How to measure a curved stair lift
Taking measurements for a custom curved stairlift system is a little more complex relative to straight stair lifts. The custom curved stairlift systems are truly as they are described–custom to your specific stairwell. The advantage of this system is that we measure a curved stair lift that can traverse intermediate landings and turn corners without the need for a user to transfer between multiple units, making this a much safer option for those customers who have homes featuring stairs with turns, sweeps, and multiple landings. Custom curved stairlifts can also better deal with unique situations where maybe slope isn’t adequate for a more conventional straight stairlift, as these units have more sophisticated trolley systems designed to articulate through turns, overrun landings, etc. Our Harmar Helix curved stairlift can even be setup with an optional outdoor package for weather resistance.
When ASAP Lifts measures for a straight stairlift, we still note length, but this is a combined length of rail across multiple flights and turns needed based off of which side the stair lift is desired to be installed. ‘Inner’ configurations trace along inside turns and require less rail, often meaning they are lower cost to produce vs. ‘Outer’ configurations that follow along an outside wall. Some stairways may have a combination of the two. Adding additional parks at the top or bottom to route the carriage and seat out of the stairs adds length and complexity as well, and usually increases cost.
Some vendors, such as Stannah, allow us a certain standard allowance of rail and include parks if the length of rail falls under this rail length allowance. Other vendors such as Harmar, have kits that include all turns, whether the main bends or parks. It is possible to price two identical units from the same vendor very differently… which is why it’s highly important to get accurate measurements for the best price. Sometimes, a kit price is more sensical than basing pricing off a main 90º or 180º turn, then adding in options such as overruns or parks at landings.
To get the most accurate measurements, we’ll opt for a targeting system specific to each vendor that allows us to get an accurate reading and allow the vendor to provide engineered drawings for a customer to review before paying a deposit on a custom system. These drawings show us, and our customers, measurements such as clearances, path of travel and other important information that allows us to possibly make adjustments as necessary before committing to a full unit order. We still measure by hand using a tape to get a general idea of rail length needed and what system is perhaps the best value available to provide a rough estimate, but for accuracy, we depend on using these special survey systems.
In these instances, a system of cards is placed with special designs imprinted that engineers use to plot points in 3D space. These cards are arranged to reflect overhanging obstructions, where the ends of treads are located as well as other things like bannister rails, corners around turns and fluctuating tread areas as in the case of pie-shape winder steps that taper into small, acute angles around turns.
Once the cards are placed, the dealer carefully photographs these overhead to produce a collection of photos that are then uploaded to a computer or vendor website so the engineers can take these images and do their magic to produce an accurate model of the stairs and surrounding areas. Turnaround varies, but it generally takes anywhere from 24 hours to a few days to get this back. Once we have the information needed, our vendors can quote us an accurate price to turn over on customer estimates and provide lead times for production. Each rail is produced at the time of order, and each system is made to get the rail as close as possible to the side of the stairs while still allowing adequate space for the trolley on the carriage to make tight turns around corners and bannisters.
It’s often common for dealers to simply look at the stairs and make the rough measurements to get a general idea of rail length and what side is suggested for placement, then provide a ballpark estimate on a curved stair lift. Then, if a customer wants to proceed, the dealer will move forward by shooting a survey with a camera system and turning over the results to a vendor’s engineers to produce detailed spec drawings and get back a firm quote good for so much time. Some dealers will shoot with the system by default if it’s really complex and tough to provide a rough estimate, while other dealers with a lot of experience can usually take rough estimates and get a fairly accurate quote within a few hundred dollars more or less of the final quote provided off of drawings.
ASAP Lifts has been providing custom curved stairlift estimates for area customers for a good while, and we worked for other entities prior which gives us a lot of experience working with custom stairlift pricing and the best way to configure these to meet client needs, budgets and other specific factors unique to their situations and their homes.
