Many of our customers ask us whether a stairlift can be installed on a very narrow and steep staircase. In most cases, the answer is an emphatic “yes”. Although not every staircase is suitable for a stairlift, we have found a solution which works for those difficult and awkward staircases which present a problem in some situations.
So if you have been turned down for a stairlift installation, take heart! There is likely a solution. It comes in the form a specific stairlift make which is perhaps the slimmest and most definitely the most agile stairlift on the market.
Fitting A Stairlift On Narrow, Steep Stairs
The Flow X is the stairlift which solves many a problem when it comes to super slim/narrow stairlifts for narrow stairs. Looking at the above dimensions of the stairlift, you would be surprised that it can fit on a staircase as narrow as 62cm in width. That’s because the stairlift can adapt and tilt and pivot, turning sideways as it descends/ascends the stairs.
It has what’s called ASL (Advanced Swivelling and Levelling) which is a patented technology unique to the Flow X from Thyssen Krupp (now Access BDD). This tech means the stairlift can travel while pivoting and tilting. In short, it means it will fit more staircases than pretty much any other stairlift can!
The difficulty with a narrow staircase is often the width. With most stairlifts the width of the staircase is the limiting factor because most lifts face perpendicular to the wall/bannister rail. But the Flow X can face downwards/upwards in the direction of travel, saving valuable leg room.
How To Know Whether Your Stairs Will Accommodate A Narrow Stairlift?
So, how can you know whether your stairs need a Flow and will accommodate it if it’s a close call? Firstly, we don’t always recommend this particular type of stairlift. But it’s the “go-to” stairlift for difficult and narrow fittings where another one cannot be used due to space issues.
The Flow X is a more expensive model than most, as you would expect. So we often recommend one of our cheaper, reconditioned stairlifts which generally will fit a narrow staircase. But for especially narrow and difficult fittings, the Flow X is often the only option available.
We also recommend the Stannah models due to their design they can sit very close to the wall/bannister rail, creating much needed space.
This might be because of a narrow hallway, an awkward door or a particularly narrow staircase. It might be all three of these mean a Flow X is the only option. Call us for a free survey of your stairs, and we can give you a definitive answer. All our assessments are free, and you’re under no obligation to buy from us whether your staircase allows for an installation or not.
Call 0800 046 3438 or visit our contact page for a free assessment.
Here’s a stairlift installation we did on a narrow set of stairs. Here, we used the Flow X because it was the only stairlift which would work with the under stair compartment at the bottom and the spiral style staircase.
