Vermont has some of the oldest housing in the country, and it shows in the stairs. A farmhouse staircase from the 1800s can be barely wide enough for one person, with a steep pitch and a tight turn at the top where the builder made it fit around a chimney. Generations have climbed them. Eventually someone needs a little help.
Will a stair lift fit?
More often than people expect. Compact stair lifts are designed for narrow stairs, and the rail is set to the angle of your staircase, however steep. What matters is the clear width at seat and knee height, the headroom, and the space at each end.
Common features of old stairs
- A low ceiling or beam. The surveyor checks clearance for a seated rider all the way up.
- Winder steps. Triangular steps at a turn may need a rail that bends, or a lift that stops below them.
- A door at the bottom. Common in farmhouses to keep heat downstairs. A folding rail lets it close.
- Uneven treads. Brackets are adjusted to suit, and worn treads can be repaired first.
Protecting the house
The rail is screwed to the treads. Horsehair plaster, wide-board paneling and hand-turned balusters are not touched. If the lift is removed, a few small holes in the treads are all that remain.
Power cuts
Rural Vermont loses power in ice storms and high winds. A stair lift runs on its own batteries and keeps working.
When the stairs are simply too tight
Some staircases will not take a lift, or the rider cannot transfer to a seat. A shaftless home elevator, placed in a corner of a downstairs room and rising to the bedroom above, is the usual alternative.
Other improvements
- A second handrail
- Better lighting
- Non-slip strips on bare wood
Let us take a look
Nationwide Lifts of Vermont offers a free home assessment anywhere in the state. Call (802) 734-0869.