There’s a few different types of stairlifts so if you’re considering a stairlift purchase, it pays to know what’s what! For example, the two main categories of stairlift are straight and curved stairlifts. A straight stairlift is the cheapest and easiest to fit. So if you have a straight staircase, you’ll be able to easily get a stairlift fitted fairly quickly.
A curved stairlift can take longer to fit and may need more customisation, depending on your staircase. The stairlift rail might have to be ordered to measure, too, which can take longer.
Different Types Of Stairlift: Straight & Curved
A curved stairlift rail
The straight stairlift is the simplest type of stairlift. To get a measurement you take the distance from the very top of the stairs to the floor, along the top of each stair. Order a straight rail and choose a stairlift which suits you.
A straight stairlift
For a curved stairlift, it’s a little more complicated. You’ll usually need to have an engineer out to measure up for the correct fitting rail. This might need pre-ordering depending on the complexity of your staircase.
Whether you want a straight or a curved stairlift, we have you covered at UK Stairlifts. Drop our team a call and we’ll help you out. Call us on 0800 046 3438 or visit our contact page.
Different Types Of Stairlift: Reconditioned & New
Here at UK Stairlifts we offer both new and reconditioned stairlifts. Your own personal situation will usually dictate which is the most suitable for you. If you’re on a budget, a reconditioned stairlift gives you a more cost effective option, if a new stairlift is not practical financially.
So what’s the difference between a new and reconditioned stairlift? Well the price of course is much less with a reconditioned stairlift. We only choose the highest quality models to recondition. All are stripped down, cleaned and rebuilt to the highest standards in our factory. We thoroughly test them in our warehouse before sending them out. Every reconditioned stairlift comes with a full PLATINUM GUARANTEE. All parts, labour and call out charges are covered for 2 years so you can have total peace of mind.
A new stairlift will have a longer warranty, newer parts and can be simpler to fix should something go wrong. You can also customise a new stairlift, choosing your own particular features and colours to suit your decor.
However our reconditioned stairlifts are the most popular since they offer great value. We only choose the best models to recondition so they are always in great shape.
Different Types Of Stairlifts: Outdoor
While most people are in the market for a stairlift they can use in the home, some customers are looking for outdoor stairlifts. An outdoor stairlift needs to be weather proof and much hardier than an indoor one.
Often an outdoor stairlift is installed for just a few steps on a patio or to get to outside decking, for example. If you have an outer staircase leading to your house, you might be in the market for an outdoor stairlift!
Different Types Of Stairlift: Heavy Duty Stairlifts
Heavy duty stairlifts are designed to carry a much larger load than general stairlifts. Our Elite range, Heavy Duty Stairlifts and Bariatic Stairlifts are all made with a unique weight capacity of up to 190 kilos (29 stones).
Heavy duty stairlifts can be curved or straight and are designed for the larger than average person for extra security and safety.
Different Types Of Stairlift: Modular
A modular stairlift uses pre-fabricated sections that can be assembled to fit a staircase. Because the parts are pre-made, a module staircase can be easier to fit than a custom made stairlift depending on the configuration of your staircase.
This makes modular stairlifts more versatile, adaptable and quicker to install than traditional stairlifts, which are typically custom-made for each staircase individually.
Different Types Of Stairlifts: Standing/Perching
Standing or perching stairlifts offer a solution for anyone who has trouble sitting down, or has only limited mobility which means they can stand or perch on a lift, rather than sit. If you have difficulty bending your knees, hips, find sitting uncomfortable or have a small space, standing stair lifts could be the right option.
Wheelchair Lift – Platform Lifts
Platforms chairlifts are designed for wheelchair users or to transport heavy items. They can either be attached to the wall, staircase or have their own separate platform; moving directly up and down only within the confines of the “box” in which they are housed.
Narrow Staircase – Stairlifts Most Suitable For A Narrow Staircase
Some staircases are particularly narrow or difficult and depending on your particular layout we might suggest a particular model which works best for the space you have. For example, with a narrow, curved staircase, we might suggest a Thyssen Flow stairlift. Thyssen flow chairlifts are particularly good in small spaces and they fold in to maximise space.
This is useful if you need to keep the staircase free from obstruction if others are using it, for example, or you have very little space to manoeuvre. The Thyssen flow range moves backwards up the stairs which leaves more room for your legs if you have a very narrow staircase.
