If you have seen a small open lift beside a set of porch steps, you have seen a vertical platform lift. It is the most direct way to get a wheelchair or scooter from one level to another.
The basics
The lift consists of a tower, which houses the drive, and a platform with low side walls. The rider rolls onto the platform, holds a switch, and the platform climbs the tower to the upper level. Letting go of the switch stops it immediately.
Typical locations around the house
- Beside the front or back porch
- At a raised deck
- Inside an attached garage, next to the steps into the house
- At a walkout basement door
What has to be in place
- A level concrete pad for the tower and platform
- A landing at the top with space to turn
- A gate at the upper level
- Electrical power
Safety built in
- Controls that only run while pressed
- A sensor plate under the platform that stops it if something is beneath
- A gate that stays locked unless the platform is at that level
- A non-slip deck
Open, shielded or enclosed
In a garage or under a porch roof, an open lift is fine. Out in the yard, where it faces summer storms and winter ice, a model with a weather shield or a full enclosure protects both the rider and the machinery.
How high can it go?
Residential platform lifts are made in several travel heights, from a couple of feet for a low porch to a full story. Measure from the ground to the floor you need to reach, and the right model follows from that.
Beyond the home
Churches, schools, shops and offices use the same type of lift to give access to a raised entrance or a stage.
Find out what you need
Nationwide Lifts of Missouri and Kansas installs Apex platform lifts across both states. Call 660-624-2411 for a free in-home assessment.