Stairlift Accessories Mountain West
What difference can a stairlift and stairlift accessories Mountain West make in the lives of the elderly and people with limited mobility? First, just imagine an elderly or someone who had an accident and became permanently disabled and can’t move around his/her home without help.
One of the biggest challenges people with limited mobility face is using the stairs to access the other floor of their homes. So, they remain confined to one floor of their houses. Moreover, if there is no one around to help them, then they might have to consider moving to an assisted living facility.
However, there is another great option that can give them freedom and independence to move around on their own so that they can remain in their homes instead of moving to a nursing home. They will be able to move independently from the bedroom to the kitchen to even the garden outdoors.
Given the two options, the elderly and people with limited mobility will highly likely go for a stairlift so that they can continue to enjoy living in their homes. A stairlift gives invaluable independence to people with mobility and balance issues. They can ride comfortably and conveniently up a flight of stairs without worrying about their safety.
A stairlift can mean the difference between gaining independence to move around freely on your own and more importantly, age in place, and giving up your home completely having lived there for many years to move to an assisted living facility. Now you can see the difference a stairlift can make in the lives of people with limited mobility.
Stairlift Installation: Stairlift Rails
Determining the Position, Placement, and Type of Stairlift Rail You Need
If you are considering installing a stairlift in your home, one of the first things to think about is how it’ll fit on your stairs. What is the rail length? How is the rail secured? Can it go around corners? How far does the rail stick out past the bottom of the stairs? What if you have a door at the bottom of the staircase and need the rail to fold up and out of the way?
With several factors to consider, including crucial stairlift accessories Mountain West to choose the right type of stairlift for your staircase, needs and budget, and the pressure to try to get everything right from the word go, it can be difficult to know where to start.
Don’t worry! We have got you covered! In this article, we are going to explain to you the different types of stairlift rails, their dimensions, and how their various features, accessories, and options can make your home safer and restore your freedom and independence to move around on your own.
Types of Stairlift Rails
There are three basic types of stairlift rails: straight, curved, and outdoor. Each of these rail types is designed for various types of staircases. Therefore, the rail type you will need will depend on the stairs that you want to install a stairlift. Let us take a closer look, so you can figure out which rail option is best for you.
1) Straight Rail Stairlift
The straight rail is the most basic type of stairlift rail. Straight rails are cut to length, only once they have been ordered for a specific staircase. They are made of aluminum and typically come in two colors: silver or bronze.
The anodized and scratch-resistant rails are the best. Since straight rails are only used to climb straight stairs, stair width and head clearance are the only factors to consider, in terms of your staircase’s dimensions.
As long as your stairs are a minimum of 28” wide and there is sufficient head clearance for the user, installing a straight stairlift will be straightforward.
Straight Rail Dimensions
As mentioned above, straight stairlift rails require a staircase that is no less than 28” wide and has sufficient headroom for the user. Fortunately, straight rails are fitted with a charging strip that constantly charges the stairlift’s battery, regardless of where you park the lift.
The rail itself only sticks out about 6” onto the staircase, leaving sufficient space for other staircase users. Contrary to popular belief, the rail is fixed to the stair treads, not the wall. This is much more secure (and causes far less damage to your home), and requires no significant home modifications. It typically requires just a few screws to attach the legs to the treads on every other stair.
The only other important factor to consider is that the rail will likely stick out around 18” at the bottom of the staircase so that the stairlift has a place to land. So, you might need to consider some additional options and perhaps some stairlift accessories Mountain West if you have a door or walkway at the bottom.
Powered Folding or Retractable Rail Option
The Retractable Rail Option, also known as hinged rail, is the perfect choice for obstructed landings at the bottom of a straight staircase. With a push of a button, the rail folds up and down, clearing space at the bottom of the stairs to provide a safe landing for your stairlift on the ground floor.
Once you have disembarked, you can send your stairlift back upstairs remotely and the retractable rail will fold up and out of the way until you are ready to use it again.
2) Curved Rail Stairlift
You will likely need a curved rail stairlift if your staircase makes a turn, have an intermediate landing, or include multiple flights. Curved rails are more complex than straight ones, in that they must be custom-made to suit the bends and turns of the stairs while maintaining a smooth and level ride.
Unlike straight staircases with a relatively consistent width, curved staircases often include pie-shaped stairs and variant widths that should be accounted for.
