Most people do not spend a minute thinking about the stairs in their house or the task of traveling up and down them daily. However, for individuals with mobility issues or other health problems that impact movement, the task of walking up and down a flight of stairs can become challenging or even dangerous. There may be a risk of falling and causing serious injuries, which is why it is important to make sure that even two-story homes can be accessible to all occupants regardless of their mobility, by installing chair lifts for stairs with landings.
At DME Elevators & Lifts, it is our mission to provide safe and affordable chair lift options for people who may need extra help navigating their homes. We install chair lifts for all styles of staircases and every client’s specific needs. These chair lifts aid people in maintaining the level of independence they desire while also maintaining their safety and health.
Stair Configurations with Landings
The first step in figuring out which stair lift you will need is knowing the style of stairs you have in your home. This post will focus on stairs that have a landing of some kind. But what is a landing?
A landing is a short break or platform. There are many different types of stairs with landings, including:
Straight Stairs With Intermediate Landings
Straight stairs tend to be the most common style of stairs within residential homes because they are cost-effective and take up the least amount of floor space. They can have intermediate landings in the middle to break up the stairs, or a short landing at the very bottom.
L-Shaped Stairs
L-shaped stairs have one turn to them, giving them the name “L-shape.” These stairs are typically in smaller areas of the home where there may not be enough space to have a set of straight stairs.
U-Shaped Stairs
U-shaped stairs have two turns to them, where two sets of stairs are connected with a U-shaped landing that has you turn 180 degrees. These work in even smaller spaces of your home.
Winder Stairs
Winder stairs have a continuous spiral to them with no straight parts to the stairs, and they tend to only have landings at the very top or very bottom with pie-shaped stairs.
Split Staircases
Split staircases start on the ground floor as one set of stairs, and then halfway up there is a landing where they split into two sets of stairs going away from each other in a Y shape. These make for a more grand entrance to your home but can take up more floor space because of it.
Types of Chair Lifts for Stairs with Landings
Once you know the style of stairs you have in your home, then it is time to determine what style of chair lift would work best for you. We offer straight chair lifts and curved chair lifts. Straight chair lifts can be installed on the straight portions of your stairs, though they cannot curve around any landings or curves on your stairs. Some staircases can accommodate 2 straight chair lifts but that would require the user to transfer between the 2 lifts. To decide if this is a feasible option we would review the size of the transfer landing and the mobility needs of the user. Another choice is to install a curved chair lift that can go up the straight portions of your stairs and curve around the landing. This brings the user from the top to the bottom of the staircase safely and easily in one ride.
Choosing the Right Chair Lift for Your Stairs
While there are chair lift options available for stairs with a landing, there are a few important things to keep in mind when considering which lift you want in your home. As mentioned, the configuration of your stairs is important to the style of chair you would need. In addition, keep in mind what your budget is for these lifts, as the price can vary depending on the style of chair you choose and how large your staircase is.
The style of staircase in your home can impact which type of chair lift you choose. A straight stair lift is less customizable in shape so they tend to work for a specific style of staircase. If you have pie-shaped stairs it would require a curved chair lift. Curved chair lifts are custom-built to fit your stairs, and can easily follow the entire length of your staircase.
Installation Process
Our stair lifts at DME Elevators & Lifts consist of two main parts: the chair itself and the rail it rides on as it goes up and down the stairs. Because of this, the installation process is relatively straightforward.
To start, our trained technicians will arrive at your home on the date and time scheduled beforehand. From there, they will install the rail into your set of stairs. Finally finishing with setting the chair on the rail and demonstrating it for you upon completion. This is a great time to ask questions, our technicians are experts with many years in the field. We will also provide you with an owner’s manual for questions that may come up down the road or just give us a call and our customer service team can guide you.
Safety and Regulations
As with any mobility aid, there are safety guidelines and regulations that must be followed to keep you safe. For chair lifts, they must abide by both the building codes of your home as well as the codes and regulations set by the state for the chair itself.
A good quality chair lift should include various safety features including an emergency stop and a way to safely recall the chair if it is not on the same floor as you. It is also important to have our technicians at DME Elevators & Lifts perform routine maintenance on your chair to ensure it remains in good working order and no issues arise unexpectedly.
Get in Touch with the Stair Lift Experts at DME Elevators & Lifts
DME Elevators & Lifts works alongside you to make sure that you choose the right chair to fit your needs within your home and the style of stairs you have. Not sure where to begin? Schedule to get a free estimate online or contact our office. We are here to help!
