Stairlifts Rayleigh
If you find walking up stairs uncomfortable, a stairlift will offer the assurance and assistance to move with ease. The two main styles of stair lift are straight and curved. straight stairlifts travel in one straight line, curved lifts can handle corners. Curved lifts are a lot more expensive.
Rayleigh, Hockley, Hawkwell, Eastwood has a good choice of stair lift makes to suit your needs.
Manufacturers you may of heard of include
- Acorn
- Stannah
- Companion
- Brooks
- Platinum Stairlifts
- Bruno
- TKA
- Oto Lift
Pre-owned stairlifts can be more affordable than brand new models. Buy a reconditioned stair lift from a reputable company over a private seller to ensure safety and quality. Buying from the likes of eBay, Gumtee, Rayleigh Facebook Group or other classified ads may seem like a cheap option but it's unlikely you'll find a stairlift company that will install and warranty a stairlift they have not supplied. All reputable reconditioned stairlift companies in Rayleigh will facilitate the install, making the process easy. If you do buy a 2nd hand lift, be sure to get at least one-year warranty cover.
Before a stairlift is fitted, you must book a home survey from a professional stairlift surveyor. This process will assess exactly what's required and how much it's going to cost. If you're happy with the quote, the stairlift can be installed. It is not necessary to do any building work as stairlifts connect to the stairs, not the walls. Installation usually takes no more than a day if everything goes well.
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Curved Stairlifts
A curved stairlift is typically required when there is a curved or non-standard staircase in a home or building. It is designed to navigate stairs that have bends, curves, or intermediate landings. Here are a few scenarios where a curved stairlift might be necessary:
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Curved Staircase: If your staircase features a curve or bend, a curved stairlift is essential to navigate the turns smoothly and safely. The track of a curved stairlift is custom-made to match the specific shape and angles of the stairs.
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Spiral Staircase: Spiral staircases are compact and often have a central column. These staircases require a specially designed curved stairlift that can accommodate the tight curve and narrow width of the steps.
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Multiple Landings: If your staircase has intermediate landings, where the stairs change direction or level, a curved stairlift can be customized to travel across these landings seamlessly.
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Unique Architectural Design: In homes or buildings with unique or unconventional staircase designs, such as helical or freestanding stairs, a curved stairlift may be necessary to provide accessibility without compromising the aesthetics of the structure.
It's important to consult with a professional stairlift provider to assess your specific staircase configuration and determine if a curved stairlift is the appropriate solution for your accessibility needs.
Curved stairlifts are pricier than straight stairlifts because of the intricate design required to navigate turns. As curved staircases are less universal in shape than straight ones, you are more likely to need a custom-built rail, which will also be expensive. Curved stairlifts start at around £3,850 but multiple bends and stops will cost extra.
Common curved stairlift brands include:
- Handicare 4000
- 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 right choice. However, in the case of two straight staircases connected by a landing, it may be necessary to consider installing two separate stairlifts.
The designs of straight staircases featured (A-D) can give you a better idea of whether you'd need a straight stair lift.
The average starting price of a new straight stairlift is around £1,950. Because they usually have a relatively simple design, straight stair lifts cost less than curved stairlifts. Additional features like a powered hinge rail and a powered swivel seat will cost more.
Popular straight stairlift brands: • Acorn 130, • Brooks Lincoln, • Handicare 1100/1000, • Platinum Horizon, • Stannah 600 and • Thyssen Homeglide
Outdoor stairlifts
Do you have an external set of stairs, perhaps leading up to your front door our out to a garden area? Consider getting an outside stair lift. Whether to reach your property unassisted or parts of your garden that bring you joy, an outdoor stair lift can be an excellent investment. Stairs can pose a significant risk for individuals with limited mobility or balance issues. Outdoor stairlifts offer a secure and stable mode of transportation, reducing the chances of falls or accidents that can lead to injuries.
Outdoor stairlifts in East of England will typically start from £2,400, but other environmental factors may increase this. Stairs with turns will cost more than a short straight set.
External stairlifts are the same as internal stairlifts, but include waterproof components to make them more weather resistant. When you aren't using your external stair lift, a protective cover will provide extra protection from nasty weather.
If your property is by the sea, your outdoor stairlift is more likely to suffer weather damage. Salt in the sea air can damage parts of the stairlift over time. A cover will also help to keep the seat dry.
Narrow Chairlifts
If your stairs are particularly narrow, look for a stairlift model specifically for limited spaces. Collapsible parts and compact designs mean your stairlift can be minimal in size and fold out of the way when not in use. An excellent stairlift for narrow stairs 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 chair automatically turns to get the passenger through the smallest sections on your staircase without the user's knees hitting the opposite wall. The other option to consider is a perch stairlift. When using a perch stairlift, you partially stand but with a seat to lean on. Although, it may not be suitable if you have minimal mobility, which makes partially standing tiring or unsafe.
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Heavy Duty Stairlifts
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.
The highest weight capacity currently available for straight stairs is the Handicare 1000 XXL, which can carry up to 31 stones. For curved staircases, some models have a weight capacity of up to 25 stone, such as the Platinum Ultimate. The highest weight capacity currently available for a curved staircase is the Bruno Elite, which can carry up to 30 stones.
If you exceed these weight limits, TFL's, sometimes described 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 travels 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.
While it's true Through-Floor Lifts come with a higher price tag, starting at £11,500, they can be a transformative investment that has the potential to significantly improve one's quality of life.
Reconditioned stair lifts Rayleigh
Ask about approved-used stairlifts if costs are a concern. Sourcing a pre-used stairlift for a straight staircase is straightforward. Shortening an existing straight stairlift rail to fit your stairs is cheaper than buying a brand new rail. Pre-used curved stairlift rails are not easy to re-fit as they've most likely been custom-made to a specific job. One possible approach is to buy a brand new bespoke curved rail and buy a reconditioned curved stairlift seat.
It can be cheaper to purchase a stairlift second-hand in Rayleigh than buying a new one. Buying a pre-owned stairlift from a private seller may seem sensible, but it’s typically problematic and fraught with risk. Unless you’re a qualified stairlift engineer, buying a refurbished stairlift from a reputable stair lift company is much more sensible.
A refurbished stair lift, from a reputable company, will also come with a 1 year guarantee, meaning you're protected if it breaks down within a year of it being fitted.
If you’re considering a stairlift and live in Rayleigh, give us a call today on 0330 223 6584 or book your free home visit.