People today are generally moving houses less often, indicating they are buying and building homes to live in for many years to come. Alastair Stannah from Stannah looks at how futureproofing your house with a lift can ensure you can enjoy it for years to come

People looking for their forever homes want to ensure the house is future-proofed to cover every stage of life. The rise of future-proofing and the trend for building high specification luxury homes sees developers and
owners alike, including the convenience of a lift.

A lift is an ultimate ‘statement;’ a lifestyle choice and a practical feature. It not only boosts the price of a home but also makes it more attractive, creating a one-of-a-kind focal point.

For many, continuing to live in the same house as they age is important, as is the ease of moving groceries and belongings between floors. A lift can allow them to do just that and costs a lot less than moving house!

THE DUMBWAITER STRIKES BACK!

It’s not just people-moving lifts that play their role in ‘forever’ homes. As the trend grows for new townhouses with several floors, service lifts (or ‘dumbwaiters’) are regaining popularity due to their small size, and ease of installation.

DIFFERENT TYPES

Properties come in all shapes and sizes – and so do lifts. In a new dwelling, a lift can be part of an architect’s plans. In an existing home, there is a need to place the lift around the current house layout. The choices are endless, but broadly fall into these categories:

The standard lift is suggested when up to five people want to travel between floors. These are available in a choice of door options, finishes and configurations.

Through-floor lifts are best suited to smaller spaces and provide access for up to two people travelling between the ground and the first floor.

Service lifts/dumbwaiters are the answer if there is a need to transport food, groceries and goods between floors. They are particularly ideal for properties with three or more floors, or where the kitchen, garage and/or dining area are on different levels.

WHAT TO CONSIDER WHEN CHOOSING A LIFT

Narrow your search by deciding whether you want your lift to take people or goods only, how many floors it needs to travel between, and the available space you have. 

From a cost point of view, you need to be putting aside £15-£25k in your budget for the supply and installation cost of a lift to move people or £6-7k for a dumbwaiter.

If the lift is designed into your project from the start then you will limit major issues. For an existing home, you will need to get a lift survey, and for a new development, it is advisable to speak to the lift company to offer guidance on the perfect product. They can assist in making sure you’ve covered all of the technical requirements.

When considering the location of your lift, it’s always a good idea to locate a lift for people next to the stairs and in a central location. That way it will be easily accessible from every part of the home.

It might seem a better idea to fit in a smaller lift, but go for the largest you can. Ideally, create a space that is big enough for a wheelchair and another person. That way, you will also be able to use the lift to transport furniture and other larger items between floors.

There is such a wide variety of style options available on the market; from glass shafts, custom walls, and door options, to bespoke flooring – a lift can be a sleek and stylish addition as well as a life-long practical choice.

Lift installations will likely require building work, varying on the type of lift. It is advisable to consult with a specialist early on in your project. 

Even if you decide a lift isn’t an option for now, a home can be futureproofed by ensuring you design a space where it can be installed at a later date.

Whatever your requirement, there are products available to suit every home. To enable an easy decision, we can guide you through the complete process. With your perfect lift chosen, installation is usually only a few days, and then it is ready for use – with the reassurance of a local service, nationwide.

The possibilities of home lifts are endless, taking homeowners, family and guests, or goods around a home.

Alastair Stannah is managing director of lifts distribution & service at Stannah