For a number of reasons, many people find it difficult to go up a flight of stairs. Installing an elevator is always a smart idea, whether it’s due to an injury that requires you to use a wheelchair or an illness like arthritis. Even if you don’t have a serious problem, a home lift can help you solve a number of problems. Running up and down a long flight of stairs can be exhausting, especially if there are multiple floors.
Many people who face these issues either restructure their life to stay on the ground floor, or abandon the idea of an elevator because they believe it is too expensive. However, if you want a real solution to your problem, installing an elevator might be the best alternative.
Thinking Of Installing A Home Lift
Although many people are put off by the apparent high expenses and time involved in this alternative, it is very possible and affordable for people from certain backgrounds to put in a home lift. However, it is a complex process, and there are a lot of factors that need to be considered. To get you started, here’s a list of things you need to consider.
1. Building Requirements
The first thing you need to consider when installing a home lift is the building requirements according to your home’s specifications. First, the number of floors will be taken into account. Next, the dimensions of the lift or elevator will have to be considered. Through the whole process, you’ll have to get the help of a professional who’ll look at the blueprint of your house and then plan the lift specifications according to it.
2. Type Of Home Lift
There are a variety of home lifts on the market, which one you choose depends on the building requirements, your budget, and your own preference. The three major models available are the through floor lift, platform home lifts, and residential lifts. The most popular and often the most affordable option is the through-floor lift. However, these lifts are only meant for two-floor houses, i.e., the ground and first floor. They can be installed in any room, and the elevator moves to the next floor through an aperture in the ceiling. Whereas, residential and platform lifts have a much bigger size but are also pretty expensive. These alternatives require a lift shaft, which can significantly increase the costs.
3. Cost-Effectiveness
Although installing a home lift can be a considerable expense, if you consider the long-term implications of your investment, the purchase will start making a lot of sense to you. If you or any of your family members has a condition that could deteriorate over time if you don’t deal with the stairs problem, then installing a home lift would give you peace of mind, and the cost of a home lift won’t seem too expensive anymore. Imagine if you didn’t install a home lift because of the expenses, and someone ends up tripping and falling, which could result in extensive injuries. These injuries would not just cause a financial drain, but also traumatize you. Consider the cost-effectiveness of every option, some require extensive renovations and reconstructions while others don’t necessitate a lot of changes, or even time.
4. Alternatives
If you’re looking into installing home lifts to cater to a mobility issue due to an injury or illness, there are some cheaper alternatives that you can consider. Stairlifts can be a better alternative if you can’t afford a lengthy reconstruction in your home. This alternative provides the users with mobility to travel up and down the stairs easily. Whether the user uses a wheelchair or has trouble walking up the stairs, stairlifts can easily help transport them up and down the stairs. However, although this alternative comes with a cheaper solution, home lifts are comparatively easier to use and can help avoid any accidents.
5. Where To Install It
It’s important to consider where you want to install the home lift so that it doesn’t become an obstacle. A through floor lift can be placed in any room that has the space to hold it, as long as the floor above it has the same space and layout. They are usually placed in a corner of the largest room of the house. You will also want to ensure that the lift doesn’t block any key elements of the room like the door or windows, and is easily accessible.
Installing a home lift is a good solution to mobility problems in old age, or due to an injury. Whatever the reason, using the stairs isn’t always feasible and an elevator is the best way to easily move across floors. Installing a home elevator requires numerous considerations before making the final decision as it is a hefty investment and shouldn’t be taken lightly.