If you are a person who is finding that your mobility is not what it once was or you have a loved one who needs help getting up and down the stairs, then you may be considering getting a stair lift for your home. This is a great tool that can help you to remain independent within your home while also giving you the ability to get up and down stairs more easily.
Many Options Available
Stair lifts are available in several different options. You can use the traditional chair that is installed along the wall of your staircase, allowing you to ride up and down the stairs in comfort and safety, while taking up a minimal amount of space in your home. Then there are more sophisticated options, such as elevators or platform lifts. If you are a person in a wheelchair or space does not allow for the chairlift, these can be an ideal choice for you.
Each of these lifts has been designed by expert architects, engineers, and builders to ensure that they provide optimal safety and efficiency. The goal is to help the person to be more independent and give them as much mobility as possible.
Can You Install the Lift Yourself?
This is definitely a great option to be able to help you or a loved one to have complete access to their home. You may find this the ideal choice and understand that there are costs in paying for one of these lifts. However, you may be looking to try to save yourself some expense so you want to know if this is something you can do yourself or if you must hire a professional to install it for you.
Keep in mind that while maintaining independence is one of the primary goals of the stair lift, safety is also an important factor. You want to ensure that the person has the ability to get up and down the stairs, but you also want to ensure that they can do so safely. Remember that this is a person who already may have some difficulty getting around, and the last thing they need is to have to try to brace themselves should the chair, platform, or railing become dislodged or unstable. That could lead to a serious injury.
Unless you are a master craftsman, construction worker, or engineer, this is not a task you want to undergo on your own. There is far too much at stake and you do not want to be the one who may have endangered your loved one by improperly installing the stair lift.
In addition, you can be sure that most of these products come with a service guarantee and warranty. Should something go wrong with the equipment, they will repair or replace it at no cost to you. However, if you are the one who has performed the installation, you cannot be sure that that same warranty applies. You may find that they will not cover any damage because they were not the installers, or a professional team did not install it.
It is understandable that you want to save money but putting the life of your loved one or yourself at risk is simply not a good idea. It pays for you to have a professional to do the job.