Curved Stairlift

There are a few different types of stairlifts, the basics of which all remain the same. A stairlift in general is a machine which helps you to move up and downstairs with ease. It runs on a motor and means that you can be completely mobile, without having to worry about falling or tripping on the stairs, or relying upon assistance from someone else.

A curved stairlift is fitted to a set of stairs which curves around, as the name would suggest. In comparison, a straight stairlift is fitted to a set of stairs which is literally straight, i.e. it runs up and down a straight wall. A curved stairlift will travel around a bend, helping you to move regardless of the type of stairs you have.

The stairlift has a set and a set of controls. You simply press the button to take you up or down, depending upon which direction you want to go! Curved stairlifts are comfortable, quiet, and they blend into your decor with ease, such as the Acorn 180 Curved Stairlift, one of our bestsellers.

The good news is that by choosing a curved stairlift, you don’t need to make any structural changes to your home. The fact that your stairs aren’t traditionally straight doesn’t make any difference here. The stairlift is measured to fit the curve and size of your stairs, modified to your particular needs.

The clue is in the title!

A curved stairlift is fitted to a set of stairs that bends or curves. A curved stairlift is unique every single time. A highly qualified installer will measure your stairs and ensure that the stairlift you choose fits exactly to the shape of your stairs. You don’t need to make any changes to your home in this case - the stairlift is modified, not your home!

We have many top quality curved stairlifts on offer, and one of our most popular models the Companion Freecurve Curved Stairlift is ideal for any shape of stairs.

You’re safe at all times, seated in a comfortable chair, with seatbelt, arm rests, and a foot rest too. The controls are easy to use, and the stairlift simply follows the track it is installed onto.

Curved stairlifts make mobility accessible to all. Not everyone has a straight staircase. Whilst straight stairlifts might be more common, it doesn’t mean they’re your only choice Many homes have stairs which bend around or curve slightly, and that doesn’t mean the those people should have to struggle up and downstairs! A curved stairlift therefore ensures that you can move around without any issues.

Of course, a curved stairlift is a little more complicated to install, so the process may take a little longer than if you were choosing a standard stairlift. However, it is possible to have your stairlift installed within 6-8 hours, depending upon the complexities involved. However, this time does not include assessing the staircase and ensuring the track is created to fit the exact dimensions of the staircase.

A curved stairlift works in exactly the same way as a straight stairlift, it simply travels along a track with a bend or curve in it, rather than travelling in a straight line, up and down.

Powered by a motor, the stairlift is attached firmly to the track, and when the button to activate it is pressed, it slowly moves you up or down the stairs. Curved stairlifts, such as our high quality Companion 2000 Curved Stairlift, are quiet and smooth. You don’t wobble around or jerk as the chair moves around the bend - your movement is as smooth as if you were travelling in a constant straight line.

Moving back down stairs is also comfortable and safe. You do not feel at any point as though you’re going to fall out, and there is no tipping or moving from side to side. Everything is smooth and gentle.

A stairlift helps you retain your independence within your own home. If you have a loved one who needs assistance when moving up and downstairs, a stairlift is a great option to help them remain in charge of their own mobility, without having to depend upon anyone else. This also removes the worry of trips or falls, and gives a huge amount of confidence to both the person using the stairlift and their loved ones.

A highly experienced installer will visit your home and assess your staircase. The tracking for your curved stairlift is then cut to size, allowing it to fit exactly to the shape and size of your current staircase. You will not need to have any modifications made to your staircase.

The track is fitted around 6” away from the wall itself and runs from the bottom of the stairs to the top, regardless of the curves involved in your staircase construction. The track is fitted this far away from your wall so that when the chair moves up and down, it doesn’t scuff or damage your wall or your wallpaper/paint work.

One of the most common questions we’re asked is whether having a curved stairlift installed will mean having to redecorate or purchase a new carpet. The answer on both levels is no! Having a curved stairlift installed does not cause any damage to the structure of your staircase or the decor. When your installer comes to fit your curved stairlift, they will do their best to make as little mess as possible, but this will only be superficial and will not damage or ruin your decor at all. All that may be required is a quick vacuum afterwards to get rid of some drilling dust - that’s it!

The fact that a curved stairlift needs to be a totally bespoke fit means that the installation process could take a little longer. For a standard staircase with just a small curve, the process may only take 6 hours or so, however for a more complicated staircase, your installer may need to return to your home over the course of a couple of days or so, to ensure that your curved stairlift is fitted to the highest possible standard. The wait will be worth it!

We work with some of the best brands in the stairlift business, including Acorn and Companion, both of which are industry renowned for quality and style. Companion boast some of the most streamline stairlifts in the industry, so if you have a narrow staircase, this could be a great option - the Companion 2000 Curved Stairlift is a good choice in this regard.

It’s a good idea to measure your staircase in terms of width as well as length before you start to shop around. Then, feel free to ask any questions about dimensions and general size. We’re happy to help you find the best curved stairlift for your needs, no matter how many bends or curves you have in your staircase, or how wide it is.

