Stairlift Buyer's Guide for the UKwww.stair lifts.com |
Friendly advice on buying stairlifts in the UKWhat are stair lifts?Stairlifts are for people who have difficulty going up and down the stairs in their home. A stair-lift is a seat that carries you up and down the stairs, easily and painlessly. Don't confise stairlifts with wheelchair lifts that go vertically upwards. Stairlifts are suitable for people who have difficulty using the stairs, but if you are confined to a wheelchair then a through-floor lift would probably be better. Who are the best stairlift suppliers in the UK?See my stairlift suppliers page (coming soon) for a list of suppliers. The main manufacturers are Acorn, Bison Bede, Freelift, Lift Able, Meditek, Minivator, Stannah and Thyssen. These companies may sell directly, or through one of the suppliers. How much will a stairlift cost?You will be lucky to get a stairlift installed in your house for less than £1,400. However, there is always the option to rent a stairlift, which may work out cheaper in the short-term. There are also sources of funding and grants available to help you purchase a stairlift. Ask your Occupational Therapist for details. What types of stairlifts are available?The type of stair lift you choose depends largely on the staircase in your house. The main factors are whether the stairs are straight or have a curve or corner in them. Some staircases are narrow, in which case you may need a specially narrow stairlift. The minimum width of the staircase appears to be 27 inches. Help me choose a stairliftAll the good stairlift companies will send around a "no obligation to buy" sales person, who will come to your home and assess your requirements. As all staircases are different, the exact stairlift you need will have to be tailor made and filled in your home. The majority of staircases can have a stairlift fitted, but occassionally it may not be possible if the staircase is excessively narrow. You would also be wise to speak to Social Services and get them to send around an Occupational Therapist who will assess your needs and give advice. Straight stairliftsThree good straight stairlifts are:
Curved stairliftsCurved stairlifts are also available, as many staircases have a curve either at the top or the bottom. It is even possible to fit a stairlift where the stairs have two bends in them. Superglide Stairlifts are good stairlifts for curved stairs. But be aware that curved stairlifts are more complicated than straight ones, so cost more money! Free adviceI found that one helpful company (Dolphin Lifts) provide this very good brochure of impartial advice. Choosing the best stairlift for youI recommend that you call a few stairlift companies and ask as many questions as you need to. I thought that a stairlift could not be fitted in a house with a partition wall as the wall next to the staircase, but I was reassured that stairlifts don't need strong walls as they rest on the stairs themselves. I also thought that installing a stairlift would damage the carpet, but this is not really the case, as the fixings are minimal. If you call a company, you won't get very far without the company wanting to send round a representative. Don't be alarmed, as this is essential to get a suitable stairlift. You can't buy something like this off-the-peg. However, do not pay them for a quotation on fitting a stairlift. Any good company will provide this service for free. A visit to a local showroom will help you decide which type is most comfortable for you, and you will get to try it out first. This is important because some stairlifts may have controls that you find difficult to operate, or require you to sit in a position that you find inconvenient. Also, don't forget to shop around, as competition is tough in this market, so there are special offers to be had. It is also worth taking a look at eBay, because you can find reconditioned stairlifts on there that can be installed by reputable companies. |