Do Stairlifts Damage Your Stairs?

It's a very common worry — and the good news is that a properly fitted stairlift does not damage your staircase in any meaningful way.

Quick answer: No. A stairlift's rail fixes to the stair treads, not the wall, so your walls stay untouched. If the lift is later removed, it leaves only small fixing holes in the treads, which are easily filled and repaired.

How the rail attaches

A stairlift rail is bolted to the stair treads — the flat parts you step on — at intervals along the staircase. It does not attach to your wall or bannister, so your décor is left completely undisturbed.

Your walls stay untouched

Because the rail is entirely supported by the stairs themselves, there's no need to drill or fix anything to the walls. This is one of the reasons a stairlift suits almost any home, including those with plastered or uneven walls.

What happens if the stairlift is removed

If a stairlift is removed later, the rail unbolts from the treads, leaving small fixing holes. These are minor and easily filled, sanded or covered — a world away from the structural change many people imagine. See our removal guide for more.

To see how a stairlift would fit your particular staircase, fill in the form below for a free, no-obligation quote from Acorn Stairlifts.