Step Up and Live in Your Home: All of It

Persons with limited mobility—from old age or disability—often feel compelled to move into a ranch-style house. Sometimes they continue to live in a multi-level house but confine themselves to living in just one story. They may go years without seeing the refinished basement that was a source of daily recreation in the past. While most people are aware that stair lifts are out there, they are frequently unfamiliar with the number of viable options available to them. Often, the person doesn't want to leave the home they've grown to love and, while in many cases, there is no easy or cheap fix, a few minor home improvements can be more economically feasible and cause significantly fewer headaches than moving.

The Details
Straight or Curved—The most important distinction between different stair lifts is whether the stair they traverse is straight or curved. A simple, straight lift can cost as little as $2,500, while a retrofitted, curved lift will start around $4,000 and can range all the way up to $15,000. Part of this extra expense is that curved stair lifts frequently have to be custom-fitted for your particular staircase, which entails extensive measuring and up to 3 months for construction and delivery.

AC or DC Power—Most modern stair lifts use DC power because these battery-operated lifts are generally considered to be safer and more reliable. While DC powered lifts have to be at one of the bases at the bottom or top of the stairs to recharge, AC powered lifts have a trailing cable that has to be reeled in every time the lift goes up or down the stairs.

Cable, Chain, Screw, or Rack & Pinion—Similarly, modern stair lifts use the rack and pinion drive motor that uses a gear and teeth design, enabling the lift to move smoothly and comfortably up and down your stairs. (The other three kinds of motors are now used for heavy-duty models). Since exposed gears can be dangerous for children, most lifts are designed to leave the gears hidden within the lift structure.

Additional accessories may include sit/stand frames, bridging platforms, power swivel seats, power folding footrests, and seatbelts. It's also important to point out that newer models have left a surplus of used stair lifts that homeowners can purchase for considerably cheaper prices, but are also notoriously noisy, jerky and unreliable.

Residential Elevators
While residential elevators definitely cost more than a stair lift, they offer several advantages that are swaying a lot of homeowners to opt for the additional investment. Like a bathroom or kitchen remodel, residential elevators can add significant resale value (up to 10%) to your home. As a new phenomenon, residential elevators are expected to increase in popularity over the next few decades. They use less space than a stairwell, are less of an eyesore than a lift, and provide convenience for the young homeowner and mobility for the older homeowner. Several different elevator designs cater to new homes or existing homes. Cost will vary depending on size and design, but a typical elevator will run in the neighborhood of $15,000.