Can You Safely Install A Stair Lift In A Home With Very Narrow Stairs?
A stair lift makes it safer and easier for you to climb the stairs in your home when you have poor mobility due to age, disability, or recent injury. You sit in a chair on the lift and press a button to safely go up and down the stairs.
However, the chair will take up space in your staircase. If you have narrow stairs in your home, you may be wondering if you can have a lift installed without completely blocking the path of people trying to go up and down the stairs. Thankfully, manufacturers make special designs for this specific situation. If your home has narrow stairs and you're thinking about installing a stair lift to help you get around easier, read on to learn more about installing one on a narrow staircase.
Can You Install a Stair Lift in a Narrow Staircase?
When you need to install a stair lift in a narrow staircase, you'll most likely have to select a compact lift. These are manufactured to fit into narrow staircases. A compact lift has a shorter seat length, which allows it to successfully move up and down a staircase that's narrower than usual.
If you have a winding staircase with multiple small landings or if the area at the base of your staircase is next to a narrow hallway, you may need to install a folding chair as well. These chairs fold up against the track when they're not in use, which stops them from blocking the path of anyone walking up and down the stairs. A non-folding chair may jut out too far into the staircase, preventing anyone from passing by it.
What Can You Do if Your Stairs Are Too Narrow for a Compact Stair Lift?
If you have a very narrow staircase in your home, you may need to have a standing stair lift installed instead of one with a chair. These lifts are designed for people who have trouble sitting down and standing up from a sitting position, like people who have recently undergone knee or hip surgery. However, they're also a great fit for a home with narrow staircases.
Instead of a full chair, a standing stair lift has a small pad that you rest against when you're using it. With no chair, a standing lift takes up much less space in your staircase, making them a great fit for narrow stairs.
To find out how you can install a stair lift in your home, call a stair lift installation service in your area and have them measure your stairs. Based on the width of your stairs, they'll tell you which models will fit in them. Once your new lift is installed, you'll have an easier time using the stairs in your home.
For more info about stair lifts, contact a local company.