Find top rated stairlift installers and replacers in your area

If accessibility is a priority in your home, you’ll want to find a way to make upper floors easy to get to for those with limited mobility. Elevators are great for transporting people, items, and mobility equipment such as walkers or wheelchairs between floors. Stair lifts (also called chair lifts) are easier and less expensive to install but don’t allow the transport of mobility equipment, making it harder for people with limited mobility to live independently.

For most elevators, you can expect the installation process to take two to four weeks from site preparation to final inspection. If you’re installing a simple vertical lift platform, however, this could be much faster—perhaps just a few days.

Proper, regular maintenance is essential for extending the useful lifespan of your home elevator. Assuming it’s taken care of, you can expect your home elevator to last for decades. The exception is for cable-driven elevators—the cables usually need to be replaced every five years for safety reasons.

Choosing an elevator type depends on your priorities. If you want to add a luxurious feature to your home, a glass, vacuum-powered, pneumatic elevator might be the right choice. If accessibility in a smaller home is a bigger concern, a simple vertical lift platform may be best. If you’re retrofitting, a shaftless elevator or gearless traction elevator might be the best option.