Bruno Elan Stairlift on a Narrow Washington DC Staircase — A Recent Bedco Mobility Installation
The Challenge: A Classic DC Rowhouse Stair
This installation was in a Washington DC home with a traditional straight staircase typical of the area — hardwood treads, original turned newel post, and a stair width that left little room for error. The homeowner needed a stairlift that would fit cleanly against the wall, leave enough clearance for other household members to use the stairs comfortably, and look at home in a period property.
Narrow staircases are one of the most common concerns we hear from DC and Maryland homeowners considering a stairlift. The good news: modern stairlift technology has come a long way. The Bruno Elan is specifically engineered with a slim, compact profile that makes it one of the best options available for tight or narrow stairways.
Why the Bruno Elan
The Bruno Elan is an American-made stairlift manufactured by Bruno Independent Living Aids in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. It’s built for straight staircases and is particularly well suited to narrower installations for a few reasons.
The Elan’s folded footprint is remarkably compact. When not in use, the seat, armrests, and footrest all fold flat against the wall, leaving the staircase clear for other users. In this DC installation, that meant full use of the stairway even with the lift parked at the bottom — something that matters in a busy household.
The unit also features a 300-pound weight capacity, a padded swivel seat for safe entry and exit at the top landing, and a smooth, quiet drive system. It comes with two wireless remotes so the lift can be called or sent from either end of the staircase. And like all Bruno products we install, it’s backed by a comprehensive warranty and serviced by our own in-house technicians — not subcontractors.
The Installation
Our certified Bedco Mobility technician completed the installation in under a day. The rail was fitted tight to the wall, preserving the full usable width of the staircase. The original woodwork — including the newel post and balusters — was left completely undisturbed. No permanent modifications were made to the staircase structure.
As you can see in the photos, the finished installation sits flush against the wall with the unit folded. The staircase looks and functions exactly as it did before — with the addition of safe, reliable access to the upper floor.
Serving Washington DC and the Surrounding Area
Bedco Mobility has been installing stairlifts in Washington DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia for over 60 years. We are a third-generation family business, founded in Baltimore in 1912, and we carry both Bruno and Stannah stairlifts — consistently ranked the top two brands by Consumer Affairs and The Savvy Senior.
Every installation is handled by our own factory-certified technicians. We never use subcontractors. We stock units in our Maryland warehouse for fast installation, often within the same week as your free in-home estimate.
If you have a narrow staircase in a DC rowhouse or an older home and you’re not sure a stairlift will work, call us. We’ve installed stairlifts on some of the most challenging staircases in the region, and a free in-home estimate costs you nothing.
Call us or request a free estimate online.