Seattle’s older neighborhoods are lined with Craftsman bungalows and foursquares built on sloping lots. A typical one has a flight of concrete steps from the sidewalk, a porch, and inside, a steep stair to bedrooms tucked under the roof and another down to a daylight basement. After a few decades in the house, those stairs start to decide how you live.
Inside the house
The stair to the upper floor in a bungalow is usually straight, narrow and enclosed. That is good news. A compact stair lift is designed for exactly that kind of staircase.
- The rail fixes to the treads, so old-growth fir trim and plaster walls are untouched
- The folded chair leaves room for others to pass
- Installation takes a few hours
- It can be removed later with almost no trace
Low headroom
Upper floors in bungalows often have a sloped ceiling over the stairs. The surveyor checks that a seated rider has clearance along the whole run.
The basement stair
If the laundry or a family room is in the daylight basement, a second lift covers that flight.
Outside the house
The climb from the street is often the harder part, and in a wet climate, mossy steps are slippery for much of the year. An outdoor stair lift, with sealed components and a cover, carries you from the sidewalk to the porch.
Things to check
- The condition of the exterior steps
- Space to get on at the bottom without standing in the sidewalk
- A power outlet nearby
When a stair lift is not the answer
If a wheelchair is involved, look at a platform lift for the entry and a compact elevator inside.
Have your stairs surveyed
Nationwide Lifts of Washington offers a free in-home consultation. Call (425) 495-6910.