A few years ago we were having some problems. Some of our would-be customers had very difficult and narrow staircases. It meant we had to turn them away for a stairlift. Certain makes and models which we supplied simply wouldn’t fit if there was a narrow corridor at the base, or a doorway at the top or bottom of the stairs.

We don’t like letting our customers down so we looked into the most modern stairlifts which were more adaptable. Since then, we’ve fitted numerous stairlifts on difficult staircases which we would have thought impossible before. Here’s what we found!

Is My House Suitable For A Stairlift?

You can probably have a stairlift fitted in your home, yes. Although the stairlift we use in the most difficult setups has a higher price than most, as you might expect. But it’s worth the cost if you can afford it to have full mobility in your home. Plus, we specialise in reconditioned stairlifts too, which can mean you can make some savings, if we have one in stock!

The Flow X stairlift from Thyssen Krupp (now Access BDD) has been an absolute godsend for many. It’s the most versatile stairlift on the market. Its patented technology allows it to navigate even the trickiest of stairs. Here you can see the Flow X and the Flow 2A – the predecessor to the Flow X.

Do You Need A Flow Stairlift?

So, the question is then, do you need one of these stairlifts if you have a particularly difficult staircase setup? Not always. Sometimes a cheaper model will do. Our reconditioned stairlifts are of super high quality because we only use the best models for reconditioning. Stannah stairlifts, for example are superb when it comes to difficult staircases too. They may not be as nimble as the Flow models, but not every staircase presents such a challenge that a Flow X or Flow 2 is essential.

Here’s a Stannah 260 on a curved staircase. It’s design allows it to sit far back against the rail, saving valuable leg room. It’s double rail system holds the stairlift in the upright position mechanically, rather than with an electrical levelling system, as some stairlifts do. With less electrical complication, there’s often less that can go wrong! So if you can fit one of these on your staircase, it’s a solid option.

Stannah’s can’t cope with very narrow staircases, like the Flow X model can. The maximum staircase width for the Stannah 260 is 67.9cm compared to 61 cm for the Flow X. (The Stannah 600, pictured right, minimum width is about 65.0cm, on a straight staircase). The Flow X has more dexterity too. It’s ASL system (Advanced Swivel and Levelling) means it can travel while turning. This allows it to be fitted where other stairlifts can’t; avoiding tight corners and bannister rails other stairlifts would find impossible to navigate.

Doors And Corridors Near The Stairs

If your staircase has doors and corridors near the top or bottom of the stairs, you might need a specialist stairlift such as the Flow X. Our engineers can help you determine whether this kind of stairlift is necessary. Call us on 0800 046 3438 or visit our contact page and leave us a message. 

In this quick video, you can see one of our installations. In this scenario, there was a door at the top and the bottom of the stairs. This meant that the Flow 2a was an option, but not any other stairlift – besides the Flow X of course. We had a reconditioned Flow 2a in stock, so were able to offer a discounted price from the new cost.

You can also see the “drop nose” rail in this example. This allowed us to install the stairlift very close to the lower door. With another model, this wouldn’t have been possible due to the proximity of the obstacle! An alternative might have been to install the stairlift on the inside of the stairs (rather than against the wall). But this wasn’t possible due to the narrow corridor at the base.

Here’s another Flow 2 a going in on another very narrow staircase:

This one was very narrow indeed and had a corridor and doors to both sides of the staircase base. This meant no other stairlift would fit besides the Flow models. Another provider even turned this one away because their stairlifts couldn’t be installed.

Summary

So, is your house suitable for a stairlift? While some stairlifts might not fit on a very narrow staircase, or one with obstacles such as doorways and corridors, the Flow X is a magnificent piece of machinary which has helped thousands of people with mobility in their homes.

Stannah too is a great machine and can fit on most staircases. But with a very narrow or particularly awkward setup, you might need a Flow stairlift. Give us a call and we can measure up your staircase and suggest the most cost effective solution depending on your stairs.

Call us today on 0800 046 3438 or visit our contact page and leave us a message.

The post Is My House Suitable For A Stairlift? appeared first on UK Stair Lifts Newcastle.

If you live in Newcastle or the surrounding Tyne and Wear area, you might be wondering whether your staircase is too narrow for a stairlift. Many older homes in Newcastle – from Victorian terraces in Heaton to traditional Tyneside flats in Jesmond – have tight, steep, or twisting staircases. But with today’s technology, chair lifts for narrow stairs are more than possible.

