Stair lifts are generally associated with places where there are aged and infirm inhabitants. Home elevators on the other hand are accompanied by an enclosed cab that is designed to serve a variety of purposes. Earlier, home elevators used to be exclusive features of luxurious residences but with decreasing costs and increasing and pressing needs, they have gone on to become a bare necessity from being an indulgence. This article deals with a comparison between the merits and demerits of stair lifts and home elevators.
To begin with, installing a stair lift is a far cheaper option than installing a full-fledged elevator. If the stair case is straight and the installation is hassle free, the total cost of buying and installing a stair lift is around $3000 to $4000. However, if the stair case is curved or meandering, costs could increase to nearly double the aforesaid amount because quite a few major modifications then have to be made to the original model. Focusing on the other side reveals that the simplest residential elevator with a bare minimum of features starts at $10,000. The improved varieties can be much more expensive depending on the design, variety and model that have been selected. A very high end elaborate elevator can cost as much as $100,000 though most people can find a model to suit their requirements for much less money than that.
When it comes to space required for installation, it is to be remembered that a stair lift causes a major visible modification to a staircase while a residential elevator is neatly concealed inside a shaft. Also when it comes to aesthetic beauty, residential elevators are the hands on winner. However, these days, stair lifts can also be considerably modified in order to make them blend seamlessly with the interiors of a home. For the information of those who are constructing homes for the first time, it is prudent to mention that both stair lifts and elevators take up a considerable amount of space and also add nearly 10% to the resale value of a property.
Besides cost, function and features is most likely to influence a buyer’s influence decision the most. The weight to be carried, the jobs to be performed with the help of the elevator, etc must all be taken into consideration before making a final decision regarding the model of elevator or stair lift to be invested in. also, it is in the best interests of families with aged and infirm members to opt for elevators and stair lifts that are accessible by wheel chairs in order to ensure the comforts and conveniences of their relatives.
Safety is another primary concern to be clarified before buying a lift or elevator. Stair lifts are particularly problematic since they are not enclosed and most often are not fitted with hand rails or other support mechanisms. Whatever be the model opted for, boarding and operation must be simple and hassle free. Also there should be proper alarm systems in case of an emergency.