Stair lifts are used to carry people up and down the stairs. A set of tracks is attached to the stairs, and using a remote or set of call buttons, similar to an elevator, a chair is sent up and down the stairs. Stair lifts are more frequently found indoors, but there are several models that are made to be completely weather proof. These weather proof units can be used outdoors for your front steps.

An outdoor stair lift must be designed in a manner that is resistant to the elements. This means all areas must be tightly sealed against moisture, the unit must be rust proof, and it will have to use fabric that is also weather proof. Any steel is powder coated, which fights rusts, and special plastic is used that is not affected by the harsh rays of the sun. Metals like aluminum are also used as often as possible, because it is both strong and great for outdoors.

The installation of an outdoor stair lift is slightly more complicated than the installation of an inside stair lift, but it is still fairly straight forward. Most outdoor steps are made of concrete or brick, so special fasteners will need to be used. These are provided by the dealer and are easily installed.

In some cases an outdoor stair lift is not the best choice for installation on the front steps. The stair lift must attach to the steps, which will result in a loss of space. It is common to have a narrow set of front steps, so in these cases the stair lift may take up too much room. Some people instead opt for a vertical platform lift for their front steps. A vertical platform lift is a mini elevator, which raises a platform vertically up and down the distance of the steps. One of the advantages of a vertical platform lift is that it can be used to carry an individual in a wheelchair or mobility scooter up the stairs, where a stair lift can only be used to carry a seated person. The other advantage of a vertical platform lift as opposed to a stair lift is that it generally does not take up any stair space. They are installed next to the landing and raise the individual so that they can exit onto the landing.