Stairlifts
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What Is A Stairlift?
A stairlift is a piece of mobility equipment that is installed to the stairs. They are also often known as chair lifts. The stairlift comprises of 3 main parts: the seat, the carriage, and the rail.
The seat is self-explanatory and is the part of the stairlift the user sits on. The seat is attached to the carriage which is located just below the seat. The carriage houses the internal motor, circuit, and batteries. The final part is the track (also known as a rail) which is the long piece of aluminium or steel that runs up from the bottom of the stairs to the first step. The track is usually bolted to the stairs and does not attach to the wall.
The batteries power the motor and allows the carriage to drive the seat up, or down, the stairs safely. The track has charging points at the bottom and the top so that when the stairlift arrives at its destination, it can continue charging. If the stairlift is left off the charging point for some time, or turned off, the battery will eventually go flat and once flat, it cannot be recharged. Once a stairlift battery has died, a replacement battery is required.
So, How Does A Stairlift Work?
The stairlift user must sit on the chair with the arms and footrest folded down. Some stairlifts will not operate if it doesn’t detect any weight on the seat, or that the arms and footrest are folded down and ready to be used for safety reasons. The stairlift is usually operated via controls on its arms, as well as from a handheld remote control placed at the top or bottom of the stairs. The handheld remote control is essential if there are two stairlift users in the same household so they can recall the stairlift back when needed.
How Much Is A Straight Stairlift?
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How Do I Know If I Need A Stairlift?
If you are worried about buying a stairlift, there may be some other options for you:
- A Chronic Illness
- A Disability
- Age related symptoms
- A Long-term injury
A stairlift offers a way for the user to regain their independence and retain their existing way of life in a dignified and respectful way. Unfortunately, many people tend to shy away from buying a stairlift out of pride or stubbornness to adapt, but this could ultimately lead to a very serious fall or the requirement to move into care or a ground floor accommodation. If you are starting to struggle, or are trying to help someone who is, we highly recommend getting in touch and receiving some free no obligation quotes, even if you are undecided. Many of our installers have showrooms where your loved one can test the stairlift and feel comfortable with their decision. The installer will attend the home and conduct a completely free survey so you can get an accurate quote for a stairlift that suits the needs of the user, and the home.
Guide To Buying A Stairlift
Buying a stairlift can be a life altering decision. Done correctly, buying a stairlift can change your life for the better and provide you or your loved one with much needed independence and security. If you are thinking of buying a stairlift, we will share our favourite tips to ensure you make the right decision and get the very best price.
When receiving a quote and filling in our form, there is also an option to provide your timescales (if you have any) so we can discuss this with our panel of installers for the quotes.
01 – Research
Doing research on your purchase is one of the best ways to ensure you know exactly what you are buying, and what to expect. Research can tell you the average price you can expect to pay, what makes, and models are on the market, as well as which installers are reliable and trustworthy.
02 – Get 3 Quotes
Based on customer feedback, we feel that most people think 3 is the magic number when it comes to how many stairlift quotes you should acquire. Customers who only had one quote would often say they felt they paid over the odds, or that they rushed into the purchase. However, on the opposite end of the spectrum; customers who had 4 quotes or more said they felt overwhelmed and ‘pestered’ by too many companies they had gotten quotes from.
Our advice would be to stick to 2-3 quotes at maximum so you can compare the price and the product on offer, but so not so many that it feels confusing. If you don’t feel like you have the right deal after your initial quotes, we would suggest a few weeks to reflect before you obtain any more.
It is also important to remember that although price is very important and may be a big influence on your decision, there are other factors that should influence your decision such as:
- Installation timescales
- How reliable is the stairlift product?
- How much would the servicing/repairs cost you should the stairlift fail?
- Can the installer make the adaptations necessary for the stairlift to fit the stairs safely and meet the needs of the user?
- If the stairlift if reconditioned, try to find out how old the stairlift is i.e will it last as long as the user requires it?
