Monday 9 February 2009

Things To Consider When Buying A Curved Stair Lift

A curved stair lift is your only option if your stairs have a curve, intermediate landing or have some sort of obstruction. If you are going to buy one you need to be aware of some of the issues with price, length of installation, operating costs and more.


Installing a stair chair lift can greatly improve quality of life. Even if you're not technically disabled, walking up and down stairs can be demanding, frustrating or downright intimidating. Mobility and access to all areas of a home can greatly restore a person's independence and peace of mind.


If you are considering the installation a curved stair lift you should be aware of a few things before you buy.


The purchase and installation price is expensive. The reason for the high price is because it's custom built on site and the materials used are more expensive than for a straight stair lift. The track on a straight stair lift is usually made from aluminum. Aluminum is used because of its interchangeability and it's cheap. Tracks used on curved stair lifts are usually made using both steel and aluminum. Steel is used to provide strength and because it is malleable. Installation of a curved model accounts for the largest proportion of cost and installation can take anything from 3 weeks to 3 months.


Buying a used curved stair lift is really to be avoided unless you buy one from a reputable dealer who will install it for you. Make sure the track being provided is new and not re-conditioned track. This is not considered to be safe and a reconditioned track will not conform to International Safety Standards.


Should you decide at a later date to replace or get rid of your lift and want to sell it, you may find this difficult. Because it is custom made, the stairlift made for your home isn't going to fit someone else's. At best you probably will only be able to sell the chair, motor and controls; the track, which constitutes the majority of cost, will be useless to someone else.


Curved stair lifts usually require more servicing than any straight stair lift. Additional stress is caused by the chair having to move along the track around corners. You may find that the ongoing maintenance costs will be higher than those for a straight one.


Not all manufacturers make curved stair lifts. The companies that do are market leaders who make stair lifts of excellent quality. You'll pay for this excellence though. Companies that do make curved stair lifts include Stannah Stair Lifts (the Stannah 260 stair lift) and Bruno Stair Lifts (Electra-Ride III Custom Curved Rail Stairlift).


Finally, before buying, discuss warranties and after sales service with the retailer. As mentioned these lifts do require maintenance and you'll need to budget costs for this.


Don't let the above stop you from buying a curved stair lift. The benefits of installing one lift can't be understated but you should be aware of the issues before you buy one so you can discuss them with your dealer.


About The Author:
Following the links for curved stair lifts and get stair lift reviews on leading brands like the Stannah stair lift.


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