Straight Rail Stairlift<\/strong><\/h3>\nThe most basic type of stairlift rail is the straight rail. Straight rails are mass-produced and cut to length, only once they have been ordered for a specific staircase. They\u2019re typically silver or bronze in colour and made of aluminium. The best rails will be anodized and scratch-resistant. Because straight rails are only required to climb the stairs in a straight line, stair width and head clearance are the only real concerns, in terms of your staircase\u2019s dimensions. As long as you have sufficient head clearance for the user and your stairs are a minimum of 71 cm, installing a straight stairlift should be no problem.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.stannah.co.il\/en-il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Straight-Rail.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Straight Rail Dimensions<\/strong><\/h4>\nAs mentioned above, straight stairlift rails require a staircase that is no less than 71 cm wide and has sufficient headroom for the user. Fortunately, straight rails are fitted with a charging strip that provides a constant charge, powering the stairlift\u2019s battery<\/a>, regardless of where you decide to park the chair. The rail itself only sticks out about 15 cm onto the staircase, leaving plenty of room for others to get by.<\/p>\nContrary to popular belief, the rail can be fixed to the stair treads or the wall. This is much more secure (and causes far less damage to your home), and requires no big home modifications. This typically requires just a few screws to attach the legs to the treads on every other stair. The only other important factor to consider is that the rail will likely stick out around 46 cm at the bottom of the staircase, so the stairlift has a place to land. If you have a door or walkway at the bottom, you might need to consider some additional options.<\/p>\n
Powered Folding or Retractable Rail Option<\/strong><\/h4>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.stannah.co.il\/en-il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Retractable-Rail.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
The Retractable Rail Option, also known as hinged rail, is the perfect solution for obstructed landings at the bottom of a straight staircase. The rail folds up and down with the push of a button, clearing space at the bottom of the stairs and providing a safe landing for your stairlift on the ground floor. Once you\u2019ve disembarked, you can send the stairlift back upstairs remotely and the retractable rail will fold up and out of the way, until you\u2019re ready to use it again.<\/p>\n
Curved Rail Stairlift<\/strong><\/h3>\nIf your stairs make a turn, have an intermediate landing or include multiple flights, you\u2019ll likely need a curved rail stairlift. Curved rails are more complicated than straights, in that they have to be custom-made to handle the bends and turns of your stairs, while maintaining a smooth and level ride. Unlike straight staircases, where the stair width is relatively consistent, curved staircases often include pie-shaped stairs and variant widths that need to be accounted for.<\/p>\n
Curved stairlifts can be installed on either side of the stairs making an inside turn or going around an outside bend. Regardless of which side you choose, precise measurements are critical for designing a safe and reliable curved rail stairlift. Fortunately, there are usually a variety of solutions, as well as a variety of options. You can choose everything from the colour of the rail to how and where the stairlift starts and finishes. Let\u2019s take a closer look.<\/p>\n
Types of Curved Rails<\/strong><\/h4>\nThere are two major types of curved stairlift: modular and custom-made. As their names imply, one is custom-designed for your stairs, while the other is composed of pre-fabricated parts that are assembled into a completed stairlift rail.<\/p>\n
Typically, custom rails (sometimes referred to as bespoke rails) are a tighter fit and offer a smoother ride. The twin-tube design is popular, but the characteristics of the rail can vary, depending on the company you choose.<\/p>\n
Modular rails, meanwhile, are often single tube and boast a quicker delivery time. While the ride quality isn\u2019t quite as smooth as a custom rail, in most cases, a modular curved rail does the job just as well. However, it is important to note that if you have a complicated staircase with very tight turns, you might need the superior design of a custom rail.<\/p>\n
Typical curved stairlift rail dimensions<\/strong><\/h4>\n
<\/p>\nAs mentioned above, straight stairlift rails require a staircase that is no less than 71 cm wide and has sufficient headroom for the user. Fortunately, straight rails are fitted with a charging strip that provides a constant charge, powering the stairlift\u2019s battery<\/a>, regardless of where you decide to park the chair. The rail itself only sticks out about 15 cm onto the staircase, leaving plenty of room for others to get by.<\/p>\n Contrary to popular belief, the rail can be fixed to the stair treads or the wall. This is much more secure (and causes far less damage to your home), and requires no big home modifications. This typically requires just a few screws to attach the legs to the treads on every other stair. The only other important factor to consider is that the rail will likely stick out around 46 cm at the bottom of the staircase, so the stairlift has a place to land. If you have a door or walkway at the bottom, you might need to consider some additional options.<\/p>\n The Retractable Rail Option, also known as hinged rail, is the perfect solution for obstructed landings at the bottom of a straight staircase. The rail folds up and down with the push of a button, clearing space at the bottom of the stairs and providing a safe landing for your stairlift on the ground floor. Once you\u2019ve disembarked, you can send the stairlift back upstairs remotely and the retractable rail will fold up and out of the way, until you\u2019re ready to use it again.<\/p>\n If your stairs make a turn, have an intermediate landing or include multiple flights, you\u2019ll likely need a curved rail stairlift. Curved rails are more complicated than straights, in that they have to be custom-made to handle the bends and turns of your stairs, while maintaining a smooth and level ride. Unlike straight staircases, where the stair width is relatively consistent, curved staircases often include pie-shaped stairs and variant widths that need to be accounted for.<\/p>\n Curved stairlifts can be installed on either side of the stairs making an inside turn or going around an outside bend. Regardless of which side you choose, precise measurements are critical for designing a safe and reliable curved rail stairlift. Fortunately, there are usually a variety of solutions, as well as a variety of options. You can choose everything from the colour of the rail to how and where the stairlift starts and finishes. Let\u2019s take a closer look.<\/p>\n There are two major types of curved stairlift: modular and custom-made. As their names imply, one is custom-designed for your stairs, while the other is composed of pre-fabricated parts that are assembled into a completed stairlift rail.<\/p>\n Typically, custom rails (sometimes referred to as bespoke rails) are a tighter fit and offer a smoother ride. The twin-tube design is popular, but the characteristics of the rail can vary, depending on the company you choose.<\/p>\n Modular rails, meanwhile, are often single tube and boast a quicker delivery time. While the ride quality isn\u2019t quite as smooth as a custom rail, in most cases, a modular curved rail does the job just as well. However, it is important to note that if you have a complicated staircase with very tight turns, you might need the superior design of a custom rail.<\/p>\nPowered Folding or Retractable Rail Option<\/strong><\/h4>\n
<\/p>\nCurved Rail Stairlift<\/strong><\/h3>\n
Types of Curved Rails<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Typical curved stairlift rail dimensions<\/strong><\/h4>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.stannah.co.il\/en-il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/curved-stairlift-with-user.jpg\")
<\/p>\n