subject: An Introduction To Wheelchair Lifts [print this page] Wheelchair lifts are designed to facilitate wheelchair users in getting up and down flights of stairs. There are models available for both indoor and outdoor use, and there are also lifts made specifically for commercial or residential use. Before you buy one, you're going to need to do more research than merely reading this article. Still, we do intend to provide a good overview of the various types of lifts which are on the market. That way, you can decide which type of lift you'd like to obtain more information about, and thus be left with an excellent foundation for further research.
There are basically three different types of indoor lifts. These are straight rail, curved rail, and wheelchair platform lifts. Straight rail lifts are exactly what they sound like. With this type of lift, you have a chair that moves along a straight rail. In essence, the chair itself is hooked onto the stairs. This is generally the least expensive type of lift. The reason is that it takes far less time to construct them than it takes to construct their curved rail counterparts. On the other hand, however, there aren't as many customization options available for these types of lifts, either.
Another type of indoor lift is the aforementioned curved rail lift. Just as a straight rail lift is exactly what it sounds like, a curved rail lift is a lift that operates along a curved rail. As you can imagine, this kind of lift has to be built along whatever curved staircase exists in the building it will be used in. As a result, it takes more effort. Needless to say, it is also more expensive. It also takes a little longer to build. Wheelchair platforms are lifts which are more common in commercial buildings, but they can also be used outdoors at private residences.
In terms of outdoor use, all three types of wheelchair lifts which we've already discussed are suitable there as well. The main differences lie in the steps taken to weatherproof these types of lifts. Whether you will be using lifts inside or outside of your building, or both, there are also many ways to change the appearance of your lifts so they end up blending in nicely with their surrounding environment. In any event, if you or someone you love is unable to walk up and down a flight of stairs, or simply has difficulty doing so, then one of these lifts is a must.
