In order to calculate a price for your stairlift a surveyor will have to visit your home and take a variety of measurements,  when these measurements are done a stairlift price can be calculated, your stairlift can then be prepped exactly for your staircase and installed with the minimum fuss.  The aim of this blog is to ensure you know what measurements will be taken and why.

Stairlift Measurement One - There will be a side of the staircase which the stairlift would sit best.  This is decided many times by practicality and the surveyors knowledge and the surveyor will suggest the left side or the right side of the staircase and tell you their reasoning.

Stairlift Measurement Two – There must be at least 750 mm clear at the bottom of the stairs. If there are any obstructions such as radiators or power points, or openings such as doorways, if so a suryeyor using their experience will inform you of what needs to be achieved to get the stairlift to fit.  Stairlifts can sometimes have an adaption added to make the stairlift fit more appropriately

Stairlift Measurement Three -  A measurement for the top of the staircase to the bottom of the stairs is determined to gain the overall length of the staircase, this will determine how long a rail you will need.  In some cases a staircase can be so long a jointed rail can be needed this needs to be determined by the surveyor.

Stairlift Measurement Four – The width of staircase needs to be measured as there is a minimum width needed to fit a stairlift onto.  If the staircase is narrow there are sometimes alternative stairlift products that maybe of help such as a sit stand stairlift or a perched stairlift as these take less width on the stairs.  A stairlift advisor would advise you of alternatives.

Stairlift Measurement Five – count the actual number of steps where the stairlift will be fitted onto.

Stairlift Measurement Six – The measurement is to ensure there is adequate clearance from obstructions at both the top of the stairs such as radiators doors or a powerpoint

Stairlift Measurement Seven – Locate the most convenient power point fpr the stairlift to be plugged into.

A surveyors job is complex as they have to have the skill and knowledge to assertain the best stairlift to suit your needs.  If the job is untaken accurately the stairlift will fit onto the staircase exactly and will be installed within hours with no fuss at all.  So now when a surveyor visits you will know what to expect and i hope will have gained some specialist knowledge into the whole process.  Please don’t try to do this yourself as i can not express enough that measurements have to be exact and done with extreme precision.  The surveyor detailed above is for a straight stairlifts and curved stairlift are measured very differently.

We are all wondering how the election is going to effect us espiecally businesses in the stairlift industry as we watch with baited breath to changes in financial policies. As things stand at the moment the elderly can gain grants for items such as stairlifts, as this helps the elderly stay in their homes which is great for the elderly and cheaper for the government.  But with the election looming and parties all threatening massive cuts in spending it does make you wonder which of our services we will see cut.

The FT.com states, “The policy pledges are designed to shore up the Conservatives’ “grey vote” by nullifying Labour claims that the Tories would cut benefits for the elderly after the election.  The Tory leader told pensioners “you have my word” that his party would protect the fuel payments, bus passes and TV licences, along with the means-tested pension credit which is believable as these items have met the news headlines, but i can see smaller services such as mobility equipment such as stairlifts and mobility aid budgets been cut leaving our most vunerable in a longer queue for equipment.

We will all have to wait and see but worrying times seem to be a head for us all.  Read the article in full

Mr Cameron said that Gordon Brown had “failed in his duty” to make sure that pensioners were provided for financially, that their healthcare was secure and that they could live with “dignity”.  I do believe this true but hasn’t every government slowly chipped away at the right of our pensioners.  Take for example how the elderly have to pay for care homes and lose all their well earned income and somehow after a lives work are left with nothing.  Does this seem right and fair – definitely NO!

Healthcare is one of most important aspects to the elderly only yesterday was i reading in the paper a lady with chronic back pain was going to have to pay for an operation after she had aid into the health service all her life.  This operation was going to cost up to £10,000 as i can imagine a big lump out of her savings – surely this is morally wrong? 

When we look at keeping the elderly at home longer, of course this seems to me the obvious answer, but they need equipment and services to help them gain a better quality of life.  This is so simple to provide a stairlift being a basic piece of equipment to get them up and down the stairs so they can use full use of their homes.  A stairlift is essential in lots of cases but you try and get a grant for a stairlift when you need one, the queue is long and when someone needs a stairlift they need one now – this is wrong surely?

We need these politians to care for our elderly and make their lives as comfortable as possible as they have worked and put a lot in our country and it’s time to put back as far as i am concerned. 

Well David Cameron states, “Yes, to treat them with respect and kindness. Yes, to give them the dignity and security they deserve. But also to call on their wisdom and values.”  We will wait and see David!!  If we can help you and your relative stay in your home visit our site  To read the full article on David Cameron

When you are reviewing stairlifts you may want to take a look a few good information points in our site starting with a  video of a stairlift. The video will help you to understand how a stairlift works, and how a stairlift is fitted and you can see how the stairlift sits onto the stairs and not onto the wall.  this is one of the first things that people who need a stairlift think that the stair lift will actually disturb decorations, this is not true, only small holes are drilled through the carpet and the stairlift is then fitted to the stairs, and see a stairlift in action and how it is to be fitted

In our Stairlifts Frequently asked questions section here you will find some answers that we are asked most of our home visits.

