Which Stairlift? Choosing A Stairlift

With so many options available it can be a tough decision which stairlift you should choose. So in this post we will cover some of the things you can consider which will make this decision easier for you.

Ideally you should prioritise your needs first, and find the stairlift which is most suitable, appropriate and fulfils your needs the best. Ideally your stairlift will give you years of enjoyable use, and this will be most appreciated if there aren’t any niggles of doubt over which stairlift you have chosen. However, this aside, the cost of a stairlift is often a major consideration too. 

Before we venture deeper into this topic, have a look at your staircase. That’s the largest determining factor as to what kind of stairlift you will need. So, do you have a straight staircase or a curved staircase?

Which Stairlift? – Your Staircase – Straight or Curved?

Stairlifts are divided into two main categories – curved stairlifts and straight stairlifts. With a curved staircase, you’ll need a rail which follows the curvature of your stairs.

This may need to be manufactured specifically for your staircase, according to your measurements and the length of your staircase. Curved stairlifts are designed differently too, and are a little more complicated than a straight stairlift. A straight stairlift only needs to travel in a single plane. So a straight staircase tends to present an easier (and usually cheaper) stairlift.

New Or Reconditioned? 

Having looked at your staircase configuration, you’ve already narrowed down your decision making process! So now might be a good time to think about whether you want a brand new stairlift or a reconditioned one.

If cost isn’t so much a consideration, you can skip this section and move down to the various models available. But if you’re on a budget, it’s worth considering reconditioned stairlifts which tends to be considerably less expensive than a brand new ones.

So what are the upsides and the downsides of buying new compared to buying a second hand, reconditioned stairlift? We only buy the highest quality stairlifts for reconditioning and we inspect and test them rigorously before installation.

Like our new stairlifts, 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.

With a new stairlift, you will get a longer warrantee – usually 3 years. Parts are newer of course and therefore easier to replace. If you buy new you can also customise your stairlift. With a reconditioned models, you don’t have the same choice of upgrades, features and colours, for example.

New Versus Reconditioned Cost

So what’s the savings on a reconditioned stairlift versus a brand new one? Our cheapest reconditioned stairlifts are for a straight staircase and start at £990.

Those for curved staircases begin at £2950. With more expensive stairlift models, and/or a more complicated staircase, you can expect this price to rise accordingly.

Our brand new stairlifts start at £1350 for a straight stairlift and £3990 for a curved stairlift.

So you can see the savings already even at the lower end of stairlift prices with the basic models. As you add more features to a stairlift, the price will reflect this according to the model you choose and the specifications of the lift.

Special Considerations – Narrow Staircase or Heavy Load?

Before we look at individual stairlift models, it’s worth considering any special considerations you might need to look at, too. For example, if you have a particularly narrow staircase, is a stairlift going to fit at all?

Certain stairlift models are more appropriate than others in this kind of situation. For example, Thyssen stairlifts offer one of the best solutions for a narrow staircase. The Thyssen Flow 2 stairlift, for example, can fit on a staircase as narrow as 61cm (24 inches).

Another potential issue which should be considered is the weight limit of a stairlift. Most standard stairlifts are made to take a load capacity from 17 to21 stone (300 pounds).

If the stairlift is at a steeper incline, this may reduce the weight capacity. Heavy duty stairlifts are designed to take a larger weight capacity of up to 30 stone (420 pounds). So if you’re considering a stairlift, and are already nearing the weight capacity of a standard stairlift, it may be worth considering a heavy duty version.

Staircase Configuration

The configuration of your staircase, and adjoining rooms can also play a factor in your stairlift choice. For example, if you have a straight staircase with a doorway at its base, you might choose a stairlift with a retractable rail.

For example, the Thyssen Homeglide has a retractable rail which automatically folds away in order to avoid blocking a doorway. Speak to one of our team members about the most suitable stairlift for your property on 0800 046 3438.

Which Stairlift To Choose – Features

Which stairlift features are most important to you? With all the above considerations taken into account, it’s also worth looking at the particular features each individual stairlift model brings to the table. With children in the house, you’ll want to be able to lock off your stairlift to make sure they’re safe.

You may also have multiple people using the staircase too. So you might want to place the stairlift in a position which allows easy access to the stairs, when not in use.

Do you need your stairlift to fold away, to give other house users more space? Some stairlift models have greater functionality than others. So it’s worth having a look if there’s something which is particularly important to you.

All our stairlifts have safety features as standard and remote call features. This means you can place your stairlift either at the top or bottom of the staircase, and it can be called from the remote device, whichever floor you are on.

Which Stairlift – After Sales Service & Warrantee

Before deciding on a stairlift it’s wise to look at who you’re buying from and their after sales service, guarantees and customer reviews. (See our customer testimonials page here). Will someone help if there’s a problem with your stairlift somewhere down the road?

Here at UK Stairlifts even our reconditioned units are of the highest quality and are thoroughly checked, tested and backed by our 2 year guarantee. All parts, labour and call out charges are covered for 2 years so you can have total peace of mind.

All of our new stairlifts come with a full PLATINUM GUARANTEE, which includes parts, labour and call-out charges. New stairlifts have a longer guarantee period of 3 years.

Which Stairlift? – Models

Here at Uk Stairlifts we have a number of new models of stairlifts to choose from and a wide range of reconditioned models, too. So there’s always a quality stairlift to match your budget and staircase.

Here’s a few of our most popular models.

Summary – Which Stairlift To Choose? 

Once you have zoned in on the most important elements of your stairlift, such as your particular staircase (curved or straight) and your most necessary requirements (such as narrow staircase or the need for a heavy weight stairlift), have a look at your budget and choose from new stairlifts and reconditioned stairlifts.

Our reconditioned stairlifts are often the most popular because they offer a high quality lift at a much lower price and are backed by our 2 year guarantee. All parts, labour and call out charges are covered for 2 years so you can have total peace of mind.

Visit our frequently asked questions page to resolve any further queries you might have and have a chat with our customer support team on 0800 046 3438. They will help you iron out any issues or uncertainties. Sometimes you can get a quote over the phone and sometimes we might need to pay a visit to your home and measure up before we can offer you a quote.

Still undecided? Checkout this best stairlift brands article from Which?