There are a lot of factors that go into the installation of a stairlift, from surveying, needs assessments and the evaluation of any bespoke requirements that can all affect the final price of a stairlift system.
Whilst there are a lot of variables, many homes are remarkably standardised in harmony with the UK’s Building Regulations, so there are a surprising number of cases where a standard or mostly standard stairlift system can be installed without any issues.
One of the most unusual ways to determine if your home may be suitable for a standardised system is to count the number of steps your staircase has, as an astonishing number of them have 13 steps.
Whilst this is not entirely a universal rule, it is also not uncommon either, which begs the question as to why the standard number of steps in British homes is such an arbitrary number.
The train of reasoning starts with the building regulations but ultimately comes down to property developers and builders and a push towards an efficiency in house design.
Ultimately, the number of stairs needed is based on the height of the ceiling and the height of each step. The steeper each step, the fewer steps and less floor space needed to traverse a certain height.
Rooms must have a minimum floor-to-ceiling height of 2.3m to ensure people have enough space, light and ventilation to be able to use a space comfortably, although in practice the average is 2.45m and the accepted standard height is around 2.6m, with 3m ceilings not unheard of for Victorian houses.
Stairs cannot exceed 220mm of height per step, but 200mm of step height means that it takes exactly 13 steps to reach the next floor of a 2.6m high ceiling.
Of course, this is a rule of thumb, and the number can vary from 12 to 16 steps for a staircase, but a staircase with 13 steps typically means that a staircase is suited to a standard stairlift, although this can only be confirmed in a survey.
