Will a Stairlift Fit an Open-Side Staircase in a Youngsville or Broussard Home?
Many straight staircases with one side open to a landing could potentially work with a stairlift. Just because one side of a staircase is open doesn’t necessarily mean it will not work. For installations of stairlifts on open stair cases, I measure the stair width, rail position, clearance when the rail is folded, landings, handrails, the doors adjacent to the staircase, and the space needed to get on and off the stair lift chair.
For installations in Youngsville, Broussard, Lafayette, Milton, Scott, and Carencro, the first step is not choosing a stairlift model. The first step is seeing how the lift would work within the staircase and how the staircase is used by others. At 101 Mobility of Lafayette, this is the first step in our assessment for making a recommendation.
Why Newer Acadiana Staircases Create Different Mounting Questions
An open staircase can look like there is nowhere to mount a stair lift because one side may have a railing or balusters instead of a full wall. This is generally not the relevant side of the staircase.
Straight stairlift rails are typically supported by the stair treads and are not mounted by fastening the rail to the wall. This means an open side does not automatically mean we can’t install a stairlift.
What changes is the layout around the rail.
I am interested in which open staircase side in a Youngsville or Broussard home has the better combination of rail position, handrail use, chair clearance, and passage for others to use. I’m also interested in what happens to the chair when it reaches the top and bottom of the staircase. A staircase can have a lot of clear space in the middle and still have a tricky landing.
For that reason, I prefer to think of an open staircase stairlift as a complete route question rather than a rail question on its own.
Stair Width, Clearance after Folding, Landing Length, Door Swings, and Handrails
This is what usually determines if a straight stairlift is a good fit.
| What I Check | What I Look For | Why It is Important |
|---|---|---|
| Space from side to side of the staircase | Usable width | Gauge how much space will be remaining next to the lift. |
| Spacing of folded arms and foot rest | Folded clearance | A folded lift still takes up space on the staircase. |
| Santa tread placement | Stair tread placement | Affects how much space remains for users to pass the seat. |
| Clearing space at the bottom | Bottom Landing | Lift should not be an obstruction for users approaching the staircase. |
| Clearing space for the user to disembark | Top Landing | Lift should be clear for the user to disembark. |
| Swing of adjacent doors and clearance | Door swing | A closed door can restrict the rail, clear space on the stairs. |
| Existing handrail usage | Handrail | A stair lift should not block a person from continuing to navigate the stairs. |
The design of the staircase lift needs to consider how space will be used by the other members of the household who will continue using the staircase.
Site-specific minimum stair width cannot be given without measuring the staircase, stairlift, and the space required by the household.
Straight Stairlift Products I Compare for This Layout
When dealing with a straight, open side staircase, I may explore several models rather than starting with just one.
The Bruno Elan Straight Rail Stairlift utilizes a straight vertical rail and includes flip-up arms, a seat, and a footrest. Bruno states the rail can be installed within 5 inches of the wall. Bruno offers a straight rail that folds to accommodate an opening that the lower end of the rail would obstruct.
The Bruno Elite Straight Rail Stairlift is another option for a straight stair model. 101 Mobility states the folded width of this model is 15.125 inches and Bruno offers a straight rail that folds to accommodate an opening.
The Harmar Pinnacle is a product line that has a variety of models. Published specifications for folded width can vary within this line, including the SL300 at 11 inches, the SL600 at 10.5 inches, and the SL600HD at 17 inches. Again, this is a good example of why I will not make recommendations solely based on the description of a “straight stairlift.”
The published dimensions help, but actually measuring your stairs is the only way to know for sure. Your utilizable space is how you combine the width and positioning of the rail and the handrails and other elements on the stairs.
When a Lift Technically Fits but Still Hurts Household Traffic
“Can we install it?” and “Will this work well every day?” are different questions.
Just because a lift can fit along a stairs, does not mean the lift is a good solution. It could mean that a control staircase rail encroaches on a doorway and a chair obstructs a hall at the bottom stair, or that, while the staircase has width, the landing is too narrow to be practical.
When I am determining the handrails, I think of the other members of the household. I don’t want to solve one access problem and create another.
This is where I will advise against a stair lift even if installation is technically possible. If the lift will leave the household without decent passage, will interfere with a required doorway, or will be a poor solution for providing a safe landing, I will not install it and will recommend an alternative solution instead.
This is especially the case in a busy home where stairs remain part of the main route for many people.
What Happens After Installation?
After we install a straight stairlift, we have to look at what additional problems may be created. One thing that is important to evaluate is if the stairlift will obstruct other passengers when it moves from one floor to the next.
We show you how to use the controls, how to fold the seat and other components, where you should store the chair, how to get on and off at the landings, and how to use any features the chair may have, such as a swivel seat or a folding rail.
We look at how a lift would affect household traffic with the lift in its usual folded position. The final lift installation will be based on the last design we agreed on during the site visit.
We offer service and support to provide you with repairs and maintain accessibility equipment after purchase.
To see if a stairlift can be installed safely in your home in either Youngsville or Broussard, request your free in-home consultation. We will measure the staircase and evaluate both landings and nearby doors. We can review some open stairlift options and explain the impact of the final stairlift installation on the daily use of the stairway.
FAQ: Stairlift Fit on an Open Staircase
Would an open staircase stop a stairlift installation?
An open staircase can still support a stairlift since straight stairlift rails are supported from the stair treads instead of from the wall for mounting.
Does a stairlift have to be installed against a wall?
A stairlift rail is mounted on supports which retract into steps. The side of the stairlift generally depends on the stair layout, the distance from handrails to landings, adjacent doors, and how the family uses stairs.
How much width is required for a staircase to accommodate a stairlift?
There isn’t a specific measurement I’d apply to all homes. Depending on the stairlift and the user, I need to consider the position of the rail, the size of the folded chair, existing handrails, and the space that needs to be clear once the passage is in use. I measure the stairs to determine the stairlift that would work best for the space.
Will I have to remove my existing handrail?
Not usually. I look at the placement of the stairlift and the handrails the family needs. If there is a handrail in the way, we address this as part of the overall stairlift installation plan as a possible conflict.
Can the stairlift impede a door at the top or bottom?
Yes. Therefore, I take into consideration where the stairlift would interfere with the door swing. Depending on the layout and product, a folding rail installation may be a suitable alternative where the bottom rail as installed would interfere with a door or narrow passage. The landing also needs to have adequate clear space for boarding and leaving the stairlift.
Which straight stairlift is right for my open staircase?
In order to answer this correctly, you need to take measurements first and use these specifications along with others rather than just these measurements. I compare the stair width, stair angle, landing space, doors, handrails, transfer position, and household traffic with the dimensions and options of products like the Bruno Elan, Bruno Elite, and Harmar Pinnacle.
About the Author
Jonas Boutte is the owner of 101 Mobility of South Louisiana and has hands-on training from accessibility-equipment manufacturers including Bruno, Harmar, Stiltz, Staying Home, EZ-ACCESS, National Ramp, and others. He helps customers throughout Lafayette and surrounding communities evaluate stairlifts, platform lifts, home elevators, ramps, and other accessibility solutions based on their homes and mobility needs.