Chairlifts For Narrow Stairs – How We Fit Stairlifts in Tight Spaces

Thanks to innovative designs like the Thyssen Flow X, stairlifts can now be installed on staircases as narrow as 61cm. This model can rotate the seat while travelling, giving you extra legroom. It allows you to navigate tight bends with ease. Folding arms and footrests also help maximise available space.

For slightly wider staircases, the Stannah 260 offers an alternative with a seat positioned further back from the rail. This is perfect for gaining those extra few centimetres of clearance.

What If My Stairs Are Very Narrow?

Even if your staircase is extremely tight, there are usually options. Standing or “perching” stairlifts may work for some people, as they take up less space than seated models. However, these are best suited to those who can comfortably stand or perch for the journey.

Our team can assess whether a seated or standing model is best for your needs – and we’ll always recommend a solution that suits your comfort and mobility in the long term.

Newcastle Homes We’ve Helped

We’ve installed stairlifts in many Newcastle properties where customers thought it couldn’t be done. From tight townhouses in Byker to steep staircases in Gosforth, our engineers have worked around obstacles like doorways, radiators, and sharp turns without major home alterations.

Find Out What’s Possible for Your Home

The best way to know if your home is suitable is to book a free, no-obligation assessment with one of our Newcastle-based stairlift experts. We’ll measure your stairs, discuss your needs, and give you honest advice on the best solution.

To learn more about the options available, take a look at our full guide to stairlifts for narrow stairs.

📞 Call us on 0800 046 3438 or get in touch online to book your free assessment today.

With the right stairlift, even the narrowest staircase in Newcastle can be made safe, comfortable, and easy to use.

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We deal with awkward staircases every month and, (not to be too big-headed about it), are experts at overcoming awkward and difficult stairs for stairlifts installations!

In fact we’ve done hundreds of them over the years!

Stairlifts For Awkward Stairs – The Flow X

The Flow X is a stairlift like no other. It’s our “go-to” stairlift when it comes to a particularly awkward or difficult stairlift fitting. That’s because it’s the most agile stairlift on the market! The Flow X has a patented technology which means it can manoeuvre around the most awkward of obstacles. It’s ASL (Advanced Swivel and Levelling) tech means it can pivot and swivel simultaneously.

What this means for you is that even if you have had stairlift installers turn you away for a stairlift, we’re confident the Flow X can fit – even the most awkward ones.

Here’s a picture of the Flow X in action:

It’s downward facing ride position solves a lot of problems from the get-go. While most stairlifts face outwards, perpendicular to the wall/bannister rail, the Flow X allows a downwards/upwards ride position. This immediately gets round a major problem. The knee to back measurement is the biggest problem for most stairlifts because it determines whether one can be fitted at all.

On awkward staircases, this can mean a traditional type of stairlift won’t fit – which is often down to the bend at the top/bottom. Or even a straight stairlift might struggle on a particularly narrow staircase. The Flow X is one of the best stairlifts for narrow stairs. Not only does it allow downward/upward facing travel, but it’s ASL technology means it can swivel and bend around tight corners.

Checkout one of our installations here:

More videos on our channel here.

Stairlifts For Awkward Stairs – The Stannah 260

Another stairlift we often recommend to our customers is the Stannah 260 for curved stairs. Stannah are a great design and are masters of saving space. Their stairlifts are particularly good when it comes to awkward staircases, and although they aren’t always as nimble as the Flow X, they are often perfect for awkward fittings.

Here’s the Stannah 260 on a curved staircase. As you can see, the carriage sits far back against the rail, leaving plenty of room for the legs. Even on an outward facing seated position, the Stannah creates a lot of space by having the seat as far back as possible against the bannister.

Stairlifts For Awkward Stairs

Although this isn’t suitable for everyone, another way around an awkward set of stairs is to use a standing stairlift. Standing stairlifts are generally only advised for those who are having difficulty sitting, and often only as a temporary measure. With a standing stairlift, should you condition worsen, and you find you need to sit, it would require a whole new stairlift fitting, to replace the standing stairlift!

But for those who are perhaps in a situation where their condition is temporary, or they simply can’t bend their knees for medical reasons, a standing stairlift can be installed on awkward stairs because of its narrow profile. See also standing stairlift for narrow stairs.

Summary

We like the Flow X and the Stannah stairlifts for awkward stairs because of their low profile and excellent build quality. If a Stannah won’t fit on a staircase, the Flow X is the “go-to” solution because of it’s superb ability to navigate awkward stairs.

In rare situations, we might even recommend a standing stairlift due to its low profile, although this is unusual. A standing stairlift is used when someone has difficulty sitting, and/or it’s a short term solution.

