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We have been planning for a few years for my parent to move downstairs, but it appears that the huge bedroom, rooflights, view etc are still attractive. So now we are talking about lifts and stairlifts (which the Yanks call, delightfully, "Chairlifts", as if you reach 89 then go skiing down your stairs.) I have been suggesting planning for these for some time, and now I find I may need one myself. In addition to stairlifts we are considering platform lifts (ie on a deck with half height or full height surround) and cabinet lifts (cabinet like a telephone box). Does anyone have any real world experience with these? The issues seem to be: 1 - That it meets the need, safely and practically without ever leaving the user stranded. 2 - How far the spec goes - eg lift large enough to carry wheelchairs or not. 3 - What happens after the need is ended (eg impact on sale of house) vs minimal value if it is sold. 4 - Then more minor questons such as whether a walk-thru or drive-thru (2 door) lift is a more useable option, or eg a smaller lift and 2 wheelchairs for upstairs and downstairs, and if it looks like a hospital-import. We are nowhere near the wheelchair stage yet, but it needs to be considered. As far as I can see the realistic options and costs are: 1 - Stairlift, which is removed when the need is no longer there. Cost new say 2k -> 5k. 2 - Minimal lift, which is clearly a temporary add on. May be essentially self-supporting. Remove when need no longer there. Costs say £10k+ for the lift plus install. 3 - Lift integrated into house design/structure, with the extra aim of enhancing the house. Costs say 25k+ including the lift as may require structural work. 4 - Something refurbished by the manufacture. I can imagine these being 30-50% of the new price, which - if it is a piece of kit costing thousands *may* be worth a look subject especially to safety / reliability / guarantees. Any comments one any of this would be welcome, as there are a lot of angles to tease out. The hsoue here is a converted bungalow with angled roofs all over the place upstairs, and a lot of walls not quite aligning with downstairs, so we will just invite some reps and give them the run of it and ask for options in the first instance. Ferdinand

This thread is for different types of work platforms and scaffolding towers. What do you have, and is it easy to use? Stengths and weaknesses? In my case ideally I need something that will reach perhaps 8m working height (ie 6-7m platform), but will work with a narrow base (side path) and can be carried in a car or trailer. This is a little different to most self-builders, in that I have several houses to maintain and a greater need for transportability. It would be useful if others could add more traditional scaffold towers. I will post videos of a few I have found. All have different strengths and weaknesses. (Currently, there is a Youngman scaffolding tower for sale in the Buildhub Marketplace.) Ferdinand