Getting sofa up to first floor in new Miller's home

LeoTLion

You want a Genie SL15 Superlift, it's like a hand operated fork lift. Stick the sofa on a pallet with bungies and wind it up to balcony level. £45 for a days hire.

http://www.griffithshireshops.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=292_293_294&products_id=3077

pinkteapot

Removal companies will have experience. My mum had a townhouse with a similar layout and her (very large) three seater sofa was brought in up a ladder and over the balcony. They put a ladder up, resting on the base of the balcony, at quite a shallow angle. One guy walked up it holding an armchair on his head. :eek:

But you don't want to put the weight on the balcony railings as they're normally just decorative:
http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/538291/Man-dead-balcony-collapse-Knightsbridge

Your best option in the first instance is to mention it to the company you buy the sofa from. You won't be the first customer they've had with a townhouse. See what they give as options.

Soot2006

Our sofa is so enormous I have NO idea how the guys got it in.
I wrote down detailed measurements, including all angles and ceilings, and show room assured me it would fit.
Didn't truly believe to be honest. We cleared the way and the guys twisted and turned (and unhinged the living room door lol) and it went in. I doubt it's ever coming out ...

jm2926

Another vote for Multiyork. My sofas have been in 3 houses in 10 years, and there's no way they would have gotten in/out of number 2 (access via small lift or 5 flights of stairs!) without removing the arms. I'm going to get them recovered this year as the fabric is a little worn in places now.

http://www.multiyork.co.uk/sofas

phoebe1989seb

anselld wrote: »

You will have to ask the builders.

3 builders, 2 ladders, a sofa and a first floor balcony doesn't sound good though. Don't go the same way as this lot ...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-30148003

My thoughts exactly

Although that is what we had to do in December when moving into our period house with a first floor living room.....

Our removers tried both staircases - the house was built in the 1850s and extended with a second staircase in the 1920s - but there was no way it was going to make it round tight corners/through doorways.

The only option was up over the balcony off the adjoining room. There was much sucking of teeth and talk of whether the insurance covered it. They mentioned signing a waiver, but this never happened.

In our case as it happened the balcony in question already had a collapsed (timber) railing. It took five men (plus me ) a lot of grunting and swearing to get it up there, only to discover it was millimetres too wide for the external door into the room it was intended for. There was only one thing left we could try - saw the back legs off my very expensive John Lewis sofa :eek:

Compared to what happened in Knightsbridge though, it was a small price to pay!

ironlady2022

Thanks for all the great idea guys, some I have not thought of. I'm not sure how to add photos as it would explain the situation better.

The other problem I have is, I live in a terraced house. The garage part was only going to be an underpass but as they advertised it wrong in the sales brochure, they have made it into a full garage with back door access. I'm not sure if I can get large equipment through this in order to hoist it via the french door balcony.

Do the builders have obligation to help me get a sofa through?

The sofa companies have not really been of help and have kept saying it's customer responsibility that it gets through somehow.

jbainbridge

The builders have no obligation to you - and once they've finished onsite they'll be gone (forever). Though you'd hope that for a townhouse some thought would have gone into allowing for furniture to be taken to the 1st floor.

movilogo

Buy recliner sofas. Those have separate base and backrests. They will fit almost anywhere.

Shelldean

Nabru reckon their sofas will fit anywhere, as they come in bits.

You can build them yourselves or pay them to do it.

There are several delivery options.
They deliver to the door, this can be free depends on how far in advance you order and.the day of the week.
For a charge delivery to room of choice.
Or also for a charge to room of choice and build the sofas.

You can even design them yourselves to fit into awkward shaped rooms.