A Lift In Your Home
A Lift In Your Home
Universal Design
People who inhabit and visit our houses come in all shapes and sizes, range in age from infant to senior and possess various ever-changing abilities and skills. As we grow up, grow old and welcome new people into our homes, our housing needs change.
A house that is designed and constructed to reflect the principles of universal design will be safer and more accommodating to everyone who lives or visits there, regardless of age or ability. Consistent with the philosophy of universal design, residential lifts and elevators provide an appropriate and equitable means of access for many people. Traditionally, an elevator or lift in a private residence has been viewed as an expensive luxury exclusively for wheelchair users.
Now, people recognize that residential lifts and elevators can benefit many people—particularly seniors who want to remain in their homes despite loss of mobility, strength or agility.
This article tells you about the types of residential lifts and elevators that are commonly available in Canada. It also tells you about some of the things you should consider when you choose and install an elevator or lift.
A word about terms
The words used when discussing “lifts,” “elevating devices,” “elevators” and “hoists” can be confusing as the terms are often used interchangeably. To further complicate things, in European countries “lift” is the word used for what is called an “elevator” in North America.
This article uses the words lifts and residential elevator.
Lifts
A lift is an elevating device that can travel up and down as much as 2,450 mm (96 in.).
Lifts are typically used to provide access between different floors of a house, or from the ground level outside the house to an inside floor level.
There are three main types of lifts:
- Vertical platform lift
- Inclined platform lift
- Stair-chair lift
Vertical platform lift
A vertical platform lift can be equipped with platforms of various sizes and must be securely mounted on a solid and stable base (typically a poured-concrete slab), sheltered to protect users from rain and away from areas where drifting snow can accumulate. An unenclosed lift can become unusable if tight-packed snow and ice accumulate under the lift platform. A grounded, 110-volt electrical supply on a dedicated circuit is typically required.
Vertical platform lifts are often enclosed to prevent falls and to stop children or animals from getting under the platform. The manufacturer can provide a lift enclosure or an enclosure can be custom built.
If the lift is not enclosed, there should be a safety gate at the upper level to prevent falls when the lift platform is at the lower level.
Inclined platform lift
Inclined platform lifts consist of a platform that moves up and down over an existing stairway. They are often called stair lifts. They are usually employed by people who use wheelchairs, but some models incorporate a fold-down seat for people who do not use a wheelchair but have difficulty using stairs. The platform is typically supported by rails that are mounted to a wall on one side of the staircase. Platforms on stair lifts come in various sizes. Ideally, the staircase should be at least 915 mm (36 in.) wide, although some models are available for stairs as narrow as 865 mm (34 in.). Remember that the narrower the staircase, the narrower the platform.
Ensure that the platform you choose is large enough to fit your wheelchair or scooter (and any wheelchair or scooter that your family or visitors may have). A grounded, 110-volt electrical supply on a dedicated circuit is typically required.
One of the greatest barriers to installing an inclined platform lift in an existing stairway is available headroom. Often, headroom is minimal—particularly at the bottom of the staircase. Be sure that you have enough clearance.
Inclined platform lifts are easier to install and less expensive if the staircase is a single, straight run. There are platform stair lifts available that will turn corners on curved staircases, but they require wider staircases to accommodate the platform as it turns and are far more expensive.
Inclined platform lifts need a clear floor space at the top and bottom of the staircase to allow the user to get on and off the platform. More space is required at the bottom of the stairs because the platform has to travel beyond the end of the last stair to reach the floor level. Remember that the rails extend beyond the bottom of the last stair and will become a tripping hazard if they are not protected by a wall or some other barrier.
Some inclined platform lifts require a depression in the floor at the lower level so that the surface of the lift platform is levelled with the floor finish. Others incorporate a short access ramp. Some models also feature a platform that folds up against a wall when not in use.
Stair-chair lift
Stair-chair lifts consist of a seat that travels up and down a stairway. The seat runs on a track or rails mounted either on the surface of the stairs or on an adjacent wall. If a stair-mounted track is used, it reduces the usable width of the stairs. This is of particular concern on narrow stairs.
The person using the stair-chair lift can be seated sideways to the stairs or facing down the stairs. In addition, there are models with chairs that swivel to make it easier to get on and off the seat. More stairway width is required to sit sideways across the stairs. Stair-chair lifts are easier to install and are less expensive if the staircase is a single straight run. There are stair-chair lifts available that can turn corners on curved staircases. Stair-chair lifts require a clear floor space at the top and bottom of the staircase so the user can get on and off the chair. Wheelchair users will need a wheelchair on each floor level served by the lift.
A concern about stair-chair lifts is getting off the chair at one of the most dangerous places in a house—the top of a flight of stairs. A stair-chair lift may not be the safest solution for people with transfer, balance or visual limitations.
Contact your REALTOR at Coldwell Banker Vantage Realty for more tips and advice on how a lift can effect the price of your home.
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