03 – Try Before You Buy
Many of the stairlift installers we partner with have nationwide show homes so you can physically go and speak to their sales staff and ask any questions you have. Within their show homes they often have a small flight of stairs where you can sit and get a demonstration of their stairlift and how it operates. This is particularly useful for the customers who may be a little reluctant, or even afraid of the getting a stairlift. The sales staff can show you how easy and hassle free stairlift is to operate!
04 – Arrange A Survey
A very important step in obtaining your stairlift quotations is to arrange for a stairlift surveyor to visit the property. Although many of our customers are reluctant to have a survey it is completely free of charge and no obligation, so you don’t have to be ready to commit to arrange a survey!
The survey is so important because although the sales team can give you a general price for your stairlift, until they see your stairs, they will not know what you require. Many things in your home could alter the price of your stairlift such as:
- A shorter or longer flight of stairs than standard
- If you require a curved stairlift and custom rail to be manufactured
- Do the electrics need altering for the stairlift to be fitted?
- A hinge may need adding to the rail if the top of bottom would obstruct a doorway or cause a tripping hazard
- Based on the user’s measurements, do any alterations need to be made?
- Lastly will the user require any additional upgrades such as powered swivel that will automatically turn the stair when it arrives at the top of the stairs, or can they made do with a manual swivel?
How Much Is A Stairlift?
There are two major types of stairlift: the straight and the curved. Straight stairlifts are generally not produced specifically for your order and are manufactured in a standard way with a few variations in rail length to fit different stairs, but can still be made custom with ‘add on’s such as a hinged rail, powered swivel, powered footplate, and a variety of seat choices such as colour and fabric.
A curved stairlift however is made to order as the rail must manufactured custom for the property. Most stairlift rails are modular, so the rail splits into pieces that are put together, however there are hundreds of variations, so they are usually manufactured particularly for the customer’s order.
The price you will pay for your stairlift will depend on whether you require a straight or a curved stairlift.
How Much Is A Straight Stairlift?
Straight stairlifts typically cost between £2,000 – £3,000 depending on the specifications required by the user and the length of the rail. The price is inclusive of the survey, installation, customisations (if applicable), warranty and sometimes a service package if you have opted for this. Some installers will also include removal when you no longer need the stairlift.
How Much Is A Curved Stairlift?
Curved stairlifts cost between £3,500 – £7,000 which again is dependent on your home’s measurements. The price also includes the survey, installation, warranty and potentially a servicing package to keep the stairlift well maintained, however some installers charge additionally for this and not within their stairlift price.
The reason curved stairlifts are much more expensive is because the rail itself is expensive to manufacture and is made custom for your staircase. The installation is also more complicated and takes longer to complete. Typically, curved stairlifts that are at the higher end of the price bracket are very long rails that span over several floors of the home, which would be cheaper to install than separate stairlifts for each floor.
What Is The Best Stairlift On The Market?
There is no one ‘best’ stairlift, as different models are manufactured to be slightly different so that there is a stairlift so suit everyone. The best stairlift you can buy would be a stairlift that is priced competitively, is reliable, easy to operate and that can be installed in the timescale that you require.
From experience we find that customers rarely have issues with the stairlift they have selected, but rather have bad experiences with the installers that fit them.
All our chosen suppliers are reputable installers who:
- Employ trained and professional stairlift engineers
- Provide a free no pressure survey and quote
- Have their own repair team should your stairlift need fixing
- Provide warranty on your stairlift as standard within the price you pay
- Only install stairlifts which are safe and fit for purpose
Our selection of installers are able to fit the following models, but others can be fitted on request if you have a specific stairlift in mind:
- Acorn (130 T700 straight & 180 curved)
- Brooks (straight & curved)
- Handicare (950 & 1100 straight, Freecurve & 2000 curved)
- Companion (straight & curved)
- Age UK (straight & curved)
- Stannah (600 straight, 260 Siena/Starla curved)
- Thyssenkrupp (Levant straight, Flow 2a & Flow X curved)
- Access (Homeglide/Homeglide extra straight, Flow 2 & Flow X curved)
- TK Elevator (Comfort straight, S200 curved)