We often get this question “my stairs are very narrow – is a stairlift doable?”. We always like to say yes to this question but of course there are limitations. Even with a specialist stairlift which is super-agile, there are limits to what can be done. But you would be surprised at the staircases we have fitted with a stairlift.
Here’s a couple of recent photographs from one of our surveys.
As you can see, the stairs are very narrow particularly at the bottom.
Off the top of our heads, this can be done but with only one stairlift – the Flow X. However we are in the process of surveying this one more fully. When a staircase is “touch-and-go” whether it can be done, we carry out a photo-survey.
A photo survey involves creating a digital image of the staircase in exacting details. This image is then uploaded to the manufacturers who tell us whether it is possible or not.
Installs We’ve Already Carried Out
These pictures show just how narrow some of our installations have been. These are all specialised stairlifts which are purpose built for difficult and narrow stairs. This one was particularly tricky because not only was it very narrow but the stairs were stone too. With stone steps it is more difficult because screwing into the stairs to lay the rail could easily crack the stone. Here’s the case study for more information.
Here’s another one we did in Yorkshire where a photo-survey was required. This was another tricky one due to the narrow and very steep staircase. Read about this one in the case study here.
Another Flow stairlift in Morecambe. Again, this was a narrow staircase with very little room at the bottom.
When Only One Stairlift Will Fit
We have fitted stairlifts where other suppliers said it couldn’t be done. This one was passed to us by another supplier because they didn’t supply this particular type of stairlift. A standard Stannah stairlift wouldn’t fit on this very narrow and awkward staircase.
Often with a standard stairlift, you need more room at the bottom for the stairlift to rotate. Or, to move you away from the bottom of the stairs, for entry or exit.
As you can see in these pictures, there’s not much room for that! On the left you can see the top view showing how tight the staircase is. On the right you can see the (folded) stairlift in place, parked at the bottom of the stairs.
This one was very close too, and this was the only stairlift which would work in such a tight space.
Other Stairlifts For Very Narrow Stairs
As you would expect the Flow X is a premium stairlift and the price tag is considerably larger than some other models which don’t have such a high specification. So when you’re not in need of this stairlift, we always recommend the best alternative, according to your needs and budget.
With certain straight staircases, you may not need such a “high-spec” model as the Flow. In fact, we often will recommend a reconditioned Stannah 600 for straight stairs which are very narrow.
Here’s one on a tight staircase we installed in Manchester.
The Stannah 600 is a good all-rounder and can also manage higher weight limits than some other stairlifts – carrying up to 25 stone. Its design allows it to be placed well back against the wall, saving valuable space for when there is little room, like with this one.
When You Might Need A Flow X Stairlift
You might need a specialist stairlift such as the Flow X if you have a curved staircase which is narrow/awkward. You may also need one on a very narrow straight staircase. The Flow X is designed specifically for this and can pivot and tilt simultaneously which makes it perfect for tight spaces.
We have even fitted this stairlift to spiral staircases, with a recent one covering four floors with a metal fire escape style staircase. Checkout the case study of it we did here.
One of the unique features of the Flow X stairlift is its ability to face the user downstairs. This gets around the maximum knee to back measurement which can limit certain stairlifts from being fitted.
Summary – Narrow Stairs – No Problem!
In summary, if you have a narrow staircase, we can usually recommend a stairlift which is suitable. The Flow X stairlift is a top of the range model with added specifications which makes it a little more costly than some other models. We can also offer reconditioned stairlifts when they are available.
If you’re unsure, give us a call on 0800 046 3438 – we carry out free, no-obligation surveys throughout the UK.
Checkout some of our installations on our YouTube channel here.