Service · Updated October 2026
Doorway widening and threshold transitions in Greater Victoria
A home can have an accessible shower and a ramp at the front door and still be hard to live in if a walker will not fit through the bathroom door. Doorways and thresholds are where everyday routes break down.
The short answer. Making doorways work usually means one or more of:
- Widening the opening, which can involve a new header, moving wiring and new trim
- Gaining width without widening, with offset hinges, a different door type or removing a door that is not needed
- Changing the swing, so bathroom doors open outward
- Smoothing thresholds to 13 mm or less, bevelled, or adding a threshold ramp
For eligible BC households, BC RAHA rebates up to $1,100 per widened interior door and $3,000 per widened exterior door.
What widening a doorway involves
Widening a doorway is a small structural job, not just a new door.
If the wall is load-bearing, the opening needs a properly sized header, and sometimes an engineer and a permit. Wiring in the wall may need to move, which is work for a licensed electrician. Then the new door, frame, trim and patching go in so it looks like it was always there.
The width needed depends on the walker or wheelchair and on how it approaches the door. An occupational therapist can measure what the person actually needs.
Gaining width without widening
Sometimes a few centimetres is enough, and it can be found without opening the wall.
- Offset (swing-clear) hinges move the door fully out of the opening
- Pocket or sliding doors remove the swing entirely, where the wall allows
- Removing a door that no one needs, such as a closet door on a tight route
Bathroom doors should swing out
A bathroom door that swings inward can trap someone who has fallen behind it.
Where the layout allows, we plan bathroom doors to swing outward or slide, so help can always get in.
Thresholds and floor transitions
Raised thresholds and changes in flooring catch walker wheels and toes alike.
Canadian guidance (CSA B651) keeps changes in level to 13 mm or less, bevelled. Where a step-down cannot be removed, a threshold ramp is often the answer. During flooring work, it is usually possible to bring rooms to the same level at little extra cost.
Help with the cost
- BC RAHA (eligible households): up to $1,100 per widened interior door, $3,000 per widened exterior door and $1,100 per threshold ramp, within a $20,000 lifetime maximum, with approval before work starts.
- Home Accessibility Tax Credit: the CRA lists widened doorways among examples of eligible work.
- BC seniors renovation credit: 10% of up to $10,000 of eligible expenses, refundable.
Funding details are summarized from public sources for convenience and may change. Adapt & Thrive is not affiliated with these programs and cannot confirm eligibility. Check the official source before relying on any figure.
Common questions
Can you widen a doorway in a load-bearing wall?
Usually, yes. It needs a properly sized header, sometimes an engineer's input, and a permit. It is more work than a non-structural wall, not impossible.
Is there a cheaper alternative to widening a doorway?
Sometimes. Offset hinges move the door out of the opening and can gain a few centimetres. A pocket door or removing an unneeded door can also help.
Why should a bathroom door swing outward?
So a door cannot be blocked by someone who has fallen inside the bathroom. An outward-swinging or sliding door lets help get in.
Does BC RAHA cover doorway widening?
Yes, for eligible households. BC Housing's schedule lists up to $1,100 per widened interior door and $3,000 per widened exterior door, with written approval before work starts.
Talk it through with us
Tell us what has become difficult at home and what you are considering. We will give you a straight answer about next steps, with no pressure to take on work you do not need.
Sources
Checked October 21, 2026. Programs and limits change, so confirm with the official source before you rely on a figure.