Choose the right Home Elevator for your House, Apartment or Villa
Let’s start the journey of finding the perfect lift for your Home. We will source options from at least 8 different world class manufacturers and present the best two or three for you to choose from.
Why Home Lifts are becoming a great option for your Lifestyle
Initially, home lifts were seen as a luxury or a necessity for the elderly who struggled with stairs. But times have changed!
Lifts are now much more affordable. Additionally, the high costs associated with downsizing – like stamp duty and selling your home – make installing a lift a smart option.
With skyrocketing real estate prices, younger generations are opting to build upward in smaller homes, making lifts a practical and future-proof necessity rather than a luxury. Developers also include lifts to increase property value and appeal to a broader range of buyers.
The most popular Types of Home Elevators
Lift Experts simplifies choosing a home lift by offering a wide range of independent options. We conduct a needs analysis to recommend the best lift, considering space, machinery requirements, price, and customisation.
Electric Lifts - including Shaft
Electric Traction is the most commonly preferred option in Australian Homes
The gearless drive system is a friendlier technology as it does not require hydraulic fluids. It is typically preferred for its smoother ride experience, easier maintenance, and minimal space requirements for its controls.
If you have enough space for the lift shaft, this is a great all-round option.
Hydraulic Lifts
Hydraulic lifts use hydraulic fluid to operate the lifting mechanism. While they are more commonly found in commercial settings, they can also be installed in residential homes.
Compact Lifts for better use of space?
This is where platform and capsule-style lifts come in, offering cabin spaces as small as 800 mm while utilising around 1m² in total.
These lifts, sometimes called through floor domestic lifts, are mostly designed to service two floors. They are typically electronically driven lifts that run on rails, in some instances eliminating the need for a shaft and taking up less space.
Air Lifts
Air (Pneumatic) lifts use powerful vacuum systems to move a capsule up and down. They are usually installed in homes with limited space and are easily customisable to match architectural design.
Air lifts feature a modern, rounded design, essential for creating the vacuum effect that powers the lift’s movement up and down.
What Features can be Customised?
When installing a home lift, several elements can be customised to meet individual needs and preferences:
Cabin Design: Choose from various styles, materials, and finishes for the interior, including wood, metal, glass, and custom paint colours.
Door Types: Select from different door styles such as sliding, swing, or folding doors, and customise the finish to match your home’s décor.
Size and Shape: Adjust the dimensions of the lift cabin to fit available space and specific requirements, including different shapes like round, square, or rectangular.
Lighting: Choose the type and style of lighting, including LED, ambient, or accent lighting to create the desired atmosphere.
Safety Features: Add custom safety features such as emergency alarms, backup power systems, and intercom systems to ensure peace of mind.
Accessibility Options: Integrate features like wide doors, low control panels, and seating to accommodate individuals with wheelchairs or walkers.
Initial consultation and site assessment
Provide us with some quick details about your elevator needs and Lift Experts will call you back for a quick needs analysis. The initial consultation takes 10-20 minutes and helps determine if a site visit is necessary. During the call, we’ll identify the type of lift that suits your needs and budget. If we can’t offer a solution within budget, we’ll inform you, as sometimes there isn’t an option that works for both parties.
Why Choose Us for Your Home Lift?
Lift Experts is technology and configuration agnostic, we operate with a vast list of independent manufacturers and lift types, and ensuring that the chosen solutions that best suit your needs is our mission. We source lifts from Asian and European suppliers, offering a full range from economical to fully customisable and stylish options. By maintaining a lean team and infrastructure and focusing solely on the equipment, we keep costs down and pass the savings on to you, while providing a wider range of choices.
FAQ's
Which Residential Elevator is best for my particular Home?
Choosing the right lift for your project is a delicate and unique process. It requires a clear understanding of factors uniquely important to you, such as available space, door configuration, style preference, capacity, and budget. At Lift Experts , our mission is to help you understand these factors and guide you to the best options – all at no cost to you.
What is the cost of ownership?
Your lift, like your home, is a valuable asset that requires preventive maintenance to ensure safety and reliability. To keep you and your family safe, consider scheduling at least a couple of service appointments per year, including maintenance of safety mechanisms. The total cost of ownership will depend on the technology used, the location, and the frequency of lift usage.
Can I fit a Wheelchair?
The space requirements vary depending on the type and model of the wheelchair lift. Generally, wheelchair lifts require a footprint of at least 1.1m by 1.4m.
How do I choose where to place my lift?
Installing a lift might negatively impact your home’s value if it’s placed in a way that disrupts its natural flow and functionality. Avoid mistakes like cutting off thoroughfares, creating awkward door openings, obstructing visual appeal, blocking light, or sacrificing bedrooms. A Lift Experts professional with the right measuring tools, spatial awareness, and architectural sense can make a significant difference.
What Lift technologies are most popular in Homes?
Electric Lifts have the highest demand at the moment for Australian homes and commercial setups, due to it’s total cost of ownership, smooth ride, and cleanliness. This is closely followed by Hydraulic lifts which offer lower headroom requirements and upfront costs. For retrofits in smaller spaces, the Through Floor Lift has been growing as a preference due to its space optimisation characteristics, and installation practicality. Air lifts are a great solution when clients don’t have structural walls to support the shaft nor the capacity to provide a pit.
Should I choose a Through Floor lift or a full cabin?
Through Floor lifts are ideal for optimising cabin space, especially when your overall lift space is limited in your home. Paired with sufficiently wide automatic doors, they offer excellent practicality. Conversely, if your home already has a lift shaft in place, an enclosed cabin becomes a superior choice for practical reasons. Many such factors exist to guide you toward the best lift solution for your needs.
What is the difference between Residential and Commercial Lifts?
The main differences are weight capacity, traffic tolerance, and space usage. Residential lifts typically carry 240–630 kg, require smaller pits and headroom, and are designed for shorter travel distances (≤ 12,000 mm).
*Pit: Space under the lift at ground level.
**Headroom: Space between the floor and ceiling height.
What are the minimum safety standards I should ask for?
At a minimum, your lift should include an always on cabin phone, in the case of smaller cabins a folding seat, battery backup, ventilation, emergency lights, and the ability to contact a technician 24/7 to be rescued. Lastly, your lift of choice must comply with the Australian building code (AS1735).