Are you looking to future proof your home?
Are the stairs becoming too much?
A stylish home lift allows you to maintain the freedom of your home while keeping your staircase clear. A home lift will provide you with safe and secure access to your upstairs, so you can continue to move freely and safely about your home.
Home lifts are fast becoming popular; architects are increasingly choosing to incorporate them into their designs, and many homeowners are giving serious consideration to a home lift when building a new property or adding an extension to an existing home. A home lift, as well as looking impressive, provides practical day to day use and future proofs your home for a time when climbing the stairs may become a challenge.
A home lift could be a preferable alternative to moving from your family home. Why go through the stress and upheaval of moving from your house when a home lift can enable you to stay in a familiar place where you have built a lifetime of memories, in an area that you know.
You may be considering a home lift as an alternative to a stairlift. While serving a useful function, a stairlift isn't for every staircase, person or lifestyle. Considering a curved stairlift can cost in the region of between £4000 and £7000; therefore, it's not unreasonable to start looking at a home lift which starts around £9000 (lift only, no building work). A stairlift will always be a bolt-on product whereas a home lift integrates seamlessly into your home becoming a permanent premium fixture.
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Adaptmyhome work with several home lift manufacturers which helps us match the right home lift to you, your budget and your home. We can also manage the home lift project from initial survey through to the final handover, so you don't have to try and coordinate different trades or companies.
Adaptmyhome can supply and install a home lift designed for one, two or three people; standing, sitting or in a wheelchair. Most home lifts move between two floors - usually the ground and first floor - but we can supply a home lift to move between several levels if required.
Home lifts require much less space than you would think, with most homes able to incorporate a home lift. Your home layout will dictate the options, and our surveyor will help with possible locations and, with a little bit of imagination, you'd be surprised how well your home could accommodate a prestigious home lift.
Frequently asked Home Lift questions
What is a home lift?
A home lift is very much like a commercial lift that you regularly come across in a hospital or hotel, but they are designed to take fewer people, allowing the lift mechanisms to be simpler and smaller.
Note: Under the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) the 'lifting operation' is referred to as 'an operation concerned with the lifting or lowering of a load. A 'load' is the item or items being lifted, which includes a person or people, and 'lifting equipment' means equipment for lifting and lowering loads.
Home Lifts and Stairlifts installed in private dwellings are not subject to the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998, but we believe it makes perfect sense, and good practice, to follow the Regulations and HSE guidance as closely as possible.
What types of Home Lift are there?
A Home Lift requiring a shaft will either be an electric, hydraulic, traction or a vacuum lift. These types of lifts are more robust than a 'through the floor' Home Lift, but they have a larger footprint and are more costly to install and maintain.
Where can they go?
A Home Lift with a small footprint can be installed into most homes. The easiest solution is usually between the living room and the bedroom directly above, as the building work required is relatively straight forward. Other options can include, between the hallway and landing, the hallway and an airing cupboard or a utility room and a bedroom.
Where there isn't a natural place for a Home Lift, we can create space by, relocating appliances such as boilers and hot water storage cylinders, moving cupboards or changing existing room layouts. If required, we can build a lift shaft onto the side of your property.
How many people can fit in a Home Lift? Can they accommodate a wheelchair?
A typical domestic electric Home Lift can accommodate one to three people: a person standing with another seated or a person standing and another in a wheelchair. A home Lift should work for all family members regardless of ability, and when sizing a Home Lift, it is always good practice to imagine how you may want to use it as you get older.
How much does a Home Lift cost?
The price of a Home lift will depend on the type, make and model of home lift you choose, along with the amount of work required to install the lift into your home. So it’s difficult to provide an exact cost, but as a guide:
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An electric ‘through the floor’ home lift starts from £10,000 -
An electric platform lift in a non-fire retardant shaft typically starts around £11,000 -
A hydraulic 'through the floor' home lift starts from £12,000 -
A vacuum home lift starts from £25,000 -
A traction home lift starts from £28,000
Is there much work involved? Is it safe to cut a hole in the floor?
The amount of work involved depends on the chosen location of the Home Lift. Usually, the most straightforward installation is when a 'through the floor' Home Lift is located between a living room and a bedroom. There's still quite a bit of work involved as we have to expose, trim and strengthen the floor joists to create an opening for the Home Lift to pass through, but this is probably the most complex part of the Home lift installation process and can be done without much disruption to the room below.
How long would it take to install a Home Lift?
Many websites claim a Home Lift can be installed in one or two days, but this just refers to the Home Lift itself, not the preparation or the decoration. The type of lift and the amount of building work will determine the length of time. Generally, a straight forward installation will require a minimum installation time of three days.
Our assessor will be happy to discuss the installation process with you in more detail, during your Home Lift survey.
What about the carpets and painting?
Straight forward ‘through the floor’ Home Lifts do not affect the existing décor. The upper-level carpet will be rolled back to create the lift aperture; the opening in the ceiling below is carefully made so as not to affect the rest of the ceiling.
For larger projects, we take care of everything, so you don't have to worry about coordinating different trades. We'll manage the whole Home Lift process, and on request, we can arrange for your rooms to be decorated and carpeted before we are finished.
Are Home Lifts noisy?
There is a small element of noise when a Home Lift is in operation; this will vary between the different types of lift mechanisms, but on the whole, Home Lifts are very quiet.
What if there's a power cut or the Home Lift breaks down?
You will never be caught between floors or get stuck in a Home Lift as they are designed to safely descend to the ground floor in the event of a power cut. Some Home Lifts that are electrically driven have an onboard rechargeable battery, so they continue to work in the event of a power cut.
How long does it take to move between floors?
A Home Lift moves more quickly and safely than a stairlift between floors. The duration will depend on the Home Lift manufacturer, but it is likely to be less than 30 seconds.
Can I use a Disabled Facilities Grant to pay for a home lift?
If you or a family member is disabled or chronically ill, then you could apply for a DFG to help pay towards or for a Home Lift. You can find more information here.
You may also be entitled to a zero VAT rate. You can find more VAT information here.
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