How Are Stairlifts Installed?

Stairlifts make it possible for thousands of older people to remain in their homes rather than moving to a place without stairs or an assisted living facility. If you’re one of the tens of thousands of older adults or mobility-impaired adults in the UK, you may have considered installing a stairlift to make your home more comfortable, you may be hesitant about having your walls torn up or your staircase made unusable. This information about how chairlifts and stairlifts are installed can set your concerns at ease and may help you make up your mind about whether a stairlift is a good option for your home.
Attached to the Stairs Not the Wall
One of the biggest concerns and misunderstandings people have about chairlifts is the assumption that they ride up and down on a track attached to the wall. Many people ask if they’ll have to redo the paint or wallpaper in the stairwell after installing a chair lift, for example. Others make the assumption that their walls aren’t strong enough to support a chairlift. They don’t have to worry.
Stairlift rails, in fact, attach to the stair risers, about 3-6 inches from the wall. There’s no stress on the wall at all. And because of that, professional chair lift installers estimate that they can install a chairlift on up to 95% of the staircases they’re called upon to survey.
Stair Surface Not a Problem
Worried about your carpeted stairs? Since the rails for chairlifts are lifted off the surface of the floor, the lift won’t damage the surface of your stairs. Stairlifts can be installed on wood or carpeted stairs, and with the appropriate hardware, on concrete, tile or even marble.
Minimal Obstruction
Chairlifts are designed to be as minimally obstructive as possible. That starts with low profile rails or tracks to place the chair as close to the edge of the stair as possible, to folding arms and seat to get the chair out of the way when it’s not in use.
Access to Power
The biggest concern when installing stairlifts is the accessibility of electrical power. While most chairlifts are battery-powered, there should be an electrical outlet within 3-5 feet of one end of the stairlift or the other in order for the battery to be plugged in for a recharge.
Why leave the home you love because you can’t comfortably navigate the stairs any longer? Don’t give up your emotional investment in your home. Take a look at how stairlifts can make your home comfortable, safe and accessible again.