Stair or Chair Lift for Accessible Home Renovation
Many Americans enjoy the square footage and versatility offered by a two-story home or a home with a basement. However, stairs can be a hazard as we age, and handrails are often not enough to avoid a fall. For those who are not able to move a bedroom to the main level of the home, equipping your stairs with a chair lift can be a cost-effective way to create a safe environment.
Here’s what you should know about chair lifts for your home:
- Cheaper units often have a lower weight capacity. Make sure you do your research before purchase and ask questions about what your unit can do.
- Higher-end stair lifts often have a slimmer profile. This can allow other home visitors or residents to more easily move around the lift to use the stairs.
- Avoid buying online! Like many accessible products, a stair lift should be installed by a professional in your home due to the equipment complexity. Often buyers are lured into purchasing online only to discover the product doesn’t fit their needs, does not work correctly, and there is no method of service after the sale.
- You can buy pre-owned chair lifts. This can cut down on the cost of your lift while still have the bonus of being professionally installed. (Also, did you know you could buy pre-owned wheelchair accessible vehicles?)
- Custom lifts will raise the price of your installation and rail. Any stairway that requires a curvature will increase the overall cost of your stair lift. Because this requires custom programming, prices can be considerably more – in the $10,000 range.
- You can also purchase outdoor stair lifts. These are often ideal for deck applications and are specially engineered to withstand the elements.
Your home should be a haven, not a hazard when it comes to accessibility. Whether you are aging in your home or you use a wheelchair, these accessible vehicles and home products are simple and effective first steps at improving the mobility in your life.