If you’re looking for a heavy duty chair lift, we offer heavy duty stairlifts and bariatric stairlifts in the UK. Check out our heavy duty stairlifts page here for more details.
Most stairlifts carry a weight of up to 20 stone. A heavy duty stairlift is more suitable for larger users or those who have undertaken bariatric surgery. If you’re pushing the limit of a standard stairlift, we recommend buying a heavy duty stairlift. It’s wise to plan ahead too. So if you’re on the cusp of the weight limit of a standard stairlift, it might be worth considering a heavy duty stairlift.
A heavy duty stairlift typically is less dextrous than a standard one – especially when it comes to navigating a curved staircase. With a curved staircase, we recommend our Platinum Ultimate (heavy duty) stairlift which carries up to 25 stone in weight. The Ultimate also has a clever mechanism which allows a sideways travel, pointing the user down/up the staircase.
With a heavier capacity brand (The Bruno heavy weight stairlift), which can carry up to 30 stone, the chair is outward facing. This can present a problem if you have a curved staircase which is very narrow. The Bruno can cater to a curved staircase, however its outward facing chair setup means some narrower staircases won’t make for a good fit. Here’s a Bruno heavy weight (straight) stairlift.
Measuring For A Heavy Duty Chair Lift
To gauge the measurement for a heavy duty chair lift, take the measurement of the longest part of your leg – (from the lower back to the knee).
This is the top line in the picture below which shows the distance from the chair back to the knee. With an outward facing chair, as in the Bruno heavy weight stairlift, add this measurement plus 100-150mm (for the stairlift to fit against the wall). This measurement should give you an idea of whether you can fit the lift. Any longer than the staircase width, and there’s not enough room for the Bruno. If the width is the same as your measurement, it’s going to be too tight in most cases. Check with an engineer for a free assessment.
This is a straight Stannah 600 stairlift, and not specifically a heavy duty machine. Still, the weight capacity of the Stannah 600 is 25 stone, a larger weight than some other models. In general, the straight stairlifts will have a higher load capacity than the curved models, which have more complicated drive systems.
Very Narrow Staircase?
If you have a very narrow staircase, we generally recommend the Flow X stairlift from Access BDD (Formerly Thyssen). Although this stairlift is definitely not a heavy weight stairlift, it can fit on almost any staircase. It’s far more dexterous than most, allowing a fitting on a staircase as narrow as 61cm.
The weight capacity of the Flow X however is only 19 stone 9 pounds. This is far less than most heavy weight stairlifts which range from 25-30 stone weight capacity. So should the Flow X not be a suitable choice because of the limited weight capacity, and you have a narrow staircase, we would recommend the Platinum Ultimate stairlift mentioned above (heavy weight model).
What About Heavy Weight Stairlifts On Narrow Stairs?
If you need a heavy weight stairlift, such as the Bruno, which can carry the heaviest weight possible (up to 30 stone), and your stairlift is very narrow, it might not be possible. Give us a call on 0800 046 3438 or find our contact page and we can arrange a free assessment in your home and check which heavy weight stairlift is most suitable.
We will always recommend a stairlift based on your needs and what we consider to be the best option for you, according to your home, situation and budget. We also offer reconditioned stairlifts at a fraction of the cost of a brand new stairlift. Checkout our reconditioned stairlifts page for more information or talk to one of our staff.
Call us on 0800 046 3438.
Looking For A Stairlift But Overwhelmed With Choice?
If you’re looking for a stairlift but feel overwhelmed, we recommend taking your time and checking out a number of models.
Although we can install a stairlift in record time if you need one fitted in an emergency. However, it’s always better to look around and see what options are available for the best price. You won’t find better than our reconditioned stairlifts if you’re on a budget. We offer 2 year warranties with all our reconditioned models and we only use the best makes and models for reconditioning.
We have also created our stairlift buyers guide for your convenience. It covers any questions you might have about choosing a stairlift with is perfect for you or a loved one. Download the free stairlift buyers guide here.
