| Many Americans have trouble walking or moving due | | | | custom cut a track to fit your stairs. It is important to |
| to arthritis, muscular diseases, or age. This can make | | | | get an accurate measurement, so it is always a good |
| going up and down the stairs painful and un-safe. For | | | | idea to take each measurement twice. Using a |
| many this means relying on someone to help them | | | | measuring tape the first step will be to measure the |
| travel up or down the stairs or perhaps just means not | | | | overall distance of your stairs. Start at the top step |
| using the stairs and subsequently not using a big part | | | | and measure the distance to the bottom of the stairs. |
| of their home. A personal elevator, while very useful, | | | | Ensure that the measuring tape touches the edge of |
| can easily cost well over $20,000. There is a practical | | | | each step and does not sag between the steps. Next |
| and affordable solution though that will allow you to | | | | measure the distance from the top step to the edge |
| use the stairs safely and independently. That solution is | | | | of the bottom step. This measurement is similar to the |
| a stair lift. | | | | first one, but does not go all the way to the landing. |
| Stair lifts, or stair chairs as they are sometimes called, | | | | Again you will want to ensure that the tape does not |
| carry a seated or in some cases standing individual up | | | | sag between steps and that it makes contact with the |
| and down the stairs. Stair lifts generally are easily | | | | edge of each step. Now measure the height, width, |
| installed by bolting a track to the side of the stairs. A | | | | depth, and the diagonal distance from edge to edge of |
| chair or small platform then travels up and down the | | | | one step. These measurements will help ensure that |
| track. You can get a stair lift for a small fraction of | | | | your first two measurements are accurate and that |
| what it would cost to install a personal elevator and do | | | | your stairs are wide enough for a stair lift. Finally, |
| not have to sell your home just because you can't use | | | | measure the distance from the bottom step to the |
| the stairs. It is possible to save even more money by | | | | closest wall or other obstruction. |
| buying a used stair lift, but you should ensure that you | | | | This Stair Lift Measuring Guide has some really useful |
| are purchasing it from a reputable dealer. This | | | | pictures and other information. |
| guarantees that you will get a completely refurbished | | | | Once you have an accurate measurement of your |
| stair lifts so that they are in the same condition as if | | | | stairs you are ready to start shopping for a stair lift. |
| they were brand new. They also provide a warranty | | | | Most reputable dealers have trained staff standing by |
| on the stair lift, which chances are you will never use, | | | | ready to answer your questions and help you find a |
| but it is still nice to have. | | | | stair lift that will fit your stairs and your needs. Don't be |
| Before you order your stair lift you need to have an | | | | afraid to ask for help with the measurements or if you |
| idea of the length of your stairs. The dealer will then | | | | have any questions. |