Curved Stairlifts Are The Solution To Spiral Staircases 8 Apr 2024, 5:36 am

A stairlift can transform the life of someone who has limited mobility, as it could extend the amount of time they can remain independent in their own home.

However, those with corner or spiral staircases might worry they are not able to install one due to the design of their stairs.

This is not the case though, as curved stairlifts can be fitted around any staircase that has a bend in, whether they spiral to the second floor or they simply travel around a corner.

They can also work with any type of staircase or rail, whether you have a solid wooden bannister or intricate spindles.

Stairlifts can be fitted either along the inside of the balustrade or on the wall, depending on the design and size of the staircase.

Expert fitters will determine what will be the best option for both the house and inhabitants, taking into consideration things like obstacles, width of the hallway and shape of the staircase.

For those who want a superior type of stairlift, the Flow2 single rail stairlift is a good choice, as it swivels during the ride.

It is able to cope with steep angles, and can fit staircases as narrow as 61cm wide. This means it is usable in nearly every type of house, with the footrest swivelling during the ride and the rail being positioned very close to the stairs to take up less room.

The stairlift can also fold compactly and easily, meaning users do not have to manually fold it themselves, which can be difficult for people who have limited strength in their limbs.

Users can also choose to have curved armrests, as these can make them feel more secure when travelling up or down the stairs. What’s more, the seat height is adjustable, so it is a comfortable choice for everyone, no matter how short or tall.

Homeowners do not have to sacrifice the aesthetics of their house by installing a stairlift either, as there is a choice of materials and colours, so they can get something that is in keeping with the interior design of the rest of the property.

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How Fast Does A Stairlift Travel? 12 Mar 2024, 6:53 am

The aim of a stairlift installation is to take you from one floor to the next in the most comfortable, steady and safe way possible, but one question that gets asked in abundance is about speed.

Interestingly, whilst the question of how fast a stairlift travels gets asked a lot, the answer people want to hear can vary considerably depending on their priorities, and different manufacturers have their own approaches when it comes to finding the right speed for a stairlift.

A stairlift being too fast is uncomfortable, jarring, nauseating and potentially quite dangerous, whilst a stairlift that is too slow can make for an uncomfortable journey in other ways.

The key is to find the right balance, which can be different depending on who it is built for, and the speed of a stairlift can vary dramatically depending on how old it is, the power supply and its overall condition, as well as the route it takes.

Whilst not universally the case, newer, straight stairlifts that have been recently and appropriately installed will be the fastest and most consistent with their speeds but this is not always the case.

In general, stairlifts travel at a maximum speed of 0.34 miles per hour, with a gradual acceleration at the start of the journey and deceleration at the end.

Curved stairlifts and bespoke installations can often be slower than this in order to safely navigate the more complex route whilst ensuring the user feels completely in control at all times, balanced, safe and secure.

A slower motor is also inherently quieter as well, which given how often stairlifts are used is an important quality of life feature. It also extends the life of the batteries if the stairlift is not primarily powered by an external power supply.

These speeds can often vary by brand, so it is an important question to ask a stairlift expert when making initial inquiries.

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Why Do So Many Staircases Have The Same Number Of Steps? 1 Feb 2024, 5:16 am

There are a lot of factors that go into the installation of a stairlift, from surveying, needs assessments and the evaluation of any bespoke requirements that can all affect the final price of a stairlift system.

Whilst there are a lot of variables, many homes are remarkably standardised in harmony with the UK’s Building Regulations, so there are a surprising number of cases where a standard or mostly standard stairlift system can be installed without any issues.

One of the most unusual ways to determine if your home may be suitable for a standardised system is to count the number of steps your staircase has, as an astonishing number of them have 13 steps.

Whilst this is not entirely a universal rule, it is also not uncommon either, which begs the question as to why the standard number of steps in British homes is such an arbitrary number.

The train of reasoning starts with the building regulations but ultimately comes down to property developers and builders and a push towards an efficiency in house design.

Ultimately, the number of stairs needed is based on the height of the ceiling and the height of each step. The steeper each step, the fewer steps and less floor space needed to traverse a certain height.

Rooms must have a minimum floor-to-ceiling height of 2.3m to ensure people have enough space, light and ventilation to be able to use a space comfortably, although in practice the average is 2.45m and the accepted standard height is around 2.6m, with 3m ceilings not unheard of for Victorian houses.

Stairs cannot exceed 220mm of height per step, but 200mm of step height means that it takes exactly 13 steps to reach the next floor of a 2.6m high ceiling. 

Of course, this is a rule of thumb, and the number can vary from 12 to 16 steps for a staircase, but a staircase with 13 steps typically means that a staircase is suited to a standard stairlift, although this can only be confirmed in a survey.

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What Happens To A Stairlift During A Sudden Power Outage? 5 Jan 2024, 5:03 am

When people think about getting a stairlift, they often have a list of questions ready to ask the expert installers, manufacturers and suppliers that can get this most essential of mobility aids into their homes.