Out two main solutions for awkward fittings are the Stannah and the Flow X. We also offer reconditioned stairlifts so if you’re on a budget, you can shave a hefty premium off the cost of a stairlift!

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Instead, it is important they keep up with movement, however small, as this will help maintain their muscles, improve their mobility and flexibility, and ultimately retain their independence for longer. 

This doesn’t mean they should start training for a marathon, but they can take part in simple exercises in the comfort of their home, which can strengthen their muscles and improve their overall health. 

According to the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP), these exercises can include leaning forwards while sitting on a chair, standing up and sitting down again. 

Another good exercise is holding the back of a chair, lifting heels off the floor and holding for three seconds, before lowering in a controlled manner. 

Similarly, you could stand and raise your toes while holding on to the back of a chair, and then lowering slowly. 

Elderly people could also improve their balance by holding their chair with one hand and bending one leg. They should keep the posture straight, and balance on the other leg for ten seconds before swapping. 

The heel-toe stand, which involves putting one foot in front of the other and balancing for ten seconds, is another effective exercise, while walking with one foot directly in front of the other in a straight line, practices stability. 

These exercises will improve mobility, but tackling stairs can be a much harder challenge for many people. This is why installing new stairlifts in Birmingham could help the elderly stay in their home for longer.

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If mobility is difficult for you, there are still some great ways you can move your body without putting too much strain on it.

For a start, gardening might be something you love to do. Well, did you know it is also a great way to keep fit? According to Everyone Active, an hour weeding or pruning can burn 300 calories.

It has the added benefit of bringing you closer to nature and getting you outdoors, which helps relieve stress and boosts mental health.

Walking is also a lovely thing to do in the spring. If you can’t travel far, that’s ok. The low-impact exercise is good for you, no matter how far you traverse.

Now the weather is improving, you could aim to walk a little further every day, as it is easy to build stamina with walking, according to the NHS. It is also good for cardiovascular health, muscle strength, boosting mood and burning calories.

Those who are still relatively fit could also take part in racket sports, allowing you to soak up the fresh air while also improving strength. There is also minimal risk of injury, which is good news for those in their twilight years.

Some elderly people, of course, won’t be able to take part in tennis or badminton, as they rely on their stairlift in Leeds to get around their home. However, any exercise they can do will help improve, or maintain, their physical capabilities for longer.

The post Fun Ways For Elderly People To Keep Fit This Springtime appeared first on UK Stair Lifts Newcastle.

This includes cleaning. Stairlifts are used frequently by those who have them installed which means they need to be cleaned the same as any other frequently used furniture and equipment would.

Simple cleaning can include just wiping the stairlift seat down every day to ensure it is clean and sanitary for you. This helps avoid dust buildup and prevents any stains from sinking into the seat itself.

You should try and properly clean your stairlift every week or so though to ensure it stays in great condition.

This not only makes it nicer for you to use and keeps it in good condition, but it can also ensure that you never need to resort to deep cleaning in order to get rid of buildup and stains. 

Routine cleaning allows you to keep on top of the job and makes it quicker and easier to clean in the long run.

It is important to remember that stairlifts are electrical equipment and water and electricity don’t do well together. Try and avoid using a large amount of water, liquid cleaners or getting any moisture too close to the electrics.

A warm, damp cloth should be good enough to wipe the seat down and you may want to use a mild soap or detergent if necessary. Make sure the seat doesn’t get too wet as it can take a while to dry off which may make it uncomfortable to use.

The rail of your stairlift can get incredibly dirty with oil and dust but this shouldn’t be too difficult to clean if you see to it regularly. It’s important to wipe down the rail often as a buildup of dust and other debris can actually cause the lift to malfunction!

Wiping down with a soft cloth and a cleaning solution that doesn’t leave any sticky or oily residue behind is perfect for cleaning the rail and removing any dirt and dust buildup.

The post How To Clean Your Stairlift Correctly appeared first on UK Stair Lifts Newcastle.

Firstly, ensure that you are always properly seated on the stairlift and have placed the arm rests down and have buckled the seatbelt to reduce the risk of you falling out of your stairlift.

This may not seem likely, but it can be extremely dangerous if you do happen to fall out of the stairlift, especially if you are close to the top of the stairs as it can be a long way to fall and can cause serious injuries.

Many people who use stairlifts have mobility issues which also means they may find it hard to get themselves back on their feet without help, so falling from your stairlift could leave you in an uncomfortable position for a long time until someone is able to assist you.

