Porch Lifts: Opening up Your Home

A lot of people in the United States use manual and electric wheelchairs on a daily basis. For these people, and also those who use mobility scooters, a set of stairs can present a very large hurdle, which without the proper type of equipment, can be hard to overcome. The vertical platform lifts is one of the most common ways that this hurdle is overcome and can usually be installed with little or no actual construction.

A vertical platform lift shares many similarities with an elevator. In fact a vertical platform lifts is basically an elevator that is completely self contained and does not need a shaft. They are usually installed onto the front stairs of a home and so are frequently called porch lifts, but they can be installed indoors as well.

A platform is raised and lowered vertically to transport a person on a mobility vehicle, such as a wheelchair or mobility scooter. They are also used by people who have difficulty climbing the stairs and most have a weight capacity that can support multiple people at one time.

The base of a vertical platform lift is generally secured directly to a base that is made out of concrete or wood. Depending on how high up the lift goes, it also might be necessary to secure it to the side of the stairs as well. This is to prevent it from leaning and putting stress on the base, but is usually not needed unless you are lifting more that 4.5 feet.

Using a vertical platform lift can help to open up all areas of your home and will make your area completely accessible.