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Stair Lift Guide (2024)

Stair Lift Guide (2024)

Stair lifts are an easy-to-use, cost-effective solution for climbing stairs and a simple way to stay in the home you love.

Read the 2024 Bruno® Stair Lift Guide to help answer your questions and find the right stair lift for your home and needs.

For more information about stair lifts, please visit: 
Stair Lift Reviews  |  Best Stair Lifts (2024)  |  Stair Lift Cost

Made In USA

Stair Lift Types

Types

Common Applications

Straight

Stairs going to up to a second story or down to a basement

Curved

Staircases that feature bends, curves or landings

Outdoor

Stairways to porches, patios, decks or piers

Commercial

Businesses, churches, schools or public spaces


Straight Stair Lifts

bruno elite straight indoor stair lift in a house entryway

Straight stair lifts are commonly installed in a home to restore access to an upstairs bedroom or downstairs laundry room. Choose from Bruno’s two indoor straight stairlift models: the popular Elan and the high-performance Elite.

Both Bruno indoor straight stair lift models offer superior Made in America quality, including unique vertical rail design, easy exit swivel seat, two wireless remote controls, obstruction safety sensors and more. The Elan stair lift offers a 300-lb lift capacity; the Elite stair lift carries up to 400 lbs. In addition, the Elite features an adjustable seat that ensures comfort for every body type.

A notable benefit of Bruno’s unique vertical rail design is it allows Bruno straight stairlifts to install within 5 inches of the wall. That means there is plenty of open space on the steps for other family members, pets and guests to easily pass the stairlift. Fold up the armrests, seat and footrest when the stairlift is not in use and it becomes even more compact.

 

Curved Stair Lifts

Most staircases accommodate a straight rail stairlift, but curved rails are also available. Bruno’s curved stairlift rails are custom-made in Wisconsin to ensure a precision fit to each unique staircase. The vertical rail flows perfectly into every corner, creating a graceful appearance and extraordinary smooth ride.

bruno elite curved indoor stair lift at the top of a staircase

Bruno’s unique vertical rail also hides the gear rack for a clean look that limits the ability of dirt to accumulate in moving parts. To ensure a precision fit, your local Bruno dealer will take photos of your stairs and the measurements will be translated into drawings by Bruno engineers, and fabricated into the rail by Bruno’s skilled welders and fabricators. 

Many manufacturers use modular curved rails because they can be installed quickly. Bruno chooses to custom-craft our curved stairlifts as we believe they give our customers the highest-quality solution long-term. While a handmade stairlift rail takes longer to fabricate, the ride and beauty are worth the wait. Because a Bruno curved rail is created to the exact specifications of your stairs, the rail fits tightly into every corner to create maximum open space on the steps. In addition, there are fewer joints – and Bruno engineers can determine the best placement of the joints – to create an incredibly smooth ride from start to finish. 

Bruno’s Elite curved stair lifts feature a 400-lb lift capacity, a handmade precision fit rail and adjustable comfort. The Elite curved stairlift’s seat and footrest can be adjusted in height, and the width between the armrests can also be changed, to best accomodate different body types. When not in use, the Elite’s seatbelt retracts to keep it neatly out of the way. 

Talk to your Bruno dealer about the option to lengthen your custom-curve rail to wrap around the top and/or bottom of the staircase landing. Some people choose the option of a “rail overrun” in order to have the chair park in a position away from the steps to create additional open space on the steps, to allow for exit farther away from the steps or to park the stairlift in a less visible position. 
 


Outdoor Stair Lifts

Bruno also offers outdoor stair lifts – in straight and curved models - suitable to withstand the elements and offer an alternative to steps leading to decks, front doors, lake, etc.

side by side image of two different Bruno outdoor stair lifts

Bruno’s outdoor stairlifts are engineered to withstand elements. Marine-grade vinyl padded seat, durable outdoor paint on all steel surfaces and a weather-proof cover helps keep the stairlift performing in harsh climates. Performance tested to 0⁰ F to 125⁰ F, Bruno outdoor stairlifts feature a 400-lb lift capacity and a five-year Gold Warranty on major components. 
 


Commercial Stair Lifts

In addition to residential stairlifts, Bruno manufacturers a commercial Elite stairlift model suitable for use in places of worship, schools and businesses. Codes and permitting vary by community, so please check with your local Bruno stairlift dealer for more details on how to make your building accessible and ADA compliant.

Stair Lift Components

Components

Details

Rail

Aluminium or steel track upon which the chair glides

Chair

Includes the user seat and the "carriage", which connects to the rail and houses the motor.

Power Source

AC-powered (wall outlet) battery charger

Rail

Rail design varies greatly with each manufacturer, but all chairlifts glide up and down stairs on a rail. Bruno’s exclusive vertical rail design is one of several best-in-class features of Bruno stairlifts. 

The rail's unique vertical design maximizes available space on the staircase while providing an exceptionally smooth ride. Additionally, the gear rack is covered to allow for a clean, sleek appearance and reduced exposure to dirt, dust and grease.