Ensure the stairlift is only used by one person at a time and try to stop children from using the lift as a toy.  They are designed for single-person use and may break if the maximum weight limit is exceeded. Even children sitting on knees can be too heavy.

Children should not use the lift as a toy either. Small hands and feet can easily get trapped and hurt by the stairlift and children may also accidentally cause damage to the lift which can be costly to repair.

Ensure you maintain your stair lift well and address any issues as soon as possible. If your stairlift is malfunctioning or not working correctly, it is important you stop using it until it has been seen to in order to avoid further damage or injury.

The post Stairlift Safety 101 | UK Stairlifts Official Blog appeared first on UK Stair Lifts Newcastle.

The first reason there will be a lot of need for stairlifts in Leeds is the actual population figure. Leeds is not just a big city; as a single local authority area its Census 2021 population was the second largest in the UK at 812,000, surpassed only by Birmingham and 8.1 per cent up on the 751,000 recorded in 2011.

By definition, even if there is only an average number of people with disabilities in the city needing stairlifts there will be more in Leeds than almost everywhere else.  

Of course, the number of old people will vary and cities do have younger populations than the country at large; indeed, there was a 20.1 per cent rise in over-65s in England since the 2011 census, but only 15.7 per cent in Leeds. Nonetheless, this still represents nearly twice the city’s population increase. That means the need for resources for older people is growing twice as fast too.

This may be significant when it comes to new homes and how they are equipped; like many cities, Leeds has seen a boom in city centre living, with a major focus now on the ‘South Bank’ area across the Aire from the city centre. This is likely to be dominated by more of the same, with lot of large, multi-storey apartment blocks.

All that means a growing population in Leeds will not translate into an adequate growth in single-storey homes suitable for those (not just including the elderly) who need stairlifts. As a result, the number of stairlifts in Leeds is only likely to grow in the years ahead as the population ages faster than it expands.

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A simple reason underpins this; with a population of 1,144,000, the city is the largest single local authority in the country, well ahead of second-placed Leeds with 812,000 residents. London may be much larger, but its 8.9 million population is spread over 32 boroughs plus the City.

Cities do tend to have younger populations overall than the country at large, especially due to their high concentrations of students, but the number of over-65s in Birmingham rose by 8.9 per cent over the decade after the previous Census in 2011, compared with an overall population increase of 6.7 per cent.

A population that ages faster than it grows means an increasing proportion of the 1.14 million residents will need support for the effects of old age. But age alone is not a determinant of the need for stairlifts, as this also applies to many younger people with mobility issues. 

Birmingham City Council’s figures for 2018-19 on disability noted that across the UK, 21 per cent of Britons reported a disability, the equivalent of 14.1 million and up from 19 per cent (11.3 million) a decade earlier. This applied to 44 per cent of those of pension age (down from 2011 due to a rise in pensionable age).

Of those with disabilities, 9.15 per cent were ‘limited a lot’ by this, including 33.5 per cent of over-65s. Not all of these will have a disability requiring the use of stairlifts, of course, while some will live in single storey-homes anyway. 

Nonetheless, put together, a rise in population, rise in the number of older people and an overall increase in disability means there is no doubt the demand for stairlifts in Birmingham will be higher now than a decade ago. If you feel you need one, don’t hesitate to get in touch; you’ll  undoubtedly be in very good company.

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It is useful to be aware of this if there is a chance you need a stairlift. According to the 2021 Census, the population in Newcastle has climbed to 300,000, up 7.1 per cent on the 2011 figures. This represents a much larger increase than the North East as a whole, where the growth was only 1.9 per cent. Indeed, some neighbouring districts, such as Gateshead, saw their population fall.

While many factors will have contributed to this growth, such as employment opportunities and people coming to study, the fact is the population has still got older faster than it has got larger. The rise in the number of over-65s was 15.2 per cent.

Moreover, Newcastle City Council projects that the number of over-65s is set to rise further, from around 43,000 in 2018 to more than 55,000 by 2043.

Being older is one indicator of an increased need for mobility aids, but it is not the only one, as many younger and middle-aged folk have disabilities. 

The council noted that the 2021 snapshot identified 19 per cent of the city’s population has having disabilities that limit daily activities, with most but by no means all in the older age groups. While far from all of these will be mobility-related, it does indicate that many will need some extra help getting about.

It is important to note that, whatever the precise number who need stairlifts, it will not be a small one. Many will have a stairlift already and others might be struggling but likely to benefit from having one in the years ahead. If you have been advised you could benefit from one, do not feel awkward about it; you will be in very good company indeed.

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