The video also explains why you need a surveyor to visit your home, so visit our site to help your search in finding the right stairlift for you.  Oh and also one of the most popular features is our stairlift comparison chart that outlines all the best features of  each stairlift on the market.

Stairlift prices – well i am going to have a moan about all these new sites on Google that are offering unrealistic discounts!!  Some apparently can offer up to 75% discount!!!  What a load of rubbish.  After working in the stairlift industry for many years i can tell you now this just does not happen.

Do your self a favour and do business with a reputable site that does not offer these stupid and unbelievable stairlift discounts.  A reputable company come out and tell you a truthful stairlift quotation and offer no nonsense stairlift advise

The other thing is if you don’t know the brands take a look at our stairlift comparison chart as this can help you compare stairlift brands and their features side by side.  And i can feel another rant coming on – this is another thing these sites say they are comparing stairlifts which is a load of rubbish they are just sending you brochures – you get to compare nothing!!  So compare stairlift properly here

Well this has changed over the years. The top manufacturers in the UK are undoubtedly the following:
Acorn Stairlifts
Brooks Stairlifts
Minivator Stairlifts
Stannah Stairlifts

There are other manufacturers in the UK but these seem over the years to be the most reliable UK manufacturers. The trouble is when you first need a stairlift you haven’t a clue who to buy off or what brands are available because it is not something you want to buy until we need one.

Caremore Stairlifts are a national dealer and the good thing about dealers is they add competition to the market. Without dealers competing with the manufacturers quotes stairlifts would be a lot more expensive. When getting a quotation for a stairlift always get three and then you can arrive at the best stairlift and the best price for your needs.

If you need any more advice please do visit our web site www.caremorestairlifts.co.uk

Having being in the stairlift industry for many years, there’s one thing that always upsets me.  The elderly leave it until the last minute to buy a stairlift.  Please start buying them earlier!

I know the main reason people don’t is that they see a stairlift as an admission to being old, but really if we think about this clearly, this is not an admission to failure this is a new lease of life.  Yes we all get old and yes our legs never work as well as they did, but that’s life!  We all have to admit at some point that age is catching up with, and a stairlift adds quality to your life.

Lets just have a look at what a stairlift can do for you:

1. Access to upstairs rooms and being able to sleep in your own bed

2. Access to toileting facilities and bathing in your own bath (and don’t forget a bath lifter if you need one, my Aunty Mary swears by the one i gave her)

3. Use the seatbelt to strap your vaccum cleaner to the stairlift footplate

4. Strap your washing basket to the chair and send the stair lift down stairs so your partner can do your washing

5. Breakfast in bed

And of course the stair lift can always carry you up and down the  stairs.

All i am saying there is no need to let the quality of your life suffer, a stair lift allows us to enjoy life, the life we intended to live,  so if you think you need a stairlift and are struggling with the stairs www.caremorestairlifts.co.uk maybe able to help you.

The following article appeared on www.pressandjournal.co.uk/

Noticed this article and was wondering if this could be of any use to anyone.

Please note that if this stairlift is curved then the only then the track will not be of use to you, but the carriage maybe.

A GRIEVING son who has given away practically everything in his mother’s house cannot persuade anyone to take the most expensive item.

Richard Mechen, 61, of Bennachie Avenue, Inverurie, has contacted numerous charities since the death of his 91-year-old mother, Helen, in February, to ask if they wanted a stair lift worth thousands of pounds.

He has not heard back from any of them.

He said: “We have given away practically everything in her house. Her church, The Church of Scotland, took the lion’s share. She was forever giving little bits and pieces to her church but she didn’t really attend due to ill health in the end.

“The biggest and most expensive item in her house is the one that is giving us the most problems.

“I’ve contacted charities by e-mail but have not even had a response. I’m amazed.

“It was my father who needed it initially but he died a considerable time ago. It was serviced a couple of years ago and is still in good working order. Surely someone would be glad of it. They’re not cheap,” he added.

Anyone interested in the stair lift, which is in the house in Kincorth, Aberdeen, where Mrs Mechen lived before her death, should call Mr Mechen on 01467 623515.

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One question we get asked a lot is went to rent a stairlift and when to buy a stairlift? Well the answer to that is the length of time that you think you will need the stairlift for.

Many of our clients need a stairlift for a short period of time, and then to rent a stairlift is more cost concious option for them. If you need a stairlift for less than a year then renting could be for you.

There are certain costs with renting a stairlift as the lift has to be fitted onto the staircase, the cost of installation, removal and breakdown cover is £600, and the stairlift can be rented for £10.00 a week with no extra cost.

With money being tight in the credit crunch this could be the option for you. Please remember that stairlifts can only be rented on a straight staircase, as curved stairlifts have to be tailor-made to the individual staircases and this is a more costly option, so rental is not possible.