Walk-in tubs for Orland Park homes
Orland Park's ranches, split-levels and newer two-story homes are mostly suburban-standard, which makes planning easier. Orland Township also offers some useful help for seniors. Here are the details.
- Real people on the phone
- One-day installation often possible
- DIY drop-ship option
- Helping families since 2012
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Suburban homes, straightforward plans
Most of Orland Park was built in the second half of the 20th century and after, as the village grew from a small railroad town into one of the larger southwest suburbs. Many homes are ranches and split-levels from the 1960s through the 1980s, followed by larger two-story homes and a good number of condos and townhomes, including communities popular with older residents.
Suburban-standard bathrooms usually mean a 60-inch tub alcove, workable plumbing access and room to maneuver. That makes Orland Park a good place for a simple walk-in tub swap. We help Orland Park families choose and install walk-in tubs, transfer tubs and roll-in showers, planning by phone and photos. We do not have a local showroom.
On this page
Home types we see in Orland Park
Ranches
One-level living with a hall bath and often a primary half or three-quarter bath. The hall bath tub is usually the place for a walk-in tub.
Split-levels
Bedrooms and bathrooms are typically a half-flight up. Short stairs still count. If they are getting hard, a handrail on both sides helps as much as the tub does.
Two-story homes
Primary suites upstairs, sometimes with a decked whirlpool tub. Replacing a decked tub with a walk-in tub is a common upgrade.
Original fixtures
Homes from the 1960s and 1970s may still have original tubs, valves and shutoffs. It is a good time to replace them while the wall is open.
Do not forget the front steps
Many Orland Park ranches and split-levels have two or three concrete steps at the front door and another few into the house from the garage. They seem minor, until someone carries groceries up them on an icy morning. While you are making the bathroom safer, look at the route in and out of the house too: sturdy handrails on both sides of steps, good lighting and a clear, salted path in winter.
On install day, those same steps are the delivery route for the tub. Clear them and, in winter, shovel and salt ahead of time.
Whole-home quick wins
- Handrails on both sides of entry steps
- Motion lights at doors
- Night lights from bedroom to bathroom
- A seat near the door for boots and shoes
Condos and townhomes
Orland Park has many condo and townhome associations, some designed for older adults with elevators and single-level units. In those buildings, a walk-in tub is often an easy fit physically. The planning is mostly paperwork: an application or notice to the association, license and insurance documents, elevator scheduling and work hours.
In townhomes, bathrooms may be on the second floor. Measure the stairs and think about whether a main-floor option makes sense.
Permits: the Village of Orland Park has its own permit requirements. Ask your installer who handles them.
Orland Township senior services
Orland Township runs a range of programs for residents 55 and older. Its senior programs have included a minor home repair list of vetted handymen, useful for smaller jobs such as grab bars, along with curb-to-curb senior transportation within township boundaries, help with Medicare through a senior health insurance program, older-driver programs and social activities at its activity center.
A township handyman can be a good fit for small safety items. A walk-in tub install involves plumbing, possibly electrical work and permits, so it calls for a licensed installer.
Replacing a decked whirlpool tub
Many Orland Park homes built in the 1980s and 1990s have a whirlpool tub set into a tiled platform in the primary bathroom. They looked luxurious, but stepping up onto a deck and down into a deep tub is one of the riskier things an older adult can do in a bathroom.
Replacing one usually means removing the platform and the old tub, adjusting the plumbing for the new tub's drain position, possibly reusing or replacing the existing whirlpool circuit, and finishing the floor and walls around the new fixture. Because the footprint changes, it is a bigger job than a straight alcove swap, but the safety gain is large. Some families use the extra floor space for a wider walk-in tub or a separate accessible shower.
What we look at
- Platform size and construction
- Existing drain and supply locations
- The whirlpool's electrical circuit
- Floor finish under the platform
Regional help for Orland Park seniors
AgeOptions
The Area Agency on Aging for suburban Cook County.
ageoptions.orgIllinois Senior HelpLine
1-800-252-8966 for the Community Care Program and statewide services.
Cook County exemptions
Senior, senior freeze and home improvement exemptions for eligible owners.
Assessor exemptionsVeterans
Ask a VA provider about the HISA grant before work begins. See our funding guide.
Nearby communities we serve
Orland Park, Tinley Park, Orland Hills, Palos Heights, Palos Park, Oak Forest, Mokena, Homer Glen and Lockport, along with communities across southwest Cook and Will counties.
Orland Park questions
Does Orland Township help with home repairs for seniors?
Orland Township's senior programs have included a minor home repair list of vetted handymen for residents 55 and older. Check the township website for current details.
Can I replace a whirlpool tub with a walk-in tub?
Usually, yes. A decked whirlpool's platform typically comes out, and the floor and walls are finished around the new walk-in tub. We check the space and floor first.
Which agency serves Orland Park seniors?
AgeOptions is the Area Agency on Aging for suburban Cook County, which includes most of Orland Park. Orland Township also runs senior services.
How long does it take to replace a decked whirlpool with a walk-in tub?
Longer than a simple alcove swap, because the platform comes out and the floor and walls need finishing. We give you a realistic timeline after seeing the space.
Nearby: Joliet, Chicago's South Side.
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