In this case study we discuss a recent 3 storey stairlift installation into the bedroom. This was a tricky installation and we carried the lift straight into the bedroom. The downside of carrying a lift into the bedroom can be the problem of closing the door. But the upside is that you are carried away from the top of the stairs, so it can be a safer option. It is particularly useful when someone has severe mobility issues, as the case was here.
Here’s the house layout and as you can see, there’s a fair few stairs here!
This one required a Flow X – stairlift for narrow stairs. Not only was this a narrow staircase, but it also had a couple of parking points needed so the client could get off on each floor and leave the lift to charge.
3 Floor Stairlift Installation – Case Study
Before we begin a stairlift installation like this one there is always a stairlift survey carried out. In this case, it was a photo survey which gave us the exact dimensions of the staircase. It also allowed the rail to be customised specifically for the best fit.
Here’s a quick snapshot of the plans for the stairlift which is used by the engineer to determine the angles and positions of each rail part as it goes in. The top image ( picture left) shows the position of the stairlift on the top floor, leading into the bedroom, and parking position in the bedroom. The lower dimensions show the lower floors rail position and bottom floor parking point. On the right you can see the actual stairlift parked on the ground floor.
Case Study – 3 Floor Stairlift Installation
This was quite a big job, and similar to another case study we carried out in Plymouth on a four-story steel spiral staircase. This one actually had more rail parts than the spiral job in Plymouth. This was because for the spiral staircase, the rails were internal (like this one) but much steeper. So this one needed more rail sections, even though there were fewer floors.
The first section of the rail goes in at the top. Each section is then connected to it until the whole rail is in one piece. Then measurements are taken and the rail can be slightly altered to give the lift the right amount of space around tight bends. The rail brings the user away from the stairs and comfortably into the bedroom.
This did mean the door couldn’t be closed, but for this one, this was less important than comfort and safety for the client. We have in the past even created small hatches for a door, so it can be closed. Here’s one for another case study we did where we created a small hatch so the door could be closed.
3 storey stairlift into bedroom – Joining The Rail Parts & Removing Excess Paint
Here you can see Scott, our chief engineer, adding the sections a piece at a time. Each rail connection is important because the stairlift will travel over the joins. If the joins aren’t tight and fitted correctly, there will be a “bump” which will be noticeable when using the stairlift.
When the stairlift rails are manufactured, they are power coated and then placed in an oven. This melts the paint and creates a consistent cover of the rails. However, some of this paint inevitably gets into the joins, which can cause a poor connection. So this is filed off so the rails fit together snugly! You can see Scott filing the paint off the rail join in the picture above right.
Paint can sometimes get into join holes too, so care is taken to remove excess paint which would otherwise affect the fitting of the rail, and ultimately the feel of the stairlift when in use as it passes over joins.
3 Storey Stairlift Installation – Adjusting The Rail Once Completed
Once the rail is fully installed, (which took a while for this installation), it can be adjusted. Careful measurements are taken around the turns to make sure the stairlift will travel without hitting any of the handrails. The top piece is measured too so as to be completely horizontal.
A slight angle can affect the whole rail. But once the top piece is aligned correctly, the other pieces should be in their correct position. Below you can see Scott measuring the distance of the rail from the handrail post. On the right he is using a measuring device to ensure the top rail is perfectly horizontal.
3 Storey Stairlift into Bedroom – Rail Adjustment
Once the rail is in the correct position, it can be screwed into the staircase. This can be tricky, especially with a staircase such as this one. One section might be in the right position and another section not. So a little jiggling is sometimes required to make sure each part is correctly positioned to allow the stairlift to avoid all the obstacles, particularly the rail posts on tight corners.
The rail is screwed into the floor through the carpet and the position of the rail is fixed. Once this is done, power is connected to the rail and the stairlift base is installed on the rail.
Once this is completed, the stairlift chair can be added to the base and the stairlift is programmed to correctly manoeuvre along the rail, carefully avoiding any obstacles. The remote controls and parking points are also programmed so the stairlift stops automatically on each floor in the correct position.
Programming Problems
With this installation there was a slight issue with the programming in that the stairlift thought it was a “left-side” lift. With it being installed on the right hand side of the staircase, this caused some issues. It meant the programming cycle had to be re-started. Normally this wouldn’t be a big issue. But when you have to complete the full staircase length each time you program the chair, a long staircase like this one makes all the difference.
Because this was a reconditioned stairlift, it had previous programming which slightly extended the fitting time due to this confusion. With our other stairlift installation (on the four story spiral staircase), this wasn’t an issue because it was a brand new lift. With a new lift, the programming is already done on the factory level, so there’s less to do for the engineer. Reconditioned stairlifts retain their original programming and need to be cleared and re-programmed for the new staircase. This can add to the fitting time.
Here’s a short video of the installation showing the main sections mentioned in this post:
Here’s a slightly longer video. This one shows each section in more detail:
You can also find some of our other stairlift installations on our YouTube channel here.