There are several important factors to look at when considering a stairlift for your home or the home of a loved one. A stairlift can relieve the difficulties presented by stairs and provide a safe and reliable alternative to more costly options such as an extensive home remodeling project, installation of a residential elevator, or the expense of moving out of the home altogether.
Cost is always an important factor in the decision-making process, so let’s get to it!
What determines the Cost of a Stairlift?
The prices of stairlifts are highly dependent on some critical home design-related aspects:
- · What is the shape of your staircase?
- · Does the staircase go straight, or does it turn or curve?
- · How many landings are on the staircase?
- · How far will the stairlift need to travel to ascend the stairs?
- · What is the height of the ceiling?
- · How wide is your stairwell?
The biggest factor in determining the price of a stairlift is the shape of the stairs. If your stairs ascend from the bottom platform to the top platform without making a turn or a curve, then you have a straight staircase. A straight stairlift allows for the most economical stairlift.
It typically utilizes formed straight rail channels that are cut to length to match the height of your stairs. The legs of the rail are adjustable to accommodate any unevenness in the stair treads. Utilizing one continuous rail makes for a smooth ride up the stairs. There are a couple of factors that can cause the price of straight stairlifts to be a little higher than standard. This includes an exceptionally long staircase (greater than 10 ft ceilings) or a doorway or narrow hallway at the bottom of the staircase that may require a retractable bottom rail.
If your stairs make a turn or a curve, then you will need a curved stairlift. Curved stairlifts can still be very affordable when considering the alternatives but are more expensive than a standard straight stairlift. The increased cost is due to the high level of customization required to fit the stairlift to your staircase.
When surveying for a curved stairlift, the stairlift provider will take a series of pictures of your stairs that are converted to an accurate 3D layout. Then the stairlift manufacturer will design the curved stairlift onto your stairs and provide a drawing showing your staircase with the stairlift installed. After reviewing the design with you and making any final tweaks, the curved stairlift rail is custom-manufactured precisely to the drawing. Due to the extensive process of customizing the curved stairlift rail, the price of the curved stairlift is a little more expensive than a straight stairlift.
If you are unsure of your situation, LiveWell Mobility & Modifications and its team of stairlift experts are available for a free in-home consultation.
Price of a Straight Stairlift
When budgeting for a straight stairlift, one can expect to spend between $2,500 and $5,000. Most customers choose an option that falls in the $3,500 to $4,500 price range. For some situations, a stairlift rental program may make sense. Other factors that can add cost maybe a home layout that requires a retractable rail option or the preference for more automation in your stairlift with a powered swivel seat option.
Price of a Curved Stairlift
While pricing a straight stairlift is straightforward, estimating the cost of a curved stairlift is more complex. Curved stairlift rails are customized to your staircase and hug the wall and corners as tightly as possible to provide an ultra-smooth ride. The cost is determined by the length of rail, type of curves (inside or outside), and any additional parking turns. Curved stairlifts typically start around $9,000 for shorter lengths and may increase based on the specific design of your stairs. As with the straight stairlift, options such as a powered swivel seat or the ability to park the chair at a mid-way point are available to fit your needs. The majority of stairlifts offered by LiveWell come standard with a powered footrest, while other providers require an additional charge for this feature.
Other Costs to Consider
One very important factor that is not always considered upfront is the long-term cost of owning the stairlift. Lower quality stairlifts may offer a lower upfront cost but lack the quality of design and durability resulting in higher servicing costs in the long run. Additionally, local service and support of your stairlift can also be a critical factor in the total ownership cost of the stairlift. Some low cost stairlift providers utilize outside contractors that are not factory-trained on installing and lack the service network to support the stairlift after the initial installation. This can result in higher servicing costs or long wait times (prohibiting you from accessing upper floors) to get a technician to inspect the lift.
LiveWell offers a variety of high-quality stairlift models from Stannah with varying features that can help customers get a stairlift that fits their budget. LiveWell has factory-trained local technicians available for both installation and service and offers service packages to give its customer’s a worry-free service guarantee. We don’t just send you a stairlift in the box and expect you to figure it out. We take care of our customers and make sure they are comfortable with the operation of the unit and completely satisfied with the installation.
What’s Next? How do I Purchase a Stairlift?
At LiveWell we make it a very simple process. We will come to your home, review your needs, understand your personal situation, and survey your staircase. We will then review the different stairlift options and features, explain the benefits to you, and answer any questions. We will provide a quote while on site. There is no pressure to buy, we are here to help answer your questions and make sure you get all the information you need. Call us today to request your complimentary in home consultation at (281) 771-1469