Tuesday 30 December 2008

Stair Lifts and Residential Elevators

It can be very difficult for some people to climb the stairs safely. This is especially true of people who are sufferers of diseases like arthritis, but also those who suffer from cognitive disorders, like Alzheimer's. In order to allow for complete access of a home, many people decide to install personal elevators, but this can quickly get pretty expensive. A stair lift is a much more affordable way to allow complete access to a home.


A stair lift is a device that is designed to carry a person up and down the stairs. For a straight staircase, there are several easy to install do-it-yourself kits available. These kits consist of a metal track, which is attached directly to the stairs, and a car, which is sent up and down the track. Usually a chair will be attached to the car, but sometimes a small platform, which is referred to as a perch, is used. Perch lifts will require that the user remain standing as they are carried up and down the track, so this option is generally only used by people who, for medical reasons, can not use a traditional chair lift.


These do-it-yourself kits can generally be installed in only a few hours, but due to the important nature of the work, it is important to carefully install the lift and follow all instructions, so it is better to take longer to install the lift then it would be to rush through it. Most dealers also have a trained installation team available, so those that do not feel comfortable doing the installation can have it professionally installed at an affordable rate.


While a personal elevator can be a nice touch, it requires a great deal of construction to the home, which can be quite expensive. The cost of the elevator is also fairly high, which is one of the main reasons a stair lift is often the best choice. A stair lift that is designed for a straight staircase is also installed much more quickly than an elevator would be. However, if you have a curved stairway, you will probably be better off installing a residential elevator.


People who have a curved staircase, might be able to install two straight stairway lifts onto the stairs, so it is a good idea to talk with a straight stair lift dealer first. Installing two stairway lifts will still save you considerable time and money when compared to a curved stairway lift, which costs at minimum 1000% more than a straight stairway lift.


If you can not install a straight staircase lift, then you might want to consider installing a personal elevator, which many times can be installed for the same price or even less than a curved stairway lift would be. Residential elevators can also usually be installed sooner than a curved staircase lift could be. Since the price of a personal elevator and a curved staircase lift is about the same, it is usually best to install a residential elevator as opposed to a curved stair lift.


A residential elevator will also retain its value and add value to the home, so much of the cost of the elevator will be retrieved when you sell your home. A curved stairway lift on the other hand does not have much value after it is sold, because it will only work on identical staircases.


For a straight stairway or an 'L' shaped stairway, a stair lift will be much less expensive than a personal elevator, but those that have a curved stairway, would probably be better off installing a residential elevator, because it will be about the same cost as a curved stair lift.


Sean Noughtly is a writer who is familiar with stair lifts and elevators. If you care to learn more about residential elevators or straight stair lifts, visit or call AmeriGlide.com


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