A few steps at the front door can shut a wheelchair or scooter user out of their own home. A vertical platform lift, often called a porch lift, solves that problem in a small footprint. Here is what Central New York homeowners should know.
What is a vertical platform lift?
It is a platform that travels straight up and down, a little like a small open elevator. You roll on at ground level, press and hold a button, and the platform raises you to the height of the porch, deck or doorway. Side guards and a safety gate keep you secure during the ride.
Where they are used
- Front or back porches and decks
- Garage entrances, where there are steps up into the house
- Split-level landings inside the home
- Stages, churches and small businesses that need wheelchair access
Platform lift or ramp?
A ramp needs a lot of length to stay at a safe slope. Even a modest rise can call for a ramp that runs most of the way across a yard. A platform lift covers the same rise in a few square feet, which makes it the better choice for higher porches and smaller lots. A ramp can still make sense for a rise of only a step or two.
Built for our weather
Outdoor platform lifts are made to work in rain, snow and cold. In a Central New York winter, keep the platform and the landing clear of snow and ice, just as you would the steps. A roof or awning over the lift helps.
Vertical or inclined?
A vertical lift goes straight up beside the steps. An inclined platform lift carries a wheelchair along the staircase itself on a rail, which is useful indoors where there is no room for a vertical lift. Which one suits you depends on the layout and the height to be covered.
What to think about
- The height the lift needs to travel
- The size and weight of the wheelchair or scooter
- Where the lift will sit and how you will approach it
- A level, solid base, usually a concrete pad
- Local code and permit requirements
See what fits your home
Nationwide Lifts of Central New York installs wheelchair lifts for homes and businesses in Syracuse, Rochester, Utica and Binghamton. Call (315) 849-2952 for a free consultation.