On Wed, 11 May 2005 15:26:00 GMT, "BigWallop"
wrote:

"VivienB" wrote in message
.. .
We are improving access to our downstairs toilet for my father, who
uses a wheelchair. This has included a double-swing door, so he can
push it away from him whichever direction he needs to go through. We
have found (before the painting was finished!) that this results in
marks on the door from the wheel of the wheelchair nearest the hinge
side. We have read about PVCu kickplates supplied by a firm in Leeds,
but these are rather expensive at £36 each, plus £20 carriage.

Can anyone suggest a readily-available alternative?


Bent and Queer (sorry B&Q) do clear acrylic sheets which are easily drilled
and screwed. It isn't too expensive for quite a large sheet either.
They'll cut it to the sizes you need for you as well, I think. If not, then
it's easy to cut with a sharp fine toothed handsaw, and the edges can be
rubbed down with fine sandpaper to smooth them off again. I've used it on
my garden shed door, and in the window (cheap double glazing for the shed),
to stop the damage I was doing dragging the lawnmower in and out.

Some food for thought? :-)

Having spent a chunk of the morning running round sheds, I found both
acrylic and polystyrene sheet. Then this evening I discovered we
already have a large enough clear polystyrene sheet (ICI Transpex 2)
about 3mm thick, to do the job. Has anyone used this stuff for this
sort of job?
If you have, can you tell me -

1. Does it get brittle or discolour with age?

2. Is it handled the same way as acrylic, as BigWallop suggests above?

3. The door is opened from the outside by the wheelchair being
reversed against it. Obviously we will need to fix the protector to
the door without projections which will catch against the wheelchair.
The thinking at the moment is to just screw it on - any pros or cons?

Thanks for the ideas so far,


-
Regards, VivienB