There are so many things to look at when trying to access the second or third levels of your home or even just getting to your front door. Choosing between a Stair Lift and a Home Elevator comes down to your situation and what is most important to you. In this post, I'll go through the benefits for each product and considerations for each to help you decide what is right for you and/or your family.
A stair lift is a cost effective way to get up and down stairs. We can put one on pretty much any set of stairs: inside or outside, curved or straight, and on both sides of the stair case. There usually isn't any remodling that you have to do. The most typical is to add an electrical outlet at the bottom of the stairs.
Some people don't like the look of a stair lift but that can be overcome by selecting a different color rail or a chair with more design options. You can blend it in or make it stand out.
The turnaround time can be as quick as the next day for installation.
The cost is hard to pin down without coming out and looking at your stairs. A curved stair lift is custom made for your steps so that will have a higher price tag than a straight lift. Our representative can tell you for sure.
An elevator in your home can be a really unique and smart investment but you have to know what to expect.
An elevator will accomplish the same thing as a stair lift but it will add style and value to your home. It will need its own hoistway (shaft) to travel up and down in, just like a commercial elevator. It has swing doors and a gate (see this page for more descriptions) as standard and comes in hydraulic or cable drive operation options.
We can customize the cab to whatever you'd like: wood or glass or even metal.
This option will take longer than the stair lift and cost more but you'll most likely make that up in home value. You'll have to hire an architect to draw up your plans and then a contractor or builder to take care of the remodeling. We'll come in at the end and install the elevator. It usually takes about 6 months from start to finish but could take longer depending on the permitting process.
Summary
A stair lift will have a lower price tag and can be installed much quicker than an elevator but won't give you the style and return on investment that an elevator can. If you need to get up the stairs tomorrow, then a stair lift is probably the way to go. But if you want a unique experience and style is more important then an elevator sounds like a great fit for you.
I hope that this post helped you choose the right product for you or a loved one.
Everyone's situation is different so feel free to call us to discuss yours. We've seen a lot over the last 25 years so chances are we can bring something from another's dilemma to help you.
