Why Measuring for Stairlifts Should Be Left to Professionals

No one should be a prisoner on one story of their own home, but that’s the situation for thousands of older people who find it difficult or impossible to navigate stairs because of physical limitations. Equipment like stairlifts and chairlifts can restore access to other levels of the home, allowing people to stay in their homes, sleep in their own bedrooms, climb the stairs to their own bathrooms – in short, live their lives with a minimum of disruption.  Stairlifts represent a significant cash investment, though, and many people will look for ways to cut costs wherever possible. Some dealers offer significant discounts to people who measure their own stairs for stair lifts. Reputable dealers discourage this practice strongly for safety reasons.
Custom Measurements
Even straight chairlifts require careful measurements for a proper fit. Reputable companies that sell stairlifts will send a specially trained consultant or technician around to your home to take the required measurements. Those measurements include the total length of the staircase, the height of the treads and the rise of the stairs, the width of the staircase and the space available at the top and bottom of the staircase for standing and turning. If those measurements are not taken properly, the stair lift you buy may not fit your staircase. Worse, stairlifts that don’t fit properly can be dangerous.
Experienced Eyes
One of the most important benefits of working with experts in installing stairlifts is their experience. A knowledgeable technician or consultant can determine the safest and best place to mount stair lifts, as well as providing advice on which stairlifts are most suitable for your needs. An experienced consultant can also discuss possible modifications with you – wider seats, narrower footrests or a different type of control unit, for example – that can make the stairlift you choose even more convenient.
Other Benefits
In addition to those, many groups that will build stairlifts based on your own measurements are frequently lacking in other areas as well. They may not offer installation or pass you off to a list of “local installers” who have little experience in mounting chairlifts on stairs. These companies frequently provide little maintenance or follow-up services, and the minimum warranty they can get away with.
Stairlifts carry your most precious cargo up and down the stairs. They are pieces of heavy equipment with specific operating needs, and must be installed correctly in order to operate safely. Don’t take risks with cut-rate chairlifts. Always work with a reputable company that will take proper measurements and provide local installation and maintenance to ensure you get many years of safe service from your lift.
Why Measuring for Stairlifts Should Be Left to Professionals
No one should be a prisoner on one story of their own home, but that’s the situation for thousands of older people who find it difficult or impossible to navigate stairs because of physical limitations. Equipment like stairlifts and chairlifts can restore access to other levels of the home, allowing people to stay in their homes, sleep in their own bedrooms, climb the stairs to their own bathrooms – in short, live their lives with a minimum of disruption.  Stairlifts represent a significant cash investment, though, and many people will look for ways to cut costs wherever possible. Some dealers offer significant discounts to people who measure their own stairs for stair lifts. Reputable dealers discourage this practice strongly for safety reasons.
Custom Measurements
Even straight chairlifts require careful measurements for a proper fit. Reputable companies that sell stairlifts will send a specially trained consultant or technician around to your home to take the required measurements. Those measurements include the total length of the staircase, the height of the treads and the rise of the stairs, the width of the staircase and the space available at the top and bottom of the staircase for standing and turning. If those measurements are not taken properly, the stair lift you buy may not fit your staircase. Worse, stairlifts that don’t fit properly can be dangerous.
Experienced Eyes
One of the most important benefits of working with experts in installing stairlifts is their experience. A knowledgeable technician or consultant can determine the safest and best place to mount stair lifts, as well as providing advice on which stairlifts are most suitable for your needs. An experienced consultant can also discuss possible modifications with you – wider seats, narrower footrests or a different type of control unit, for example – that can make the stairlift you choose even more convenient.
Other Benefits
In addition to those, many groups that will build stairlifts based on your own measurements are frequently lacking in other areas as well. They may not offer installation or pass you off to a list of “local installers” who have little experience in mounting chairlifts on stairs. These companies frequently provide little maintenance or follow-up services, and the minimum warranty they can get away with.
Stairlifts carry your most precious cargo up and down the stairs. They are pieces of heavy equipment with specific operating needs, and must be installed correctly in order to operate safely. Don’t take risks with cut-rate chairlifts. Always work with a reputable company that will take proper measurements and provide local installation and maintenance to ensure you get many years of safe service from your lift.