2022 Stairlift Guide for Bruno Stairlifts
, by Richard Spafford, 24 min reading time
, by Richard Spafford, 24 min reading time
Stair lifts provide an easy, cost-effective solution to climb your stairs without struggle or discomfort. Using a stairlift is a simple way to stay in the home you love. In stair lift reviews, Bruno customers frequently say their stair lift has been a "godsend".
Read the 2021 Bruno® Stair Lift Guide to help answer your stairlift questions and find the best stairlift for your home and needs.
We are here to serve you and your family, so please contact us if you have additional questions or would like to schedule a free stair lift consultation!
Stairlift Types |
Common Applications |
---|---|
Straight |
Stairs going to up to a second story or down to a basement |
Curved |
Staircases that features bends, curves or landings |
Outdoor |
Stairways to porches, patios, decks or piers |
Commercial |
Businesses, churches, schools or public spaces |
Straight stairlifts 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 highly-popular Elan and the luxury-performance Elite.
Both Bruno indoor straight stair lift models offer superior Made in America quality, including unique vertical rail design, easy exit offset swivel seat, two wireless remote controls, obstruction safety sensors and more. The Elan offers a 300-lb lift capacity; the Elite carries up to 400 lbs. In addition, the Elite seat features a highly cushioned chair with a curved, high backrest for unmatched comfort.
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.
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’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 highly-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 custom 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 stairlifts feature a 400-lb lift capacity, generous padding and a stylized appearance that blends in with your home. The Elite stairlift’s seat and footrest height and armrest width are adjustable based on your individual needs. When not in use, the Elite’s seatbelt retracts to keep it neatly out of the way. And in addition to plush padding, the Elite stairlift feature a high, curved backrest for ergonomic comfort.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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 vertical design - which is the best in the industry - 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.
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.
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.
Features |
Benefits |
---|---|
Folding Seat/Footrest |
Seat & footrest fold up, maximizing space when parked |
Swiveling Seat |
Seat swivels & extends away from stairs for safe entry & exit |
Adjustable Chair |
Chair height & armrest widge can be adjusted to best fit the user |
Seat Belt / Safety Sensors |
All Bruno stair lifts come standard with an easy-to-use seat belt & safety sensors |
Remote Controls |
Remotes help users move the stairlift up and down the rail |
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.
When a Bruno stair lift stops at the top of your staircase, its unique offset-swivel seat rotates and extends away from the steps. In addition to generous seat padding, Bruno Elite stairlift models also feature armrest padding for increased comfort.
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.
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.
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 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 |
Bruno straight indoor stairlifts 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.
Bruno curved and outdoor stairlifts 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.
Stair lift prices vary depending on a number of different factors, such as:
The model and brand you choose
The staircase configuration in your home
Any power or custom options you select
Where you live (goods/service tend to be more expensive in very rural/urban settings)
Whether or not your state/provice requires a permit or inspection
Stair Lift Type |
Price Range |
---|---|
Indoor Straight |
$3,500 - $5,000+ |
Indoor Curved |
$10,000 - $12,000+ |
Outdoor Straight |
$5,500+ |
Outdoor |
$10,500+ |
Commercial |
$5,000 - $12,000+ |
Bruno has the most independent third-party stairlift reviews and the highest total review rating of any stairlift manufacturer in North America. Reviews for Bruno stairlifts can be found on both Consumer Affairs and Trustpilot, two of the most-trusted review platforms on the internet.
We encourage anyone interested in purchasing a stair lift to read the reviews from verified Bruno stairlift customers before making their purchase decision. Bruno is proud of our 9.6/10 average stair lift review rating and appreciate our customers from around North America who have taken the time to share their stories and experiences with other interested buyers.
To see more stairlift videos like the testimonial below, visit the Bruno stairlift video page!
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.
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.
Bruno uses local authorized dealers to sell, install and service our stair lifts. All dealers are factory-trained to safely and precisely install Bruno stair lifts. Because our authorized dealers are small business leaders located in your community, they are there for you before the sale --and years into the future. Many also employ Aging in Place specialists and are highly knowledgeable about a wide range of home accessibility topics in addition to stair lifts.