Most homes built in North Carolina in the last thirty years follow a familiar pattern: living areas downstairs, bedrooms up, and often a bonus room over the garage. It is a great layout until the staircase starts to feel like an obstacle.
The main staircase
In many of these homes the stairs rise from the foyer or the family room in one straight run, sometimes with a short turn at the top or bottom. A straight run takes a standard stair lift, fitted in a few hours.
Stairs with a landing
Where the staircase has a landing and a turn, there are two choices: a lift with a rail made to follow the turn, or two straight lifts with a short walk between them.
The bonus room
The room over the garage often has its own staircase. If it is a hobby room, an office or a grandchild’s bedroom you want to keep using, a second lift makes it reachable.
Two-story foyers
Open foyers are a feature of these homes. A stair lift parks at the top or bottom, folds up and takes little away from the look.
What makes it practical
- No remodeling. The rail fixes to the treads.
- Carpet stays in place
- Battery power keeps it running in an outage
- It can be removed if you sell
Is a downstairs bedroom better?
Some homes have a main-level primary suite, which is ideal. If yours does not, adding one is a major project. A stair lift is usually the quicker and cheaper way to keep using the bedroom you have.
For a wheelchair
A home elevator is the right solution, and a pneumatic model can often be added to an existing two-story.
Have your stairs measured
See our stair lifts. Nationwide Lifts of North Carolina serves Raleigh, Charlotte and beyond. Call (910) 377-7643 or request a free home visit.