Residential Elevators and Lifts

Residential elevators and lifts provide mobility to those with disabilities and other problems traveling up and down stairways. Most people consider residential elevators to be luxury items. While you can purchase an elevator for your home simply for convenience, most who have these items installed need them for more mobility. They provide the elderly, disabled and others with the freedom that they need to move about their homes without assistance. This is very important for many people who simply want to live independently.

Types of Residential Lifts

There are a few different types and designs of residential elevators and lifts. The most commonly seen is the chair lift which attaches to the side wall of a stairway. This is simply a chair that runs on tracks up and down the stairs. The person using the lift simply sits in the chair and then moves the unit to the required destination. Home elevators are gaining in popularity and also come in various different styles. The most distinct difference in most residential elevators is the way that they are operated. Some use electricity in which to move while others operate using hydraulics or a vacuum system. Residential elevators work just like those that you may be used to using in various office buildings with the exception of the size. They are much smaller and most will fit only one or two people comfortably. They are however very good choices for those who need to move laundry, furniture, groceries or other larger items from one story of the home to another. While chair or stair lifts are good choices for getting you up and down the stairs they really do not provide any room for carrying other items.

Cost of Residential Lifts

The cost of residential elevators and lifts depends on the specific type of lift that you want. Most stair lifts can be purchased and installed for less than $3,000. Residential elevators however, can be a bit more expensive. Depending on the type of movement, the size of the elevator and any special features that you have included, you could expect to spend anywhere from $8,000 to more than $40,000. The hydraulic lift elevators are typically more expensive so if cost is an issue and you want the convenience of an elevator over a stair lift then you may want to consider an electric or other model.

Benefits

There are many benefits of having residential elevators and lifts installed in your home. Again, they give you the ability to move easily up and down the stairs without help from anyone. Residential lifts are operated by the person who needs to use them so you can travel to others stories in your home even when you are all alone. They give you more mobility and generally more freedom inside your home. Those who want to live independently can use a residential lift to do things such as laundry and other tasks without worrying about waiting for someone to help carry heavier items up and down the stairs.