Stairlifts Downham
The two main styles of stairlift: straight and curved. While straight stairlifts can only move in one straight line, curved stairlift can handle bends. Curved stairlift are significantly more expensive due to their unique design and additional cost of installation.
Downham, Wickford, Queens Park, Billericay has plenty of stairlift makes to pick from.
Brands you may of heard of are: Acorn, Bruno, Handicare, Platinum, Stannah and Thyssenkrupp
From Brook's affordable range to more bespoke stairlift with additional features and designs to suit your home, everyone can find something they like.
Refurbished stairlifts are often cheaper than new. Buy a reconditioned stairlift from a trusted brand to ensure quality and safety. All reputable reconditioned stairlift companies in Downham will provide installation services, streamlining the whole process. For peace of mind, make sure your lift includes at least a one-year warranty.
Prior to a stairlift being fitted, you must book a home survey from a professional stairlift surveyor. They will assess what's required and how much it's going to cost. Once you've approved the quotation, the installation can get started.
Typically, stairlifts don't require building work since they attach to the stairs rather than to the wall. Installation usually takes no more than a day if everything goes well.
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Curved Stairlifts
Here are a few scenarios where a curved stairlift would be necessary:
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Curved Staircase: If your staircase features curves or turns, a curved stairlift is essential to navigate the bends smoothly and safely. The rail of a curved stairlift is custom-designed to match the specific shape of your staircase.
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Multiple Landings: In cases where you have a staircase with multiple landings or intermediate platforms, a curved stairlift is designed to traverse these complex configurations, ensuring a seamless ride between different levels.
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Unique Architectural Design: If your home has a unique or custom-designed staircase that doesn't conform to a standard straight shape, such as a spiral staircase, a curved stairlift is the ideal solution. It can be tailored to accommodate the specific dimensions and curvature of the stairs.
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Maximizing Space: Curved stairlifts are often preferred when space is limited, and a straight stairlift installation is not feasible. They can be installed on narrow or compact staircases that would otherwise be unsuitable for a traditional straight stairlift.
Overall, the main factor determining the need for a curved stairlift is the presence of curves, bends, or multiple landings in a staircase, which necessitates a customized solution to ensure safe and comfortable mobility for individuals with limited mobility or disabilities.
Curved stairlifts are generally pricier than straight stairlifts because navigating corners requires a more intricate design than travelling in a straight line. As curved staircases are less universal in shape than straight ones, you are more likely to need a custom-built rail, which can also be expensive. The starting price of curved stairlifts is about £3,850. Multiple bends and stopping locations will be extra.
Common curved stairlift brands include:
- Handicare 2000
- Stannah 260 {Siena}
- Platinum Ultimate
- Otolift Modul-Air
- Thyssen Flow X / Access BDD Flow X
Straight Stairlifts
If your property features a straight staircase without any bends or curves, a straight stairlift is the most suitable option. However, in the case of two straight staircases connected by a landing, you have the choice of either two separate stairlifts or one continuous curved stairlift.
The images of straight staircases featured (A-D) can give you an idea of whether you'd need a straight stairlift.
The starting price for a brand new straight stairlift is around £1,950. Because they have a pretty simple design, straight stairlifts cost less than curved stairlifts. Additional features like a powered hinge or telescopic rail and a powered swivel seat will cost more.
Popular straight stairlift makes and models: • Acorn 130, • Brooks Lincoln, • Handicare 1100/1000, • Platinum Horizon, • Stannah 600 and • Thyssen Homeglide
Outdoor stairlifts
Are you finding steps to your home a challenge? Consider installing an external stairlift. Whether to reach your property unassisted or parts of your garden that bring you joy, an outdoor stairlift can restore your confidence and independence.
An outdoor stairlift will cost in the region of £2,400, but this can be higher or lower depending on the length and style of your stairs. Stairs with turns will cost more than a short straight staircase.
Outdoor stairlifts are similar in design to indoor stairlifts, but include waterproof components to make them more weather resistant. When you're not using your external stairlift, a weatherproof cover will provide extra shielding from the Great British weather.
If you live by the sea, your external stairlift is more likely to suffer weather damage. Salt in the air can damage the stairlift over time. The weather-proof cover will also help to keep the seat dry.
Twin rail outdoor stairlift
garden step lift
External stair lift
Outside step chair lift
Narrow Chair Lifts
If your staircase is narrow, you can get a stairlift designed especially for tight spaces. When not in use, folding armrests, seat and footplate allow your stairlift to fold away as slim as 300mm.
An excellent stairlift for tight spaces is the Thyssen Flow X. The Flow X stairlift is the narrowest on the market, designed to work on stairs as narrow as 610mm. The carriage automatically swivels to get the stairlift user through the smallest sections on your staircase without hitting anything.
Another option to look into is a perched seat stairlift. When using a perch stairlift, you partially stand but with a seat to perch on. It's excellent if you have restricted knee or hip joints that make sitting uncomfortable. However, it's not suitable if partially standing makes you feel unsteady.
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Heavy Duty Chairlifts
The weight limit of stairlifts differs based on the specific model. Manufacturers such as Handicare and Bruno provide bariatric stairlifts with increased max weight capacity.
For curved stairs, some models have a weight capacity of up to 25 stone, such as the Platinum Ultimate. The highest weight capacity currently available for curved stairlifts is the Bruno Elite, which can carry up to 30 stones. For straight staircases, the Handicare 1000 XXL can take up to 31 stones. It also has a wider seat, an extended seat base and an extended armrest to keep you comfortable.
If you exceed these weight limits, TFL's, sometimes referred to as home lifts or residential elevators, provide a safe and secure way to move between different levels of a home. Through-floor-lifts consist of a self-contained cabin that moves vertically, through a newly made aperture within a dedicated shaft or enclosure.
To operate a through-floor lift, a user enters the lift cabin at one level and selects up or down. The lift moves smoothly and quietly, through the aperture in the ground floor ceiling, guided by a rail system. The cabin ascends or descends to the chosen floor, allowing the user to exit at their destination safely.
Through floor lifts typically use an electric motor and a system of cables, pulleys, or hydraulic mechanisms to move the cabin. They are designed to be space-efficient and can be customised to fit the specific dimensions of a home.Through floor lifts provide a practical solution for individuals with mobility challenges, enabling them to move between floors effortlessly and comfortably.
Costing in the region of £11,500, Through-Floor-Lifts can be expensive compared to a stairlift. However, they're sometimes your only option if you want to stay in your existing home.
Reconditioned stairlifts Downham
For those with a restricted budget, it's worth considering a pre-owned stairlift as a cost-effective option. The process of finding a reconditioned stairlift for a straight staircase is typically straightforward. Shortening an existing straight stairlift rail to fit your stairs is generally straightforward. Pre-used curved stairlift rails are not easy to re-fit as they've most likely been custom-made to a specific customer. The solution is to purchase a brand new bespoke curved rail and opt for a pre-owned, refurbished, curved stairlift chassis.
It can be cheaper to purchase a stairlift second-hand in Downham than buying a new one. Purchasing a pre-owned stairlift from a private seller may seem like the most affordable option, but it’s typically problematic and fraught with risk. Unless you’re a qualified stairlift expert, buying a refurbished stairlift from a reputable company is much more sensible.
Reconditioned stairlifts, from a reputable company, will also come with a 1 year warranty, meaning you're covered for up to a year should anything go wrong.
If you’re considering a stairlift and live in Downham, give us a call today on 0330 223 6584 or book your free home visit.