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HOME LIFT I JUNE 2021
When getting a home lift, there are a number of things you need to think about. It’s important to consider the design, your budget, what type of lift best suits your building and what your requirements are. It’s also important to think about how much space you have to work with and what grants, if any, are available to you.
There are a lot of considerations to be made and it can seem daunting. That is why we’ve come up with this checklist.
Below are eight key areas to consider before installing a lift. While this list isn’t exhaustive, it does provide you with a basic understanding of what is involved. It also highlights questions and challenges you might need to address if you haven’t already.
Deciding on which lift to choose and figuring out what you need to know shouldn’t be an exercise that you do alone. No matter what stage you are in your decision-making process, at Premier Lift Group our highly experienced team of lift specialists are here to help.
If you don’t own the building that requires a lift, you need to get permission from the person that does. This is usually not an issue. In the UK, the Equality Act places the onus on the landlord. If a building is not fit for use, steps must be taken by the landlord to make the building more accessible. This could include a requirement to install a lift if the occupant is unable to use a stairs.
In Ireland, while there is no such responsibility placed on the landlord, it is in your best interest to research the guidelines of the Disability Act, in order to better understand your rights.
Just how safe is it to use a lift? Statistically speaking, it’s extremely safe. Some people don’t like the idea of having a lift in their home because of safety concerns. This is completely unfounded. Lifts have a myriad of safety features that are continuously being improved upon each year.
With 18 billion elevator trips in the US per year, there are only 27 deaths (vs 12,000 deaths by stairs). Nothing is 100% safe. However, when you consider how many accidents happen on stairs, safety becomes one of the key strengths of installing a lift in your home.
In 2020, one of the biggest risks in elevators is when they’re public and there isn’t a lot of space to socially distance.
Many modern day lifts barely take up the space of a wardrobe. Not only this, they can often be much more space-efficient than a stairwell. This can be another major advantage for homeowners, who are often working with limited indoor space. Despite this, the matter of where to put your lift can be a difficult decision to make. This is something that you need to address with your lift installation team.
The cost of a home lift depends on a number of factors. However, one cost that is often ignored is the cost of maintenance. We have a blog post here on how to avoid some costly maintenance calls.
Despite this, having a lift does actually increase the value of your home. It’s practical, it can increase the square footage and it makes your home more accessible. Ultimately, it makes a lot of financial sense to invest in a home lift.
There are a number of grants available for those looking to improve the mobility and accessibility of their home. One such grant that we always recommend to homeowners is the Mobility Aids Housing Grant. The grant is available to cover a basic suite of works to address mobility problems. This includes installing access ramps, access level showers, grab rails, step lifts and home lifts. The scheme is primarily for age-related mobility issues.
That being said, people with a disability can also apply for the scheme. The grant is administered by the local authorities with a maximum grant available of €6,000.
Of course, a key consideration is the lift system and design. Premier Lifts Ireland has a wide range of home and step lifts. Our team can go through the best option for you. However, it can help to look through our range of lifts and see what’s available.
When choosing a home lift, it’s important to think about the features. What does the installation process look like? Does the lift require a pit and how much headroom is needed? These are aspects that our lift engineers can go through with you.
Especially if you have a wheelchair, the weight limit on your lift can be an important factor in your decision. Most lifts should be able to hold the weight of both you and your wheelchair. But there are also things to consider such as how many people will be using the lift and whether it will be used to carry heavy objects.
Just as important as the type of lift you decide to install, is the company you choose to install it. From the first call to any maintenance needed, the company you choose should be able to communicate well and answer any questions you have. Carry out your own due diligence. See what similar projects they’ve carried out. Try your best to get feedback from those in the best position to provide it – the company’s past customers.
Premier Lifts is Ireland’s leading provider of reliable, cost effective home lifts. Want to hear from one of our past customers? Check out how Enda Coleman transformed his home’s mobility with a beautiful home lift.
“A few years back, my wife was involved in a road traffic accident which left her paralysed. Our home at that time was totally unsuitable for someone in a wheelchair, we had to start looking for somewhere appropriate. When eventually we found a possible house, it was still a two story, so we made the decision to install a lift. We felt that a lift was less intrusive than stair lift options.”
If you are considering adding a lift to your home, be sure to check out Premier Ireland’s range of home lifts.