Most of them are relatively standard, such as whether a slimline or full-sized seat could be used on a particular staircase, whether it is worth fitting a curved stairlift for a right-angled staircase with a few extra stairs, and how easy it is to get on and off of a stairlift.

All of these are important questions with quite complex individual answers. However, another important question is one that has a very obvious answer, one that a surprising number of people get wrong.

If there is an issue with the wiring in your home, a tripped-out switch box or even an outright power cut, what happens to your stairlift? Does it suddenly stop and potentially leave someone trapped on the stairs in a dark house with no real way to get out until the morning?

The answer is a resounding no, and stairlift companies have always understood the possibility of a power cut happening and the dangers of leaving someone potentially stranded.

Stairlifts are typically mains powered, but they also have a backup battery pack fitted into them that is constantly being charged whilst the stairlift is being turned on.

Because of this, if the power to your home stops for whatever reason, amidst the lights going out and other electronics turning off automatically, the stairlift will keep functioning until you reach the top or bottom of your stairs.

Exactly how many trips you can take on the backup power alone will depend on the particular make or model, but it is typically enough for a person to get to a safe place to wait for the power to return and the lift to charge again.

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Why It Is Important To Visit Elderly Relatives At Christmas 6 Dec 2023, 5:31 am

It is always important to make elderly relatives feel loved and included, but never more so than at Christmas. So even if you have an incredibly full calendar of events coming up, here are some reasons why you still need to make time for older loved ones. 

Relieve loneliness

Many people experience loneliness over the festive period, with Mind charity revealing that one-third feel lonely during Christmas.

They might miss big family Christmases or partners who have passed away, or they may be reminded that most people are with their loved ones on December 25th. Whatever the reason, go visit your elderly relative or invite them to spend the special day with you. 

Help with decorations

Elderly people with limited mobility might not be able to put up their Christmas decorations but a bit of tinsel and some fairy lights can really get them in the festive spirit and lift their mood, so offer to go round and decorate their tree for them. 

Grandchildren can make some paper chains or pretty pictures while playing carols or classic Christmas songs that they will be familiar with. 

Plan indoor activities they can enjoy

Although it’s nice to enjoy the wintry atmosphere, elderly people find navigating snow and ice even more difficult than the rest of us. So it is safer – and warmer – to stay indoors. 

This is why visiting them with a few planned activities up your sleeve is a good idea, as they may not feel comfortable having to entertain everyone. 

You could bring some easy-to-understand games to play, or get them to teach everyone a card game they might remember. 

Or you could ask what Christmas traditions they used to do as a child, from making Christingles to watching Carols from King’s on the telly, in case you can all do them together this year.

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How Stairlifts In Homes Are Affected By Planning Law 3 Oct 2023, 5:11 am

If you need a stairlift fitting and live in Birmingham, you may wonder what the planning situation is. Will you need to get planning permission? Will it be harder in certain areas or if you live in a listed building?

As with any modification to your home, it is important to establish what the situation is and seek guidance that will help you.

The answer in most cases is that you will not need planning permission as it is only a minor modification and is inside your home anyway, so it won’t have any visual impact on the surrounding area. This makes the situation similar to ‘permitted development rights’ that allow small developments like a conservatory outside.

Permission may need to be sought if more than a minor modification is needed that alters the structural integrity of the building, but this won’t apply in most cases.  

Listed buildings can be a bit more tricky. Listed Building Permission is likely to be required, but the good news is that with sensitive design you can get the permission and installation carried out.

Birmingham has nearly 2,000 listed buildings, so the question of whether a stairlift can be fitted will have arisen many times. Most of these are not residential, of course: they include cathedrals and churches, office blocks, libraries, the Town Hall, law courts and educational buildings. But there are also homes, even if some, like Aston Hall, are exceptional.

There are also 29 conservation areas in Birmingham, which can impact planning permission for external changes as they need to be in character with the area, but that is not a consideration for anything indoors. However, some of these do contain some very old buildings, which means some will be listed.

Overall, getting a stairlift fitted is not something people often struggle to get planning permission for, but it always makes sense to check with the council.

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How An Oil Crisis Brought Stairlifts To Many British Homes 7 Sep 2023, 5:54 am

For many people who struggle with their mobility, stairlifts are an essential part of their homes that allow them to remain more independent in their everyday lives.

However, whilst their modern incarnation was invented in the 1920s, it took until 1975 before they began to be installed in British homes.

The reason for this involves a historic lift company, an oil crisis and a trip to Holland.

Joseph Stannah’s eponymous company was founded in 1867, but it would take over a century for the seeds of Stannah’s most famous product to be sown.

Before the 1970s, they were almost exclusively known for creating cranes, hoists and lifts, primarily selling platform lifts through the first half of the 20th century, even rebuilding the business after it was literally destroyed by bombing strikes during the Second World War.

However, the oil crisis and a recession meant that Stannah were forced to diversify away from corporate customers and this led to a chain of events that led to the widespread adoption of the stairlift.

Initially, Alan and Brian Stannah wanted a system that would let people who had issues with their mobility access different floors of their own home, but unfortunately found that their initial plan of installing microlifts into adapted homes was not all that suitable.

