Stairlift Reviews

One of the misconceptions about stair lifts is that these are only for the disabled. Nothing could be farther from the truth because climbing up and down a long flight of stairs can sometimes require a great deal of effort even for the not so old. That is why investing in a stair lift will be a sound investment because it enhances convenience and the quality of your home life. If you are looking towards this direction, the first order of the day is to assess your stairway needs

If your stairway has some kind of an obstruction or a curve or and intermediate landing, your only choice is a curved stair lift. However, you need to consider the operating cost, the installation period and price if ever you are planning to buy one. You need to face the following realities:

It’s more expensive to install a curved stair lift than a straight stair lift because it is fabricated at site, the materials are more expensive and installation takes much longer. Unlike a straight stair lift tracks which is made of aluminum, the tracks for a curved stair lift is made of aluminum and steel for flexibility and strength. Lastly, the installation period for a curved stair lift could take anywhere between three weeks to three months.

A curved stair lift must be installed to conform to the exact specifications and configuration of the stairway. Because of this, you should refrain from buying a used, or previously owned curved stair lift and if ever you should consider buying one, you should buy it from a reputable dealer who should install it for you. Moreover, be sure that the track that will be installed is not a reconditioned track, which is considered as unsafe under the International Safety Standards.

Another point to consider is that if for any reason, you should decide to sell your curved stair lift in the future, you’ll find that there will be few or no takers at all for the simple reason that it is difficult to find a buyer who has a stairway with the same exact specification as yours. At best, you will manage to sell only the motor, chair and controls. The track, which forms the bulk of your investment will not be recovered because it is useless to the buyer.

Only a few industry leaders like Bruno and Stannah Stair Lifts fabricate curved stair lifts consequently. Due to the lack of competition in this area, installation cost is understandably high. Maintenance is another cost burden that you should consider as the motion stresses around curves require more servicing than straight stair lifts. Considering all these issues, if you are still bent on acquiring a curved stair lift, be sure to check on after sales service support and appropriate warranties from your supplier.

Tags: Handicapped, Disabled, A1, Chair Stairlift, , Elderly, Electric, Stair Lifts, Bruno, Stairlift