without door hardware changes.
Two-storey knock-down rebuilds in Applecross frequently place bedrooms and the main bathroom upstairs. If the ground floor has a laundry or WC with plumbing nearby, creating an accessible ground-floor bathroom can remove the stair problem entirely rather than just mitigating it.
Fibro internal walls appear in some of the older Applecross homes, particularly in extended sleep-outs and enclosed verandahs. Grab rail fixing into fibro requires timber backing between studs rather than direct masonry anchors.
Services available
What we build in Applecross
All nine of our services are available in this area. Here is what people most often ask us about.
Accessible bathrooms
Full accessible bathroom design and build, in-house, by a team that has done this for over ten years across Perth.
Walk-in showers
A shower you walk straight into - no step to clear, no screen to navigate around, and a floor that drains away from you.
Wet rooms
A wet room waterproofs the entire bathroom floor so there is no shower recess - the whole room is the shower zone.
Accessible kitchens
Kitchen changes that fix the specific thing beating you, from a set of drawers and a lever tap through to a lowered bench with knee clearance.
Ramps & level entry
Rubber, timber, aluminium and concrete ramps built to the right gradient, from a door threshold to a full exterior ramp.
Doorway widening
Wider clear openings for wheelchair and walker access.
Non-slip treatments
Non-slip clear coating for your existing tiles.
Nearby
We also cover suburbs near Applecross
Our coverage does not stop at suburb boundaries. If you are in one of these suburbs, or anywhere nearby, get in touch.
Start here
$149 home safety audit
We walk through your home, find the trip and fall risks, and give you a written list of what to fix first. We walk through every room, note every hazard, and give you a written list of what to fix first. The $149 is refunded if you proceed with the work.
Or simply ask us for a quote - describe what is getting difficult and we will tell you whether a visit makes sense.
Questions
Questions about work in Applecross
Our Applecross block slopes sharply toward the river. Can you create a level path to the front door?
Yes, though sloping sites need more assessment than flat ones. We measure the grade, the available run, and what the soil profile allows before recommending an approach. Sometimes cut-and-fill or drainage work is part of the job. The $149 home safety audit gives you a written picture of what is involved.
The main bathroom in our Applecross rebuild is upstairs. Is it worth modifying it, or should we look at the ground floor?
It depends on what the ground floor offers. If there is a WC or laundry with usable plumbing nearby, converting or extending it into an accessible bathroom is often the better long-term answer. We assess both options at the site visit and give you an honest comparison of cost and outcome.
How far is Applecross from your Melville base?
Under ten minutes - Applecross is a neighbouring suburb. There is no distance premium on visits, quotes, or the $149 home safety audit.
Can you fit grab rails in a home with fibro internal walls?
Yes, with the right approach. We locate the timber studs behind the sheet, fix a backing plate or nogging between them, and attach the rail to that structure. The finished result is just as secure as a masonry installation and the process is confirmed during the site visit.
Next step
Ready to talk about your Applecross home?
Ask us for a quote. Tell us what is getting difficult - we will tell you what we would change first and what it costs.
Monday to Friday, 7:00am - 5:00pm. Based in Melville, working right across Perth.