Through-floor lifts
A through-floor lift travels vertically between levels through an opening in the floor. The principle is simple, but whether it works well depends on the house and the person using it.
The route matters on both floors
When the lift is downstairs it occupies floor space there; when it is upstairs it occupies space upstairs. The approach to the entrance, room doors, furniture and wheelchair turning space all need to be considered.
Not all home lifts are wheelchair lifts
Compact models can be intended for standing passengers or a seated user. Wheelchair-capable lifts have different cabin dimensions, entrances and load limits. Stiltz, for example, separates its compact Duo range from its larger Trio wheelchair range.
Ask who cuts the aperture, arranges any structural work, supplies the electrical connection and makes good afterwards. The answer can materially change the installed cost.
Home lift and platform lift: what do the names mean?
“Home lift” describes a domestic use, while “through-floor” describes a route through a floor opening. A product can be both. Platform lifts are another broad group, including equipment for short rises and other access arrangements. Check how far the lift travels, where it stops and who can use it rather than relying on the product label alone.
See space and wheelchair access, building work and named model comparisons.