Curved stairlifts can be installed on either side of the stairs making an inside turn or going around an outside bend. Regardless of which side you choose, precise measurements are critical for designing a safe and reliable curved rail stairlift.
Fortunately, there are usually a variety of solutions and options. You can choose everything from the color of the rail to how and where the stairlift starts and finishes.
Types of Curved Rails
There are two major types of curved rails stairlifts: modular and custom-made. As their names imply, one is custom-designed for your stairs, while the other is composed of pre-fabricated parts that are assembled into a completed stairlift rail.
Typically, custom rails (sometimes referred to as bespoke rails) are a tighter fit, thus offering a smoother ride. The twin-tube design is popular, but the characteristics of the rail can vary, depending on the company you choose.
Meanwhile, modular rails are often single tube and boast a quicker delivery time. While the ride quality isn’t quite as smooth as a custom rail, a modular curved rail (in most cases) still does the job just as well.
However, it’s important to note that if you have an intricate staircase with very tight turns, you might need the superior design of a custom rail.
Dimensions of A Typical Curved Stairlift Rail
Curved rail dimensions vary depending on the specifics of your staircase. And since each curved staircase is different, it is hard to give approximate dimensions for stairs that turn.
Long, straight sections can have rail protrusions that are similar to the 6” typically seen on straight stairlifts, but it is difficult to say how far the rail will stick out where it makes corners. However, bespoke rails are known to hug turns significantly tighter than modular stairlift rails.
Curved Stairlift Rail: Charging & Power
Unlike straight rails, curved rails don’t have a constant charging strip. Instead, they should meet a silver spring charging point at the top or bottom of the stairs. Only then, the stairlift’s batteries will be charged.
If you park your stairlift away from the charging point, you’ll hear a beeping noise, alerting you that the lift isn’t charging. It is important to keep your stairlift charged, so it is always ready for use. Otherwise, you might need to have them replaced.
Curved Stairlift Rail: Starts & Finishes
Sometimes, there isn’t a convenient place to park the stairlift at the top or bottom of your stairs. You might need to consider additional stairlift accessories Mountain West, and that is where alternative curved rail starts and finishes come in handy.
For example, a 180° turn and park is a common example of an alternative rail start. That means at the bottom of the stairs, the rail turns and bends around a wall or banister, so that the stairlift can be parked and folded up out of the way.
Similarly, an over-run finish at the top of the stairs is an example of an alternative rail finish. Rather than finishing level with the top riser, the curved rail can continue onto the landing, either bending around a corner or finishing flat on the top landing to keep it even further away from the stairs.
These are just a few examples. There are several other types of rail starts and finishes that can be installed, depending on your home’s architecture and physical needs.
If you need a curved rail but want to preserve space at the bottom of your stairs or park your stairlift away from the staircase at the top, be sure to ask our professionals about alternative rail starts and finishes during your home visit/survey.
3) Outdoor Stairlift Rails
Finally, let’s talk about rails for outdoor stairlifts. While some companies carry curved outdoor stairlifts, outdoor rails are typically straight (as most outdoor staircases are).
Like, indoor straights, they’re cut to length and relatively straightforward. However, unlike indoor rails, they are sturdily built to withstand changing weather.
Rain, snow, salt air, and wild critters won’t stop this rail from getting you out and about. While there are few options for outdoor stairlift rails, you should go for a genuine four-season product: resilient, reliable, and built to last.
Stairlift Rail Options & Design
At Stannah Mountain West Stairlifts, we have a team of professional stairlift designers. Take note that the length and the shape of the rail of your stairlift are not the only features that can be customized but the rail design itself too.
Therefore, if you want your stairlift rail to be modern or discreet to perfectly fit your home décor, you can count on our professionals to precisely match your tastes and expectations. After all, it’s not only about accessibility or home modifications: it is also about your place, and about it being just the way you like it.
Stairlift Accessories Mountain West
Choosing the right stairlift for your home and knowing the stairlift accessories Mountain West that suit your needs can be challenging. That is why it is always best to work with a professional company, such as Stannah Mountain West Stairlifts, rather than trying to look for something on your own.
We offer free, no-obligation home surveys and consultations, which can help you get the answers you need. Call us today at (888) 542-3834 or contact us online to request a home assessment and find out which stairlift rail option is best for you.
Stairlift Accessories Mountain West
