Eight Important Questions About Your Stairlift Installation
Before you sign the deal to order a stairlift for your home, take a look at these eight questions about installation. It's best to make sure you’re happy with the answers your supplier gives.
Before you sign the deal to order a stairlift for your home, take a look at these eight questions about installation. It's best to make sure you’re happy with the answers your supplier gives.
How long will I have to wait for my stairlift? Some companies can install your stairlift the very next day, or you might have to wait weeks for a more complicated curved stairlift. If your need is urgent, you might need to shop around. A straight stairlift (one running on a straight rail) can usually be installed within days of your enquiry, or even next day. That’s because a standard straight stairlift rail can be easily cut to the right length for your staircase. But, things get more complicated if you need a ‘curved stairlift’ with a non-standard rail which goes around bends or corners. Waiting times for a curved stairlift can run into several weeks while a one-off curved rail to precisely fit your staircase is manufactured. One exception to this is Acorn Stairlifts, which uses a patented modular rail system for its curved stairlifts. It enables a custom-built curved rail to be assembled on-site in your house using interlocking rail sections specified by your survey. Because the rail sections are stocked items, a rail can be built within days of your home survey.
Will I need to carry out work before the installation? In general, you shouldn’t have to carry out any preparation work before your installation – it should all be handled by the installation engineer. Since most stairlifts are sold to seniors, that’s how it should be, but there are a few exceptions. For example, you might need an electrician to fit a new power outlet for the stairlift if there isn’t already one close by. This is rare for indoor stairlifts, but common with outdoor ones. Any necessary pre-installation work should be fully explained to you before you commit to buy. Will it be messy and disruptive? The short answer is ‘no’. Most modern stairlift rails are fixed to the stairs, not the wall, so there’s no messy or disruptive structural work such as drilling into masonry. If your stairs have a carpet or other floor covering, it can usually stay in place, but if you want to renew it as part of the project, make sure you do it before the installation date. How long does the installation take? With a simple straight stairlift, the installation work is usually wrapped up within a couple of hours. For a more complicated curved stairlift, it will take longer, but it should still take less than a day. Make sure you ask in advance, especially if you need to be near bathroom facilities while the work is carried out. Will I need to clean up and redecorate after my installation? Reputable suppliers make sure their installation engineers clean up after themselves, so you shouldn’t have to. If your stairlift rail is fixed to the stairs (not the wall) you shouldn’t need to redecorate either. It might be necessary for the installer to remove an existing handrail in a narrow staircase, and if you have art or other wall hangings on the wall next to the stairlift carriage, you might need to relocate it. This should all be explained during your home survey. Will I get a demonstration of the stairlift? Yes, your stairlift installer should provide a full demonstration of how to use the equipment and let you try it for yourself under supervision. You should also be given full contact details for the supplier or manufacturer in case any questions or issues arise later. Make sure you ask what customer support is available to you after installation. Will my installation be Covid-safe? During the current Covid-19 pandemic, it’s essential that anyone visiting your home observes strict hygiene protocols. There’s no reason an installation cannot take place during the pandemic, providing everything possible is done to minimize the risk of infection. Ask your supplier what measures they’ve put in place to combat the spread of the virus.