Stairlift & Chair Lifts vs. Home Elevator vs. Porch Lifts & Platform Lifts
Comparing Mobility Solutions
With almost 6 million Canadians struggling with arthritis, more people are facing mobility issues today than at any other point in history.
Technology has come a long way over the years and now there are several different home mobility solutions. Some of the most common are stair lifts (aka chair lifts), home elevators and porch lifts.
Each of these products have different benefits and drawbacks. It’s important to know which product best suits your needs so that you can make the correct choice.
We’ll discuss all these product’s features in this article.
Stairlifts
Stairlifts are motorized chairs that take you up and down the stairs of your house. The mechanism is pretty straightforward; you
sit in a chair, press a button, and let the stairlift take you where you want to go.
Despite their simple concept and mechanism, these lifts are quite versatile. They come in different designs and accommodate all types of stairs. Such as straight staircases and curved staircases.
![straight stairlift for narrow staircase](https://thestairliftstore.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/3202.jpg)
What Makes a Stairlift Stand Out?
1. It Takes Minimal Space
As a machine that aims to help you go up and down the stairs, your stairlift won’t take over your house. It’ll only take a small space in front of your staircase.
You’re probably thinking: “That sounds nice, but such a bulky chair will block my staircase.” Don’t worry. Manufacturers are aware of that issue. That’s why they build these chairs with a slim design. Most stairlifts only come out 6–8 inches from the wall.
2. Installation is Fast
You might think installing such a device would take forever, but that’s not true. If you hire professionals to do it, it’ll only take a couple of hours.
What Are the Disadvantages of a Stairlift?
Despite all the value they offer, stairlifts do have limitations. The main limitation being that they can only be used for stairs. And with only one person sitting on the lift at a time.
Home Elevators
How many times have you watched a TV show where a rich character had a home elevator? Didn’t it look cool? Why don’t you try installing it in your house?
![Home Elevator](https://thestairliftstore.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Affinity-white-4000px_Extended-Medium-1024x604.jpg)
What Makes a Home Elevator Stand Out?
At first glance, a home elevator may not sound like the most practical investment, but it’s more helpful than you think — at least for some people.
1. Makes Your House More Accessible
If you live in a multi-floor building with stairs being the only way to reach your apartment, a home elevator might be worth the money. It’ll take you from the bottom floor to the middle of your apartment in no time. Who could say no to that?
2. Increases Your House’s Value
Yes, installing a home elevator increases the value of your property. Buyers looking for convenience and comfort in their house will see that elevator as a gold mine, which will prompt them to pay more.
What Are the Disadvantages of a Home Elevator?
You can probably tell that installing a home elevator can be quite expensive. The average price can range from $20,000-100,000. That’s not even the worst part.
Even if you have the money, not everyone can install an elevator at home. It requires a certain amount of space, which not every house has.
Porch Lifts
A porch lift is an outdoor elevator that offers people who use wheelchairs and medical scooters easy access to a porch or deck. They’re a bit bulky, but they usually take up less space than classic elevators.
Like stairlifts, the mechanism of porch lifts is pretty straightforward. You just roll into the lift, hold the lift button until you reach the porch level, and then roll out of it.
The distance these lifts travel depends on their design. The classic ones can go 3’-4’. The more advanced lifts, though, can travel 12’.
![Porch Lifts](https://thestairliftstore.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/amg_product_slider_outdoor_main.jpg)
What Makes a Porch Lift Stand Out?
At first glance, a home elevator may not sound like the most practical investment, but it’s more helpful than you think — at least for some people.
1. It’s Durable
As an outdoor elevator, manufacturers build porch lifts to withstand various climate conditions. These include heavy storms, rain, heat waves, etc.
So, whether you live in a tropical environment or an ice-cold space, rest assured that the lift’s durable materials will withstand harsh weather.
2. It Requires Minimal Maintenance
With durable materials, your lift will require minimal maintenance. Of course, you should still keep a close eye for any malfunctions, but you won’t have to worry about constantly fixing issues.
3. It Won’t Affect Your Interior Space
With stairlifts, home elevators, and chair lifts, you have to readjust the interiors of your house to accommodate the new mobility device. Well, that won’t be the case with porch lifts.
Since you install it outside your house, all you have to do is focus on attaching the lift to your porch/deck properly.
What Are the Disadvantages of a Porch Lift?
You know what they say: “Nothing is perfect.” That applies to porch lifts, too. How? Well, they come with a serious flaw.
1. Minimal Space
Although porch lifts come in various sizes, they usually don’t offer that much space. You can argue that that’s an advantage. Who doesn’t want a slim elevator outside their house?
However, that limited space also means it can’t take a lot of people. So, you’re sacrificing practicality for convenience.
Final Thoughts
Phew! We’re finally done. Now you know the pros and cons of the different house mobility devices on the market.
Ultimately, each one has a different purpose and offers a different experience. So, if you want to choose one, pick the one that meets your needs as a consumer.
![Mark Glenney](https://thestairliftstore.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/mark-glenney.png)
Over 1000 Stairlifts Installed In GTA
Mark & the team have installed over 1000 Stairlifts, so you can count on us to do the job right. We understand the difficulty of this transition, so we go the extra mile to show that we care. Always transparent about our process and pricing, we’re here to answer any questions about your new mobility solution.
![infinity stairlift chair](https://thestairliftstore.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/INFINITY-MKII-color-options-Red-L.png)
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