Universal Design - More than just a Grab Bar

Annemarie Diaz, Development and Engagement • July 14, 2022

TRS is proud to have staff certification in Universal Design by the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI)! 


NARI’s UDCP program recognizes professionals who have demonstrated a dedication to assisting clients with making their home safer and more accessible, while employing the latest design trends. This prestigious certification is reserved for professionals who have demonstrated tenure in the industry, satisfied continuing education requirements, and abide by the NARI Code of Ethics and the NARI Standards of Practice. Achieving certification requires that professionals demonstrate expertise in the areas of Universal Design Fundamentals, Client Needs Assessments, Design, Construction Techniques, Electrical Systems and Assistive Technology, Plumbing Systems, and Exterior Universal Design Considerations. 


There are a lot of terms in the industry that pertain to building and remodeling homes and commercial buildings to improve access. Universal Design (closely related to but broader than Aging in Place) is a design perspective that focuses on ensuring residential environments and products can be used by all members of the family, regardless of their age, size, or physical abilities, throughout each person’s life span. 


More and more of our clients have growing families with children being born, young people added through blended families, and older parents moving in with their adult children. Many of today’s households contain members of widely varying ages, sizes and abilities, a Universal Design approach helps us to think through how spaces will be and can be used by all members of the household. Having a staff member certified in Universal Design helps us to be able to educate our teams and clients on options which can make homes safer and more accessible for everyone.


The core principles of Universal Design include equitable use, flexibility in use, simple and intuitive use, ensuring information is perceptible, minimizing hazards, ease of physical effort, and thinking through size and space from a lens of accessibility. 


Contact us to learn more about how the concepts of Universal Design can be used to optimize functionality without compromising beauty in your new home build or remodel!


See more on Universal Design Certification at the NARI (National Association of Remodeling Industry) website

Why is it important to hire a NARI contractor?

By Annemarie Diaz, UDCP • February 3, 2025
My husband (who is also my business partner, apparently we truly can’t get enough of each other!) frequently says that we will become like the five people we spend the most time with, that we are shaped by the environment we choose to immerse ourselves in, and more importantly, the people in that environment. I think the same is true of our companies. That is why at TRS Build we choose to surround ourselves with fellow members of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) . I was reminded of that this month during our Austin NARI Builder and Developer Roundtable meeting where I had the opportunity to engage with like-minded business owners, exchange ideas on what is working best to deliver to our clients, employees, and tradespeople, and I could personally share from our SERVICE value focus and the importance of trust and remaining trustworthy to our clients and team. We choose to spend time with other NARI members because they run reputable businesses, provide amazing results, and like ourselves, invest in knowing other reputable contractors and finding opportunities for us to learn from one another. Each of our companies is different in our value proposition and project focus, but we are all the same in our drive to raise the bar on customer experience and affirm the trust we have established over years or even decades of delivering to homeowners in and around Austin.

Can We Add a Second Floor? Of Course!

By Annemarie Diaz, UDCP • November 20, 2024
Many homeowners come to us with the question: “Can we add a second floor onto our one story home?” Our answer? "Of Course!"... though there are some important considerations to keep in mind from the start.

The Power of a Team: Insights from the TRS Build Retreat

By Annemarie Diaz, UDCP • August 14, 2024
Greetings from TRS Build! We recently gathered for our annual retreat where we bring the team together for two days to refocus and reinforce our commitment to client experience and quality in product and service delivery. This year’s retreat was particularly insightful as we delved into the theme of "The Power of a Team" and its profound impact on how we support our clients to achieve the beauty and functionality they are seeking with their remodel, home addition, or custom home. Much of the two-day session is also spent working together to continually improve our processes and procedures; and of course, what retreat could be complete without taking some time to celebrate our progress and the contributions each person has made to it.
Share by: