Many households have decks or patio areas that are accessible by a stair case located outdoors. For those with conditions that affect their mobility, an outdoor stair case can present a daunting challenge. Luckily, there are many options available for those that need an outdoor stair lift.
All stair lifts are composed of four basic components; the track, the drive train, the chassis, and the seat. The drive train is located inside of the chassis and consists of the gears or pulleys that propel the chassis and seat up and down the track. The drive train can be either rack and pinion or cable driven. Rack and pinion systems utilize gears and a toothed rail along the track. Cable driven systems use a high strength aluminum cable that is wound around a pulley inside of the chassis.
The stair lift track is the portion that is actually mounted to the stairs and supports the weight of the chassis, seat, and rider. Depending on the type of stair lift, the track also houses the toothed gears for rack and pinion lifts and the high strength cable for the cable driven lifts.
The chassis contains the electric motor that moves the lift up the rail. The seat is mounted on top of the chassis enclosure and usually folds up while not in use.
There are a few factors to consider when installing a stair lift on an existing stair case. Special attention must be paid to the material that the steps are constructed from. Concrete steps will require different types of fasteners than wooden steps. Also, the length of the stair case must be measured in order to obtain an accurate price quote from a distributor. Each stair lift track is custom cut to the home owner’s specifications and the length will affect the final price of the stair lift.
For a straight stair case, a stair lift is a safe and economical solution but for outdoor use the chassis and track of the stair lift must be sealed to protect against the elements. Also, the seat must be of a marine grade vinyl or similar material to withstand sunlight and moisture. Most outdoor models also include a cover for the seat so that it is protected when not in use.

วันจันทร์ที่ 27 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2551
Outdoor Stair Lifts
Stair Lifts and Their Importance
Moving up and down the stairs is a difficult task for people who have problems with mobility. A stair lift makes life easier for them and provides independence of movement.
A chair lift is a chair that is attached to a track bolted down to a staircase. This lift can be used to carry a person up and down the stairs with just the push of a button. Well! It can also be used for other purposes, like carrying groceries, luggage, laundry and anything else.
Chair lifts also have swivel seats that turn away from the staircase and come with remote controls that signal the lift to come to a particular floor. So as not to occupy too much space, they also have a folding track at the lower landing area. They can be fixed on any side of the staircase. This installation needs to be done by a professional.
There are several types of stair lifts available, of various shapes and sizes.
Chair lifts are better now than what we used to get earlier. They are less noisy and entail no risk of malfunctioning. A small joystick is used to operate them. They come with a remote control to enable operation from either the top or bottom of the stairs.
The stair lifts have a comfortable seat and a footrest. The start and stop movements are very smooth. The swivel seat helps the person using the stair lift to get into the seat and get out easily.
Stair lifts also use a rechargeable battery and need to be recharged when not using. This battery helps when there is no power and ensures that the lift does not stop in the middle. They also need to be parked correctly in their place, or else there will be a signal letting you know that you have parked it wrong.
All safety measures are taken care of in the making of a stair lift, to ensure there is no hazard. They stop functioning when there is a problem with the seat, footrest or armrest, and automatically stop when they reach the bottom or top of the stairs. These lifts can also be locked so that children do not use them.
Stair lifts make life easier for you and your loved ones and will give you the peace of mind that a loved one is safe and will not fall down the stairs.
When stairs become an obstacle, it is a low cost alternative to creating separate rooms and shifting people to the ground floor and arranging things to be near them. With a chair lift, the house can be left as is without any changes and the disabled person is as independent as before. It also reduces the wear and tear of the ankle joints, hip joints, and knees, especially if one is not supposed to walk too much.
วันอังคารที่ 21 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2551
Domestic Stairlifts - An Economical Option
When impaired mobility restricts you from easily moving up and down the staircases, install a domestic stair lift. Installing domestic stairlifts is an economical option for users with a limited budget. Domestic stair lifts are small size lifts, easily attached to staircases and guaranteeing smooth operation. Today's domestic stairlifts are used to transport heavy loads between floors besides carrying one handicapped passenger at a time.
A variety of domestic stairlifts are available in the market including straight stair lifts, curved stair lifts, goods stair lifts, pre-owned stair lifts, platform stair lift and wheelchair lifts. In each type, a range of models such as Electra-Ride III, B.07 Straight Stair Chair and Step Saver Straight Stair Chair, Excel® stair lift with folding rail, Stair-Glide® stair lift, Citia stair lifts, and Flow stair lift are available in varying prices and load capacities to suit various indoor and outdoor applications.
In most cases, an ordinary straight stair chair lift is most preferred as it is considered a safer and less expensive solution for all types of homes, bungalows and apartments. Curved stair chair lifts are the practical solution for staircases with bends or curves, even though they are more expensive and complex than the straight stair chair lifts.
For some types of chair lifts, there exists a second-user market. Such chair lifts come under the pre-owned chair lift category. In domestic types, this is most common with straight stair lifts. Pre-owned chair lifts are a low cost solution compared to buying a totally new system.
Domestic stairlifts have their own advantages and disadvantages. Select a suitable domestic stairway lift based on a person's disability, circumstances of your home and type of staircase. As these come with various features and specifications, consider these factors and keep in mind your requirement and the user's safety while choosing excellent durable, flexible and comfortable domestic stair chair lifts for long term or short term use. Among the leading companies that offer domestic stairlifts are ThyssenKrupp Access, Bruno and Savaria Concord.
Considering home stairway lifts as a worthwhile and necessary investment, purchase the most suitable home stairway lifts that meet your requirements from an authorized dealer or manufacturer. Before choosing the right domestic stairlift provider, go through the manufacturer or authorized dealer site for detailed information about the products and their specifications.
Tips on Finding Curved Stairlifts
Stairlifts are essential devices for disabled people to help them go up and down stairways. With these tools disabled people are not limited to living in one-story dwellings.
Stairlifts are generally devices that are mounted on the wall and that hook onto a wheelchair. A mechanical motor then transports the wheelchair up or down the stairs.
Some stairlifts also have their own chair where the disabled person can sit in. These are particularly useful if the person can walk but does not have the ability to go up and down the stairs by themselves.
As we know, not all stairways are straight. Some stairways are curved and that demands a particular kind of stairlift, also known as the curved stairlift.
Curved stairlifts are generally more expensive than the straight type because they have to be custom manufactured or specially adapted for the particular stairwell. This process involves measurement and custom design as well.
There are several companies that specialize in stairlifts.
One of these companies is Easy Step Stairlifts, which are located in the United Kingdom. They provide new, reconditioned, and curved stairlifts to the general public. The manufacturer models that they carry include stairlifts from Brooks, Bison Bede, Liberator, Meditek, Minivator and Thyssen.
Apart from selling stairlifts, Easy Step Stairlifts also do stairlift repair and servicing.
Savaria Concord Lifts is another stairlifts company that you can consider. They are located in Québec, Canada and carry curved as well as straight stairlifts.
They have been in business for over 30 years and their customers can choose from different models, sizes, features and finishes, and can even have wheel chair lifts, stairlifts and elevators custom-made to fit their requirements.
Savaria Concord Lifts sell their stairlifts through authorized dealers.
A stairlift for your home does not only have to be strong and reliable, they also have to be attractive because they are very prominent features in the home. In addition, they also have to be easy to use for the disabled person to go up and down the stairs.
It is best to speak with the professionals about a curved stairlift because it is definitely not a do-it-yourself task.
วันอังคารที่ 7 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2551
Staircases: setting the mood of a house
If you are looking for specific requirements in setting up the most appealing staircase for your home, you need to consider following important things that may help you to choose the best:
Circular Stairs: Fashion trends come and go; some may stay a longer while many return after a considerable period of time. Staircases are no exceptions to this. Circular stairs that were popular in early 1900s have again re-appeared into the staircase market scenario, particularly in upper-end custom homes. Even, circular stairs are becoming a focal point of modern homes, adding better look and providing more comfort while walking. Also, circular stairs can be easily combined with custom newels and carved brackets as per the budget and personal taste of a homeowner.
Choice of Wood: People who prefer wooden stairs can enjoy choosing from a wide array of woods available for making durable staircases. Most staircases are made up of red oak and quarter-sawn white oak, but exotic woods are too getting popular in the market. According to recent reports, there has been an increase of about 15 to 20 percent in the sales of exotic woods. These exotic woods include black walnut, Brazilian cherry, African mahogany, Australian cyprus and anegre.
Features and Needs of Wheelchair Lifts
Concept of Wheel Chair Stair Lifts will surely suit your budget as well as fulfill all of your needs. Previously, the wheelchairs were to be stimulated or raised with the help of man power. With the coming of wheelchair platform stair lifts, this uncomfortable process of lifting wheel chairs manually can be avoided now. At the present time, wheelchair lifts are accessible in unusual sizes as well as designs to be used in both commercial as well as residential purposes.
Wheelchair stair lifts are obtainable in two specifications, AC as well as DC types. A DC activated electric wheel chair stair lift preserves operations even throughout power failures. Electric stair lifts can be associated with telephone jacks and mechanical door opening. The flat process of motoring makes sure about a contented ride. Wheel chair stair lifts are perfect for persons with inadequate mobility origins by diseases, old ages or accidents.
Stair lifts Of Wheelchairs find use in:
• Hospitals • Shops • Offices • Schools • Malls
Features of Wheelchair Lifts:
• Non obligatory remote controls by means of key lock to put off illegal access • Speed load - 340 kg (750lbs) • 3 Drive organization: A/C motorized belt driven ball screw, battery power-driven belt driven ball screw, battery motorized hydraulic • 90° as well as 180° entry/exit configurations • Urgently stop button
Highly responsive sensors are only one of the features of its kind in these equipments that will repeatedly detect which an object is overcrowding the lift’s pathway as well as stop the damage to the lift. If the path is cleared once, the wheelchair stair lift will carry on its function. In addition to that, there are various security features as well as user friendly features that will make wheelchair stair lifts enormously popular.
วันจันทร์ที่ 6 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2551
Stair Lift Rental: 3 Tips Before Deciding
Are you planning for short term usage?
Are you using renting as a financing option?
Is your stairway suitable for renting?
Stair lift rentals are intended for short term use.
There really are only a couple of times that a rental makes sense. First is if you or a loved one are confined to a wheelchair or to not using stairs for a limited time. Examples of this might be that you have a broken leg or have had hip replacement surgery. The other is if a relative or friend is coming to visit for more than a couple of days or weeks. Both are short term and ideal for renting the proper equipment.
Rent payments may add up more than financing.
If you believe that you may need the stairlift for longer than a few months then you may need to work with the sales department of your chosen lift company for other financing options. Typical payments on renting are around $100 or greater plus additional up front fees. With that payment you could have a $3000 lift paid off in slightly over 2 years at 5% interest. Rentals are not meant to be paid off so why continue paying on something you won't return for some time? Also loans, credit cards, and other forms of funding may bring a lower payment therefore helping with your budget.
Rentals are primarily for straight stairwells.
Due to the complexity and variety of stairwells straight stairlifts are the easiest for companies to rent. If your staircase is curved, meaning a straight run with no landings or curvature, you may have difficulty finding a rental stair lift. Renting two lifts is a possibility if your stairs are straight with a landing in between but then you may be looking at higher payments.
Another item to consider is that most rented stair lifts are used. These should be checked out by the company you have hired prior to and after installation.
These are great devices to have in your home for lifting you or your loved one from floor to floor. As long as you are planning for short term usage and have straight stairs then renting could be a very attractive option for you.
Stair Lift Advantages and More
In the United States and the world as a whole, there are countless people who have discovered the great safety benefits that are received by using a stair lift. A fall down the stairs, especially for people who are over the age of 65, often results in injury or even death. There is no need to take this risk, so if you or someone you care about is unsteady on the stairs, you should invest in a stair lift.
Stair lifts are a common type of personal lifting aid that can be installed on most types of stair cases. Those with curved stair cases are at a great disadvantage, because a curved stair lift will take several months to build and install and are also very expensive. A stair lift for a straight staircase on the other hand is not terribly expensive and can easily be installed by most people. Even if you do not feel comfortable doing the installation on your own, paying a professional stair lift installer is still very affordable.
To install a stair lift on a straight staircase it is important to get complete measurements of the stairs. The total length of the stairs will need to be measured and you will also need to measure the dimensions of an individual step on the stairs. You also need to measure how far the top of the stairs is to the nearest obstruction, like a wall or doorway, and will also need this measurement for the bottom of the steps. It is a good idea to have someone help you with the measurements as it is tremendously easier with two individuals. Your stair lift dealer will be able to help you with theses measurements as well and likely has a measurement team who can come to your home if you do not feel comfortable doing it.
