Stairlift buyers guide

Customising your stairlift

ARTICLE 4 OF 4

With the amount of stairlifts online to choose from, it can be troublesome finding the right stairlift for you. However, first and foremost, you should consider whether a stairlift is the right solution to your needs.

Customising Your Stairlift

You may have decided which stairlift would be the most appropriate solution for you and your home but you may unknowingly require additional provisions which can be overlooked when choosing a stairlift.

Swivel Seats

Swivel seats allow you to rotate away from the staircase when mounting the lift. This provides an extra safety measure and offers additional convenience. Before the lift operates, the swivel mechanism will lock in to place, so there is no chance of the seat moving whilst in transit. 

Choice of upholstery

Whilst the choice of upholstery may not be the number one priority for some, others may want to change their stair lift’s padded seating to better suit the style of their home. We can often tailor the colour and material of your padded seat, please contact us before making a purchase to ensure your model has removable seating that can be altered.   

Choice of remote control

One aspect that customers often overlook if they are purchasing a stairlift for the first time is the remote controls. You can choose between right handed and left handed depending on your preference. Some people may have little grip therefor it is important to find a remote control that best suits you. 

Perch Seats

A perch seat is required for those who find sitting down uncomfortable or extremely narrow staircases. This option provides a much needed convenience to traditional seated stairlifts.

Powered footplates

All stairlifts come equipped with a foot rest platform to rest your feet. When the stairlift is not in operation the foot rest can be folded up to prevent any potential obstruction. Some may find it uncomfortable or are unable to fold the footrest to its upright position. In this instance a powered footplate that can be folded using a control.

Hinged Tracks /Slide Tracks

The hinged rail is useful in situations where there is an obstruction (usually a door) at the foot of the stairway, or where the rail could cause a tripping hazard. It should be noted that the hinge is manually operated.

A hinge is a section of the track that folds up when the lift is not in use allowing full access to the doorway or previously obstructed space.
This unique solution removes the need for a hinge, instead the track moves up the staircase at the same time as the seat is moving, leaving the doorway at the base of your stairs unobstructed.
Similar to a powered hinge, the Slide Track works automatically when the toggle or remote control is activated. A Slide Track is slightly shorter than the length of your staircase. When you start to travel up the staircase the track will move with you. The track will reach the top of your stairs before the stairlift, it will stop whilst your stairlift continues on its journey to the top where you can safely dismount. When you come downstairs the track will travel down with you so you can dismount safely at the bottom. The Slide Track also offers safety benefits over a traditional hinged system by removing any risk of an object becoming caught in the hinge.

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