Looking for an alternative, Brian Stannah travelled to visit a Dutch company known as Jan Harmer, who had a stairlift product designed for the European market.

Stannah would later purchase this design, and Brian and Alan would develop the prototypes for what became the first Stannah stairlift, a name that for decades became an almost genericised term for the entire industry.

Whilst production was initially slow, eventually the market took off and since then the concept has only evolved and advanced, making lifts that are more reliable, faster to install and easier to use.

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Did King Henry VIII Invent The Stairlift? 3 Aug 2023, 5:45 am

As part of the evolution of the accessible house, stairlifts were a critical invention that ensured that people could retain as much of their independence as possible even if they struggled with temporary or long-term mobility issues.

However, whilst the modern history of the stairlift begins in the 1920s and C.C. Crispen’s Inclinator, the origin of the chair that could climb stairs could have a much earlier origin point than most people would otherwise expect.

Most people are aware of King Henry VIII. He was the son of Henry Tudor, married six times and founded the Church of England in part so he could have his first marriage annulled, alleged (but unlikely) composer of Greensleeves and also allegedly the inventor of the “stairthrone”.

According to Tudor historian David Starkey, a list of the king’s possessions strongly suggests that he used a specially constructed stair-climbing chair during his later years when his injuries and decadent lifestyle caught up with him.

According to the historian, the system was set up at the Palace of Whitehall, where after the king had injured himself jousting at the tiltyard in 1536, he suffered mobility problems that would affect him for the remaining 11 years of his life.

After commissioning a solution, the concept of the “stairthrone” began to take shape. A throne was fitted with a dedicated block and tackle pulley system, and when the king sat down on the throne, a group of servants would diligently pull the ropes and hoist the chair up the steps.

Given the amount of physical effort involved and the expense of creating such a system in the 16th century, only King Henry was known to use such a system, and by the time the stairlift became more commonplace in the 20th century, much more powerful and convenient electricity was used instead.

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Why The Cost Of Living Crisis Has Not Hit Stairlifts 4 Jul 2023, 5:59 am

The cost of living crisis has been one of the big issues consumers have faced over the last 18 months, compounded by the energy shock resulting from the war in Ukraine and leading to many householders facing higher costs to mortgage payments as well as other bills.

However, while it may seem like everything from food to train tickets is soaring, the bill for installing stairlifts in Birmingham will not be much more than it was a few years ago.

This point was made in March by consumer magazine Which?, advising people thinking of investing in a stairlift that the cost of buying and fitting one “has remained fairly stable for years”.

It said that, for example, its December 2022 survey showed the average price of a new stairlift was £3,867, with the price varying from £3,371 for a straight stairlift to £4,728 for a curved stairlift.

Of course, the actual cost of a stairlift in your home may depend on a few factors, with Which? noting that each corner on a staircase will double the price. Therefore, if you are thinking of buying a new home and will need to fit a staircase, the shape of your stairs is an important consideration.

For older people who need a stairlift, the news that the cost of installing one has been so stable is good news, since pensioners are in a better position than many others to deal with the cost of living. This is because the pensions triple lock means that while many workers cannot get pay rises in line with Consumer Prices Index inflation, pensioners have.

The 2023-24 rise of 10.1 per cent is, therefore, a boost that protects those on this form of fixed income better than used to be the case, something that may remain so if inflation does significantly decline.

It could all mean that fitting a stairlift is a very affordable thing to do, giving you the benefits of greater household access without breaking the bank.

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Why ‘Step-free Access’ Is Not Just For Your Trains 8 Jun 2023, 5:11 am

The phrase ‘step-free access’ is something many people will overlook, but for those with limited mobility, it is vital when using public transport.

Down in London, Transport for London has made much of the fact that the Elizabeth Line Crossrail Stations are all step-free, ensuring easy access irrespective of mobility levels. It is something many Tube stations cannot offer, especially the older ones dating back to the 19th century.

Here in Birmingham, the prospect of the new HS2 station will do more than just excite rail enthusiasts, city planners and people working in construction. The rebuilding of Curzon Street Station as the city’s hub for HS2 is an exceptional opportunity to do some amazing things with design and construction.

The good news is that step-free access is part of the design, with escalators and lifts to get passengers to and from all seven platforms.

All that may be great news if you are travelling on HS2 when it finally opens, but what about your home? What sense does it make to be able to get to a train with such ease, but not your bedroom or bathroom?

With stairlift installation, you can ensure that the same ease with which you can get around in a modern station is just as applicable in your home. You may not need to move at high speed, you certainly need to get from A to B.

In many ways, the underlying principle is the same. It’s all about dignity and opportunity, allowing you to make the most of life whether it is in your own home or travelling around.

There is one difference of course. While a project like HS2 is a vast, costly and lengthy undertaking – with aspects in Birmingham including a huge new viaduct near Curzon Street that has just gained planning permission, fitting a stairlift in your home is likely to be far faster and easier to accomplish than you ever imagined.

One might even say that installing it is a ‘high-speed’ undertaking.

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