In most cases the stair lift will be installed directly to the steps and a track will span the complete distance of the staircase. In instances where the staircase is very narrow, there are several low profile stair lifts available and they can also be attached to the wall. The track will be cut to fit your individual staircase, which is one reason that the measurements are so important.
Attached to the track is a car unit that is sent up and down the staircase. The car unit consists of an electrical motor and a chair. The user will simply sit in the chair and use the attached remote, wireless remote, or call buttons to start the unit moving. A quality stair lift will require constant pressure on the button, which is an important safety feature. A well made and dependable stair lift will also have built in safety sensors that checks for obstacles on the stairs.
A quality stair lift, like the AmeriGlide Batter Powered Stair Lift, will provide many years of dependable service and will be covered by a very substantial warranty. They greatly reduce the dangers associated with falling down the stairs and can also be affixed with baskets to help carry personal goods up the stairs.
วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 2 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2551
Used Stair Lifts Buying Guide
A stair lift is a device that is used to help people who are mobility challenged use their staircase again. Using a track system, which is usually attached to the actual stairs themselves, a chair or platform, is used to carry a person up and down the stairs. This is for many like having a new home, because otherwise they would have only been able to use the ground floor of their home. It also can cut back on costs, because you do not have to pay someone to help you up and down the stairs. In addition many stair lifts come with attachable baskets so you can transport your laundry, groceries, or other belongings easily up and down the stairs.
The safety of you or someone you love depends on the stair lift functioning properly and without fail, so it is not something you really want to purchase from someone you do not know. There is no way to tell if the stair lift was used properly, installed/un-installed properly, or even if it works at all. With all that is riding on the stair lift, both physically and literally, it is much better to buy it from a certified dealer. You can still save thousands by purchasing a used stair lift, but if you buy it from a reputable dealer than you are assured that it has been thoroughly refurbished, inspected, tested, and is completely reliable. For more information on used stair lifts or to find out more about new stair lifts visit a1-medical-supplies.net.
Stair Lifts - The Ups and Downs
Stair lifts are designed to take individuals up and down the stairs with ease and convenience. They are often used by those who are confined to a wheel chair or who have bad knees or other medical issues that make stairs difficult to navigate. They may be used by the elderly and pregnant women as well. Stair chair lifts can be found in a variety of settings including public facilities, restaurants, Churches, Museums, homes, and businesses that have more than one level.
Wheel chair stair lifts are the most common type found in public. These stair lifts work in several different ways, depending on the type of lift design the facility is using. A common type of wheel chair stair lift has a chair built on the lift. This can be difficult to use as it requires the person being able to move out of the wheel chair and into the chair on the lift. Another person has to help the individual because the lift will take them to the top of the chairs, or back down depending on their need. Someone will have to carry their wheel chair up and down the stairs for them to get back in to.
A more convenient type of wheel chair stair lift allows the person in the wheel chair to push their wheel chair onto the lift platform. A safety gate will close behind them. When they reach the top or bottom of the stairs, the front of the lift will open, allowing them to wheel forward out of the lift. This type of lift allows individuals to go up and down stairs without the assistance of anyone else.
Home stair lifts are very convenient for someone who has become wheel chair bound, but who also wants to remain in their home. They are easy to install. Most plug in to a wall current just like a lamp. One draw back is that most homes don’t have back up power sources, so in the event of a power outage, the home stair lifts aren’t usable. The majority of them come with a very good warranty and can be used for individuals who weigh up to 300 pounds.
Used home stair lifts can often be purchased for a fraction of the cost from a home owner that no longer requires it. However, they do not come installed or with a warranty. Some companies that market home stair lifts are starting to offer reconditioned used stair lifts at a lower cost. Purchasing a used stair lift from a company may offer you a short term warranty as well as installation assistance.
Stair lifts are a great invention that allow those who are not able to go up and down the stairs the ability to lead a very normal life. Most businesses and public facilities offer them to be in compliance with ADA requirements. A home stair lift is a great option for someone in a wheel chair or the elderly who want to remain in the home they love and enjoy. It gives them the ability to do so.