Chair

The stair lift chair provides a comfortable, customizable way to get up and down the stairs. Bruno stair lift seat heights are adjustable on all models and the Bruno Elite features adjustable arm width.

The stair lift carriage is the workhorse of the entire stair lift system, housing all the primary components necessary for functionality, including the motor, gearbox and batteries.

Power Source

A regular 120v household outlet charges the battery of stairlifts when they are not in use, and the battery provides reliable power to send the stairlift up and down the rail.  While most stairlifts are recharged only when sitting at the bottom or top of the steps, Bruno straight stairlifts feature a continuous battery charging system that charges anywhere – no matter the position on the rail. This advanced stair lift charging system eliminating the possibility of unknowingly draining the battery.

Stair Lift Features & Power Options

Features

Benefits

Folding Seat/Footrest

Seat & footrest fold up, maximizing space when parked

Swiveling Seat

Seat swivels up to 90 degrees and locks in place for a safe exit away from stairs.

Adjustable Chair

Chair height, footrest height & armrest width can be adjusted to best fit the user

Seat Belt / Safety Sensors

Selt belt and obstruction safety sensors come standard

Remote Controls

Two wireless remotes can "call and send" the stairlift when there is more than one stairlift user in the home

Folding Seat / Footrest

Bruno stair lifts come standard with a folding seat and footrest, which provides maximum space when the stairlift is parked. A power option that automatically folds the footrest when the seat is lifted is available on indoor stair lift models.

Swiveling Seat

When a Bruno stair lift stops at the top of your staircase, its unique seat rotates up to 90 degrees to ensure a user is able to safely exit the stairlift away from the stairs. The Bruno Elite also features a chair with adjustable seat and footrest heights, and space between armrests, to ensure the most comfortable fit for each unique body type.

Adjustable Chair

Bruno stair lift chairs have adjustable seat height and armrest width to increase comfort for individual user needs. The Bruno Elite stair lift seat is 17.5" deep and padded with premium materials for an exceptional ride. 

Seat Belt / Safety Sensors

Bruno stair lifts come standard with industry-leading safety features. An automotive-grade seat belt helps keep riders secure, while the footrest and carriage feature several pressure-sensitive obstructions sensors.

Remote Controls

Bruno stair lifts come with two ergonomically-design remote controls. These easy-to-use remotes allows users to "call and send" the stair lift chair up and down the rail, making a multi-user home more accessible.

Power Folding Rail

Power Swivel Seat

Power Folding Footrest

Power Options & Customization

Description

Manual & Power Folding Rail

Folding rails are ideal for keeping high-traffic walkways clear when the stair lift is not in use.

Power Swivel Seat

The seat rotates and extends away from the staircase with the press of a button.

Power Folding Footrest

The footrest folds automatically when the seat is lifted into a stowed position.

Larger Seat Pad & Footrest

Bruno Elite stair lifts offer larger seat pads and footrests that are both wider and deeper than the standard options

Custom Fabric & Colors

Several customer colors and fabrics are available for Bruno Elite models to personalize your stair lift

Stair Lift Warranty

Limited Lifetime Warranty

Bruno indoor stair lifts are backed by the most comprehensive manufacturer warranty in the stairlift industry.  Each Bruno indoor straight stairlift includes a lifetime warranty on major components for the lifetime of the Bruno stairlift as long as the original purchaser owns the stairlift. In addition, there is a two-year warranty on all components and 30-days of labor coverage for any manufacturing defects after installation by an authorized Bruno dealer.

5-Year Gold Warranty

Bruno outdoor stair lifts includes a 5-year warranty on major components, as long as the original purchaser owns the stairlift. A two-year warranty covers all other components and any manufacturing defects after installation by an authorized Bruno dealer are covered with 30-days of labor coverage.

About Bruno Stair Lifts

Made in America

All Bruno stairlifts are engineered and manufactured in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. Over 80 percent of Bruno’s entire supply chain for stair lifts is American! That’s important because it helps Bruno more tightly control quality. Bruno is also an ISO 9001 Certified designer and manufacturer. That designation ensures Bruno is committed to standards of workmanship that are documented and repeatable to ensure consistently high-quality processes.

The Bruno Family

Accessibility is personal to the Bruno family. In addition to the third generation of Bruno family members working at the company, Bruno President Mike Bruno’s daughter has a mobility challenge and a stairlift is used in their home. Having a family member with mobility challenges gives the Bruno’s unique insights on how people with limited mobility use stair lifts and how they positively impact their lives.

Dedicated Local Dealers

Bruno uses local authorized dealers to sell, install and service all Bruno stair lifts. All authorized dealers are factory-trained to safely and precisely install Bruno stair lifts. Because Bruno dealersships are independently owned small businesses located in or near the communities they serve, they will be there for you before the sale and years into the future.

Contact a local dealer today to learn about stair lift cost factors and receive a free quote!

man with american flag welding mask welding a piece of metal
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