How long does it take to install a stairlift? A typical stairlift installation can take anywhere from between 2 hours and 6 hours+ depending on the complexity of the staircase. With a straight stairlift installation it’s much quicker.
Here’s a video of a straight stairlift fitting which took around 2-3 hours:
A stairlift fitting is done in three main parts:
- First the rail is fitted and wired into the mains. This takes longer for a curved staircase than a straight one.
- Second the chair is added to the rail.
- The chair is prepped, (so it knows how to move correctly on the rail). It should slow down for any corners and at the start and finish. With a complicated stairlift, corners need to be carefully programmed so the stairlift can pass a difficult obstacle without collision.
Here’s a more complicated fitting on a curved staircase which took a little longer – between 3 and 4 hours:
How Long Does A Stairlift Take To Install? Problems
Should there be any problems when fitting a stairlift, as there sometimes is, it can take a little longer. Stairlifts are complicated devices and sometimes there are technical problems which need to be overcome. For example, if the chair isn’t powering up for any reason, this can delay things.
There can be a number of reasons for this, such as a faulty circuitboard, or a missing piece of equipment.
Programming a stairlift can take some time too. With the Flow X stairlift, for example, tight turns need to be programmed into the chair.
The rail installation itself can take up a good amount of time – depending on the rail complexity.
How Long Does It Take To Install A Stairlift – Multiple Floors
With multiple floors it’s obviously going to take longer to install a stairlift than with a more simple fitting. One of our case studies shows a stairlift installation we did on a 3 level floor. This was a Flow X stairlift and it needed to be programmed to park on each floor – as each floor was in use.
This installation took over 4 hours to fit due to the length of the rail and complexity of the job.
However with most stairlift installations (on a single flight of straight stairs), it should only take a couple of hours. There can however always be an issue or curveball which means it can take a little longer than intended.
Summary
Most stairlifts will take between 2 and 6 hours to install. If you have a straight staircase of one floor it’s considerable quicker. With more complex staircases and if you have a curve or a bend somewhere, this can add to the installation time. If you have multiple floors, it can take a lot longer, especially if you’re using a more complicated stairlift.
Stairlifts have to be programmed once they are fitted too. They need to know where they are parked and where to slow down and speed up. This can take a hour or so in itself, even without any problems arising. The remote controls also need to be synchronised with the chair, so you can call the stairlift from the remote.
Once everything is done, the user should test drive the stairlift out. Problems can arise here too. If the weight of the user affects the stairlift configuration, it might need to be altered, for example. So it’s always worth testing out your stairlift before the engineer has left!
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