Simply put, a stair lift is a mechanical tool used to lift people and wheelchairs up or down the stairs. Also called chair lift or stair glider, this device can either be attached to a rail or, in the cases of wide stairways, it can be mounted or temporarily installed to the treads of the stairs. To use it, a person on the wheelchair or any kind of platform is simply lifted as the former or latter moves along the rail.
Aside from chair lifts, there are also two other options to provide access between floors, namely: platform lifts and residential elevators. But by far the least expensive of the three is the chair lift. Platform lifts and residential elevators can cost anywhere from $10k-16k, or even higher. A straight chair lift, on the other hand, only costs about $2.5k-4k. If you want a retrofitted curved model, the price will range from $4k to about 15k. It is sensible to take into consideration that the installation costs of your stair lift will largely depend on the design of your stairs. The more complex and intricate it is, the more expensive the cost will be.
To give you a better idea of lifts used by the handicapped, you should know that there are four kinds of stair lift drives offered in the market today. Here they are:
Cable. A cable drive system typically makes use of a sturdy steel cable, very similar to the ones used in elevators. Some people say that cable drive stair lifts may not have smooth starts and stops, so be sure to select your model well.
Chain. This kind of stair lift drive is used for heavy duty models. The only setback is that it can be quite loud occasionally.
Screw. A screw driven stair lift is powered by a rechargeable battery, making it quite convenient to use.
Rack & pinion. Rack & pinion is the most commonly used type of stair lift drive today. Many people like it because wheelchair users usually have smooth and even-paced ride. A rack & pinion must be regularly cleaned and lubricated for it to perform at its best.
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