Beware of cut and shut Stannah stair lift rails

Buying a stairlift is a major investment and the secondhand stairlift market is a perfectly legitimate one. Indeed, major manufacturers such as Stannah do offer secondhand stairlifts but would-be purchasers should be cautious about some unscrupulous dealers.

There can be problems when buying secondhand stairlifts. To put it simply, straight rails can be safely re-used to install a second-hand straight stairlift but curved secondhand stairlifts always need new rails. This is because even if the carriage is secondhand, the rails have to be tailor-made to fit individual staircases because they must not obstruct doorways and must fit tightly to the stairs. Experts say it is just not possible to use secondhand curved rails safely.

Some people have purchased Stannah curved rails that have been re-manufactured from a number of old rails which have been cut up and welded together in an attempt to fit to a particular staircase. They are known in the industry as ‘cut and shuts’ – named after a similar practice in the secondhand car market.

Many customers have been misled into thinking they were buying genuine Stannah rails as advertisers have made no attempt to clarify the fact that the rails they are selling have been re-manufactured from a selection of old Stannah rails.

Due to the limitations of this re-manufacturing process, the quality and fit of the rails to the staircase is generally extremely poor and – most importantly – the stairlift could well be unsafe.

To be sure that you a receiving a brand new rail then you will need to go directly to Stannah or one of their approved dealers. Dolphin Mobility have been approved Stannah dealers for over 10 years. In fact our branch alone accounts for 20% of Stannah's UK trade sales. Approved Stannah dealers all sign up to an agreement not to use cut and shut rails, giving the customer peace of mind that they are getting a brand new, and most importantly, a 100% safe rail.

It is also worth considering that companies that use cut and shut rails are not authorised dealers and therefore cannot buy spare parts from Stannah. This could seriously effect their ability to maintain and service your stair lift. This also means that their stair lift engineers have no training from Stannah.

If you have received a quotation from a company for a curved rail stair lift and they cannot prove that they are authorised dealers, then you should contact the manufacturer to see if they are on the approved list. If you think you have bought a stair lift that uses a cut and shut rail then please contact Dolphin on 0800 9800 126 and we can advise you what to do next.

Stair Lift Buying Guide

There is no doubt that having a stair lift in your home can dramatically improve your quality of life. If you are starting to find that climbing the stairs is becoming a hazardous experience, or just hard work, then a stair lift could be the answer. Another solution could be to move to a single storey residence. However, this can be expensive and stressful, and many people are reluctant to leave a house that they have spent many years turning into a home.

Once you start considering the possibility of having a stair lift, you begin to delve into what can be a highly technical area. However sure you are of what you want, I strongly recommend that you take professional advice from someone with experience in this field. In most areas, informed advice is available from community occupational therapists (OT's). You will also need to make contact with a company who specialises in installing stair lifts. I would advise that you contact more than one company because there can be a huge difference in price and quality. Unfortunately, as the populations average age increases, more and more unscrupulous traders have entered the market and you need to make sure that you are not being ripped off.

If possible visit a demonstration centre and try a stair lift yourself. A stair lift is not the answer for everyone. For example, if you are confined to a wheelchair, then a lift that goes through the floor would probably be the best option.

The technology involved in stair lifts has improved dramatically in recent years. A stair lift can be installed on 99% of stair cases these days. But remember, not all stair lift companies are equal, some are using technology that is several years old. My advice is to research as many products as you can and to get as many quotations as you can. Knowledge is power after all, and with a few sensible precautions before purchase, you can ensure that you buy the right lift for your needs for the right price.