Tips And Traps Of Buying A Curved Stair Lift
If you are searching for a curved stair lift then you probably already know that your curved stairs might not work with a straight lift. There is a lot of information available in many different places and it is hard to put it all together. Here are some summarized pointers to keep you from having to remember everything from so many different sites. Hopefully these will help you on your search for a curved lift.
- Best solution for constant curved or rounded stair case
- Difficulty transferring
- Track must match the curvature of stairwell
- Difficult to find rental or used units
- More expensive
- Usually not self installed
- Curved track has more potential for service calls
- May take up to 3 months for installation
If your staircase is a constant curve or bend (no sharp angles), then the curved stair lift is your best solution. If your staircase has a right 90 degree angle you might possibly use two straight lifts and potentially save some money.
If you or your loved one have difficulty transferring from one seat to another the the curved may be your better solution than two straight. Why create more physical exertion and discomfort than necessary?
This is part of what makes the curved stair lift so difficult to find used. There are so many staircase designs that it is impossible to come up with a standard way of making track such as in straight
Again this is due to every staircase being unique. Although there are a few resellers that specialize in used lifts for both curved and straight. There are also one or two companies that specialize in rentals as well.
What adds to the cost is the additional materials and the bends in the track. Plus the added cost of actually designing the track to match your stairway adds to it as well.
Curved stars add to the complexity of the track. Therefore they must be properly fitted by qualified installers.
The tight bends in some stair cases create stress and friction points. This can cause wear and eventually breakdown. Make sure you get a good warranty with your lift.
Not just building and installing stairlifts takes time. Your rep will also have to to map out, plan, and design these types of lifts. Knowing this in advance can keep down your frustration level.
Although there are others there are two main manufacturers of curved stairlifts. These are ThyssenKrupp Access and Bruno. Both have been around a while and offer quality products.
Unless you have two straight runs of stairs a curved stair lift may be your only solution to maintain access to your home. Keeping these pointers in mind will help keep down surprises make to buying and installation process more enjoyable.
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