What is a Stairlift?

A Stairlift in simple terms is a Disability Aid that transports a mobility impaired user up and down their staircase safely. They come in all kinds of types, shapes, colours, and can span multiple flights of stairs. They essentially incorporate a Stairlift Rail, or Track that will be installed to your stair treads, then have a carriage and seat installed on this rail.

Stairlift, Stair Lifts, Chair Lifts – are they all the same?

All very different ways to describe the same mobility aid. Same as described above in the “What is a Stairlift” section, they are all the same category of products to aid in transferring a single user with mobility issues, up and down staircases safely.

So whether you’re after a Stairlift, Stair Lift, Chair Lift or a Chairlift, any reputable dealer should know immediately what you’re after and get you moving upstairs safely.

Do Stairlifts fit to the stair treads or the wall?

A common misconception with a large portion of potential stairlift users are about the worry of a stairlift being installed to their walls. All stairlifts nowadays are installed to the stair tread / step themselves. No fixings are necessary into any walls unless under extreme circumstances where “wall brackets” may be required.

What types of Stairlifts are out there?

As mentioned above, Stairlifts come in a variety of types, makes, and models. Let’s discuss the main types below.

Straight Stairlifts

The most common type of Stairlift, and also the most affordable. They are perfect for staircases with no bends or landings, and can be fitted in a matter of a few hours, and occasionally, the same day! Straight Stairlifts are also perfect when looking at rental, and reconditioned options, where budget may be a factor.

Our Handicare 1100 Slidetrack Straight Stairlift – A revolutionary model when it comes to both features and design.

View our Straight Stairlifts here, fitted from £1399 including 3 years parts warranty!

Curved Stairlifts

Where a Straight Stairlift isn’t suitable, that’s where the Curved Stairlifts come in. Perfect for those staircases with bends, landings, or even spiral staircases. Each rail section is made bespoke to your staircase to achieve the best fit possible and ensure the highest ride quality for the user.

They do come in more expensive than the straight stairlifts, and don’t tend to be as suitable for rental, hire, or reconditioned, however they do still come with the same 3 years parts warranty as our straight lifts.

Our Handicare Freecurve Curved Stairlift – Leading the way in terms of sleek design and functionality

View our Curved Stairlifts here, fitted from £3299 with 3 years parts warranty!

Outdoor Stairlifts

A common misconception is that Stairlifts are only for indoor use. The great news is that Stairlifts are available, both Straight and Curved for outdoor applications also.

So those steps outside your property that you’re suddenly finding a little difficult, an outdoor stairlift may be your perfect solution! Designed to survive the harsh weather we sometimes face, these stairlifts are built to last and offer you the same reliability and service as our indoor stairlifts.

Maximum User Weights of Stairlifts

Stairlifts just keep getting more efficient, and more capable year by year. We’ve seen an ever increasing rise in the Safe Working Loads of Stairlifts over the past 20 years, to keep up with the ever increasing average weight of our population.

It’s now more common than ever to see Stairlifts suitable for those even in excess of 25 Stone.

See our Handicare 1000 for a Straight Stairlift with a Maximum User Weight of 31.5 Stone.

See our Handicare 4000 for a Curved Stairlift with a Maximum User Weight of 25¼ Stone.

Read our “Maximum Weight – The best 25+ Stone Stairlifts Discussed” post for further information on Heavy Duty Stairlifts

Does it matter what Make / Brand of Stairlift I choose?

Yes and No, unfortunately it’s not a simple answer.

Your stairlift buying journey has probably taken you across a few popular brands of Stairlifts; Acorn, Handicare, and Stannah just to name a few. Opinions, Reliability, Cosmetics, and Value for Money all differ between each brand and their models, although they will all do the same job in getting you up and down stairs safely.

What’s most important is the service being offered by the supplier you choose. Are their prices competitive with the rest of the market? Do they have a diverse product portfolio to cover every product type, straight, curve, outdoor, and heavy duty? Do they have a competitive product warranty to show that they stand by their products? And most importantly, what are their customer service like when it comes to maintenance, breakdowns and aftercare?

We at Ability Assist have teamed up with Handicare Stairlifts UK – providing each and every customer with a product that we feel is the perfect combination of Quality, Reliability and Value for Money. And always backed by our 5-star Customer Service.

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