General Chat

Hello,

We might be moving soon to a house which has concrete or something similar stairs. The house is a new build. My son will most likely need a stairlift in the future and I wondered if any of you new anything about stairlifts and if they can be fitted to any type of house regardless of what the stairs are made of. It would run up a solid wall.

Thanks

Many public buildings now have stair lifts and I certainly know of at least one in a nearby town which has a stone / concrete ?staircase.

OH recently looked online for his parents who felt they needed a lift and got brochures sent to them, I believe. They had a very awkward turn at the top of their stairs so not all companies could manage this, but they now have a lift fitted with the option of a halfway stop for the toilet which is at the first bend before 3 more steps up to the main landing.

Gwyn

Hi meryl when we spoke to the company we had one from they said they accomodated most things bet they could even do a bungalow these days lol xx

Hi Gwen and Pussercat, thanks for your help. That is good about the concrete stairs, I have looked online but couldn't find what they can and can't fit to. The top of the stairs curves so hopefully it should be ok.

Hi Meryl,
Most that I have seen seem to have the track it's self fitted to the wall. The weight is taken on feet resting on the stairs, with a few screws to stop them "walking" I don't see it being a problem to fit to a concrete step.

As for bends either they can run around most bends or the cheaper option is to run up the straight wall to landing level and then a drawbridge type arrangement to cross to the landing, a bit more difficult to use than the first but perhaps a £1000 or so less to install.

Regards,
Mayfield

We got one fitted for me January 2010. It is neat and is fitted to the stair (through the carpet) I have seen the wall track ones and thought they were obtrusive. Took an hour to fit - ours is a straight run of 14 steps. Only waited 5 days from placing order and a weekend was in that. Ours is a solid wall which was not needed. They can, fit to any type of stair case apparently. If you wish to know who we got just mail me.

Get at least 3 quotes and then haggle - we did! Word of warning - do not get bullied into extended guarentee.

you can also get help for a through floor lift that keeps the stairs clear for the able bodied.

and apply throgh a occupational therapist you mayby able to get it cheaper or in some circumstances free, xx

I understand that if you don't want to buy outright it is possible to rent them - no first hand information but OH was inquiring round recently when I was very lame after an accident (I'm not getting upstairs yet but nearly!)

Thankyou all so much for your help, feel much happier about moving now.

LFP...........stairlift in a bungalow???

is the basement very deep? I wonder......LOL