Stairlift for spiral staircase: what are the costs?

With a stair lift for the spiral staircase, seniors and people with physical limitations regain freedom of movement in their own homes. The shape and slope of the spiral staircase are no obstacle for models that are specially designed for this purpose. Read here what you need to pay attention to when planning and buying.

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Curved stairlift best choice for spiral staircase

When seniors can no longer manage the steep, curved spiral staircases in their own homes under their own power, the higher floors can usually no longer be used. A special stair lift for spiral staircases offers a remedy: It is combined with a curved, flexible rail system, which allows the lift to master the spiral staircase without any problems. This is also referred to as a so-called Curved stair lift.

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However, there are restrictions in the selection of the lift with regard to spiral staircases – this cannot be avoided due to the narrower shape and small radius of the stairs. Therefore, it must be taken into account that platform lifts are not an option for spiral staircases due to their size and cannot be installed. The rail system must also usually be custom-made to allow installation on the wall side or on the railing.

Stairlifts are the first option for a spiral staircase due to their smaller width. The specialist must decide whether a single-tube or double-tube rail system is necessary based on the nature of the staircase. Single-tube systems have a single rail for drive and guide, while in double-tube systems the drive and guide of the lift are divided between two rails.

Advantages and disadvantages of a spiral stair lift

These are the advantages and disadvantages of a stair lift for the spiral staircase:

These factors influence the cost of the stairlift

The special requirements for a spiral stair lift usually result in higher costs. Unlike a straight stairlift, the spiral stairlift must be installed in a much more compact way. In addition, the rail system cannot be standardized, as it depends too much on the available width, radius and angle of the staircase.

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The cost of a stair lift for a spiral staircase is therefore difficult to generalize. It becomes particularly expensive if the spiral staircase is slightly curved at the top and bottom. In this case, not only one set of rails can be installed, but several short sets must be individually manufactured and then combined.

The same applies to spiral staircases that do not run through to the next floor, but are separated by a flat walking area at mid-height. In this case, two stairlifts are needed to reach the next floor.

Stairlift for the spiral staircase: possible costs

A conceivable cost breakdown for a stair lift for the spiral staircase is:

Tips for buying: If you want to save money and decide to buy used, you should note that the rails have to be custom-made. As a rule, only the seat can be taken over second-hand. Here, savings of up to 30 percent can be calculated, depending on the degree of wear and age of the seat. If there is a corresponding care degree including approval of the care insurance, the subsidy amounts to up to 4,000 €. The cost of a stair lift for a spiral staircase can thus be almost halved. You can find more on the subject of subsidies here. Before purchasing a stair lift, it is always a good idea to compare offers from different suppliers. Sometimes this can save up to 30 percent of the costs.