Thursday 24 July 2008

Stair Lift Advantages

Many times, when it becomes difficult to use the stairs, the easiest solution appears to be to avoid those areas of your home that require stair access. While this might seem like the best way, it in many instances means that the size of your home is dramatically reduced. The risk though of using the stairs if you can not do so safely are great though and so this might seem like a fair trade. In reality a stair lift can be installed easily and inexpensively in most cases, which will ensure that you are able to use all areas of your home.


Stair lifts are a special type of home mobility equipment that is used to carry an individual up and down the stairs. They usually feature a chair that is attached to an aluminum track, but there are a few models which allow the user to stand as they go up and down the lift. These standing stair lifts are often called perch lifts because of the way they are used and are usually reserved for individuals who can not sit without pain. A chaired stair lift is much more common.


Most modern stair lifts can easily and quickly be installed to a straight staircase. Quality straight stair lifts, like those made by AmeriGlide, are engineered to make the installation process as simple as possible. The installation can usually be done with normal tools in a few hours, but most dealers also have installation teams which can come to your home and install the lift if you do not feel comfortable doing it yourself. A straight stair lift will generally be installed directly to the stairs, but in some instances where space is at a premium, they can be attached to the wall. It is far more common for the rail system to be attached to the stairs, however, and the installation can usually be done in an afternoon.


While a straight stair lift can be quickly and easily installed, a stair lift for a curved stair case is very complicated to install. In cases where you must buy a curved stair lift expect to spend at least $10,000 more than you would on a straight stair case. In addition to being much more expensive, a curved stair lift also takes around 6 to 8 weeks to be built and installed, so it is not a quick or practical solution. The other major disadvantage of a curved stair lift is that they can rarely be used in another home. The rail system of a curved stair lift is custom built and so will probably not fit another stair case, unless the staircase has exactly the same measurements. If you have an 'L' shaped stair case, then it is possible to install 2 straight stair lifts, instead of one curved stair lift and this can save a considerable amount of money. Many people, who are unable to install straight stair lifts, instead invest in a residential elevator, which proves to be much more practical and is often around the same price as a curved stair lift would be.


Stair lifts are very important devices that can allow people to retain their mobility and independence, while utilizing all areas of their home. A straight stair lift is very inexpensive and provides a very important service for many who are mobility challenged.


Sean Noughtly is a writer and contributor for ameriglide.com. If you would like to learn more about heavy duty stair lifts or other types of stair lifts, visit AmeriGlide today.


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