Can You Install a Stairlift in a Split-Level Home?
Installing a stairlift in a split-level home can be tricky but it’s doable with the help of professional stairlift installation experts. If you’re considering navigating the stairs in a split-level home due to an injury, surgery, illness, or age, it's important to understand your options together with their pros and cons.
Curved Stairlift
The most convenient kind of stairlift (also called a chair lift, stair glide, or stair chair) for a split-level home is a curved stairlift. Curved stairlifts consist of a chair mounted on a slim rail that is curved to match the curve of the stairs. The rail itself is mounted onto the stair treads. It is never attached to the wall.
At one end of the rail or track, electrical wiring connects the battery of the battery-operated chair lift (located under the chair) to a power outlet in the wall. In the event of a power outage, stairlifts like those sold by Mobility Plus Colorado in Denver will go up and down the stairs 40 times before the battery will need to be recharged.
In a split-level home, a custom curved stairlift can carry the user up and down the stairs without any need for the user to get off and transfer to another stairlift. The rail itself simply bends around the 90-degree or 180-degree turn at each landing and the chair continues along its course.
Advantages of Custom Curved Stairlifts
For a split-level home, a custom curved stairlift offers the most comfortable ride. The user simply sits on the seat, fastens the seat belt, and uses the remote controls or buttons on the armrest to move up and down the stairs. With a curved stairlift, there is no need for the user to transfer from one chair lift to another. In the case of spiral staircases or pie-shaped steps, a curved stairlift may be the only solution.
Disadvantages of Custom Curved Stairlifts
The main disadvantage of having a custom-built curved stairlift is the total stairlift cost. Because the stairlift rail is bent to the precise angle of your staircase, installation is more time-consuming and will tend to cost more. It is also difficult—if not impossible—to return or resell a custom-built stairlift because no two curved staircases are exactly alike.
Multiple Straight Stairlifts
As an alternative to a curved stairlift, some families opt for two (or more) straight stairlifts. If your home has multiple landings, one straight stairlift can be installed on each flight of stairs. At each landing, the user simply swivels around or activates the power swivel seat and transfers to the next stairlift to continue their journey.
A straight stairlift, like a curved stairlift, consists of a chair mounted on a power base that contains a battery and a motor. The gears attached to the motor turn around, interlocking with the geared track in the rail to move the chair up and down the stairs.
Because straight stairlifts are the simplest stairlifts to make and don't require any custom bending, they can usually be installed in three hours or less, using straight pieces of track to match the length of the stairs.
Advantages of Multiple Straight Stairlifts
The main advantage of using multiple straight stairlifts to navigate a split-level house is the ease of installation, de-installation, and stairlift repair. Thanks to the ubiquitous nature of straight-track stairlifts, you will also have more stairlift rental options and can return or resell a stairlift if you no longer need it at some point after purchase. While it might seem counter-intuitive, renting or purchasing several straight stairlifts can often work out cheaper than getting a custom-built curved stairlift.
Disadvantages of Multiple Straight Stairlifts
The main disadvantage of multiple straight stairlifts is that the user will need to stop and transfer from one chair to the next every time they reach an intermediate landing. In a split-level home, this could result in multiple stops. The other disadvantage of using a series of straight stairlifts is that you will need a separate power outlet for each stairlift's battery charger rather than using a single power outlet at the bottom or top landing only.
Alternatives to Stairlifts
In a split-level home, a stairlift might not be the only—or even the best—way to move someone with limited mobility safely to the basement or second floor. If each staircase consists only of only a few steps, it could be worth considering an alternative solution.
Wheelchair Lifts
Wheelchair users who travel in wheelchair-accessible vans will be familiar with wheelchair lifts. As it turns out, a wheelchair lift or vertical platform lift can sometimes be used to raise a wheelchair user from one level of a split-level home to the next.
Ramps
For very short staircases, wheelchair ramps could be a viable solution for people who use a manual wheelchair, power wheelchair, or mobility scooter in the home.
Other Features to Consider for Stairlifts in Split-Level Homes
If you do decide to go with a stairlift to help a loved one navigate the stairs safely, it's helpful to be familiar with the models, features, and add-ons available.
Weight Capacity
Stairlifts start from very basic models made for lightweight or occasional use. For example, the entry rental stairlift models offered at Mobility Plus Colorado in Denver have a weight capacity of 275 lbs. For higher weight capacities and user heights above 6'2", you could be looking at a heavy-duty stairlift, which generally comes at a higher cost.
Seat Measurements
Stairlift seats also come in a variety of sizes. Stairlifts with higher weight capacities will typically come with a greater seat width and backrest height. An adjustable seat height may also be an advantage for some individuals.
Seat Styles
Depending on how much space you have, you may need to consider a standing stairlift or stairlift with a folding seat so that the seat doesn't pose a tripping hazard. Alternatively, angled seats are available that are tilted back slightly for users who are at a greater risk of falls.
Additional Features
Depending on the model, several other convenience and safety features might be included:
Power folding footrest
Power swivel seat
Obstruction sensors
Remote controls with call and send buttons
At the time of installation, you may also be able to ask for a manual folding rail or power folding rail to avoid any overhang from taking up space in the living areas.
The Importance of Professional Installation and Maintenance
Once you've selected a stairlift or an alternative like a vertical platform lift for your split-level home, it's important to have your chosen equipment installed by factory-trained technicians. Not only will you benefit from a labor warranty on the work done, but you will enjoy the peace of mind that you or your loved one will be safe.
Many mobility equipment retailers also offer ongoing maintenance plans to ensure that your stairlift(s) are in top working condition and that the track and gears are well-oiled; these plans may also include battery replacements. Stairlift rental includes maintenance and repairs in the rental cost, so you won't have to worry about anything after installation.
Renting vs Purchasing a Stairlift for Split-Level Homes
Families living in split-level homes who only have temporary needs might consider stairlift rental rather than stairlift purchase. You might also like to "test-drive" a stairlift before making a permanent decision. As stairlifts are a significant investment (especially if more than one is required), stairlift rental can also spread out the cost of having a stairlift over time.
If you do decide to rent stairlifts rather than buy, this will limit your options to a series of straight stairlifts rather than a custom-built curved stairlift. However, as explained earlier, straight stairlifts come with the advantage of being able to return or resell each stairlift later on.
Deciding Whether to Rent or Buy
Generally, it's more cost-effective to purchase a stairlift if you intend to use it for 13 months or more. For shorter periods, stairlift rental is more economical. If you wish to have a curved stairlift installed from the beginning for the most comfortable ride, you will need to purchase the stairlift outright with no possibility of return.
The Right Mobility Solution for Your Home
Whether you opt for a curved stairlift, multiple straight stairlifts, a wheelchair lift, or a ramp for moving safely around your split-level home, the investment you make in mobility equipment truly can be life-changing in terms of increased independence, mobility, and safety.
If you're still not sure which mobility solutions would be most appropriate for your split-level home or whether it would make more sense to renovate or move into a single-story house, a physical therapist and/or mobility equipment specialist can explain the options and help you make an informed choice.