Types of Stairlifts

There are two main stairlift builds – straight or curved stairlifts. We also offer standing or perch chair options for both straight or curved stairlifts.

Straight stairlifts

One of the most common types of stairlifts is the straight stairlift. This option is designed for straight staircases that do not feature any curves or bends. Straight stairlifts feature a chair and a straight rail, which are fitted to the stair tread. Because the track is not fitted to the wall, this type of stairlift is often the easiest to fit and often the cheapest.

Curved stairlifts

The other most common stairlift is the curved stairlift. Curved stairlifts are designed to provide people with limited mobility with an easy way to use curved stairs, such as spiral staircases or stairs that turn corners. The chair of the stairlift will likely be the same as on a straight stairlift, but the track will be curved. The curved rail provides a smooth ride that handles all kinds of turns, including 90 degrees and 180 degrees.

People with a staircase that is mostly straight, with a curved section at the top or bottom, may be tempted to have a straight stairlift installed and walk through the discomfort on the first or last few curved steps. This is not an advisable solution.

A straight stairlift would certainly help make the journey easier, but ignoring the last few steps means that this stairlift solution is not a long-term answer to the problem. It is important to keep in mind that a health condition can deteriorate – even if we do all we can to prevent it – so it is best to choose a curved stairlift that runs from the very top of the stairs to the very bottom to prepare for every eventually.

Standing or perch chairs

Standing or perch chairs allow the user to travel up the stairs from a standing or perched position, rather than sitting. This could be particularly useful for those who find sitting difficult due to aching or painful joints at the knee or hip.

The perch stairlift is the best option for those who find the seated position uncomfortable but, equally, would find it difficult to stand for a minute or more. The perch chair is very small and sits just below the bottom, providing a supportive perch to rest against, enabling them to travel in a position close to standing. We offer a perch chair on both our straight perch stairlift and our curved perch stairlifts.

Narrow stairlifts

If you have a narrow staircase in your home you will need a narrow stairlift, also known as a slim stairlift installed. While essentially the same as a normal seated stairlift, whether curved or straight, the narrow stairlift’s chair design is slimmer than larger models but can still provide all the necessary comfort, safety features and support for aching joints. The 1100 straight stairlift boasts one of the slimmest system on the market making it an ideal choice for narrow stairs.