The fact that curved stairlifts are completely bespoke is a plus point here. It means that everyone is able to benefit from easier mobility, without having to move house or undergo large structural changes to their home.

Generally speaking, provided your staircase is wider than around 24mm, you will be able to have a stairlift installed. Most staircases fit the bill.

Because of the amount of extra work involved and the bespoke fitting of the stairlift tracking to your staircase, curved stairlifts are more expensive than regular straight stairlifts. However, there are many different models on the market and that simply means you need to shop around to find a stairlift which fits the bill.

It’s not possible to give a standard price here, as it completely depends upon your staircase shape and size as to how much your stairlift is going to cost. To give an average guide however, a curved stairlift usually fits into the £5000 price bracket. If you have a complicated staircase, and depending upon the model you go for, this may be higher, to around the £9500 mark in some cases.

Because of the huge number of variables involved in pricing a curved stairlift, it’s best to contact us for a quote. Simply give us as much information as you can and let us know which model you like the look of. Then, we can calculate all the variables for your particular case and give you a quote on how much we expect your stairlift to cost, including installation. Our quote service is free, so don’t hesitate to drop us a line.

Whilst you might bemoan the cheaper price of a straight stairlift, you do have to remember that curved stairlifts involve a lot more work. However, your stairlift will give you total independence of mobility when moving up and down stairs, cutting down on any worries you have about falling and tripping. When you look at it that way, you can’t really put a price on it.

If you want to look towards cutting costs when purchasing a curved stairlift, you could think about buying a reconditioned product. Again, it’s not possible to give a solid price on how much this type of stairlift will cost you, but it will be much lower than the price of a new one. Many reconditioned stairlifts can be 50% of the price of a brand new model.

You do need to shop around carefully and make sure that you get a good warranty with your curved stairlift when purchasing in this way, but most models still offer a couple of years guarantee when reconditioned.

The downside of a reconditioned stairlift is that it may not have the number of features that you want. When purchasing a brand new model, such as the Acorn 180 Curved Stairlift, you’ll notice that it has many different features, making your journey up and down stairs easier and more comfortable. A reconditioned model is an older type of stairlift which has been reconditioned to its original standard. Whilst many reconditioned models these days still have several high quality features, you do need to check each option out carefully, to ensure it has what you need included.

Some older reconditioned curved stairlifts may also be a little wider than some of the newer models. As mentioned previously, Companion make some of the narrowest stairlifts on the market, and this has been possible due to increasing technology over the last few years. Older models may be little bulkier or wider, which could be an issue for your if your staircase is a little narrow.

It is possible to rent a curved stairlift and pay upfront for a period of time, or pay per week. This is a good option if you’re not sure if a stairlift is for you or not, and you want to give it a trial run. However, it’s worth noting that the cost of renting a stairlift over a period of time is always going to be much higher than purchasing one outright. There are also financial assistance options available to help you buy a stairlift, which we’ll cover shortly.

When renting a curved stairlift you’ll find that you have fewer options than if you were looking for a straight stairlift. Again, this comes down to the more difficult installation attached to a curved stairlift. However, it’s not impossible to find companies who rent curved models, albeit at a higher price.

Some companies charge around £1000 for the initial installation, which could be higher depending upon the type of staircase you have, and then they charge you either per week or a set amount for a block of 3 or 6 months. This can be anything from £10-30 depending upon the company you choose and the type of stairlift you rent.

Is it worth renting? Renting definitely has a place in the industry but it’s not the most cost effective choice. It is a good option for those who can’t afford a curved stairlift outright and need a little time to save up, or those who don’t qualify for financial assistance and need to save up. However, you should really only rent for as short a time as possible, to limit the amount of extra cash you’re spending. You’ll gain far more value for money purchasing either a new model or going down the reconditioned route.

No problem!

People move house all the time and of course they’re going to want to take their curved stairlift with them! You will need a dedicated stairlift remover to come and take your stairlift out, to ensure that no damage is done to the wall or the fixtures of your stairlift. However, you will need to have your stairlift installed again in your new home.

Your new staircase will have a different shape to your old one, most probably and this means that you will need a new tracking installed according to the curve or bend in your new home. Of course, it might be that your new home has a straight staircase, in which case you would convert your stairlift to a straight version.

If you’re not moving house and you simply want to upgrade the stairlift that you have, it’s worth mentioning that Companion will upgrade you for free, provided you choose another Companion stairlift as your replacement.

A curved stairlift is a very beneficial investment, but it’s also a costly one. There’s no denying the large cost involved and that may be difficult for you to afford in one lump sum. Even renting over a period of time is costly, and you might not be able to afford the large up front cost for installation.

The good news is that there is financial assistance available, in the form of a Disabled Facilities Grant. This is available in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and is obtained from your local council. Scotland also has financial assistance in place, in the form of a housing grant or a loan.

However, not everyone is automatically eligible for this assistance and you will need to undergo an assessment of your mobility needs and your home for the council to decide whether you are able to receive the grant or not. Contact your local council for more information.