Have a question for our team? We're happy to help. We've compiled our most commonly asked questions and put together answers to help you find the information you need. Take a look, below.
Whether you need a home elevator for accessibility purposes, or you simply want that ‘wow’ factor, choosing the home lift that’s right for your home will ultimately depend on what you need and the layout of your home. Homes that are limited on space may benefit from through-floor lifts, while taller buildings or those expecting heavy use of the elevator may be best suited to a hydraulic or traction lift. If you are unsure on which will suit your needs best, get in touch with our team on 01702 780002 or via email at enquiries@morganellis.co.uk to get advice from one of our experts.
All of the home lifts that we supply and install are vigorously tested and not only adhere to, but excel industry standards. We are proud to offer high quality products, each of which have tried and tested safety mechanisms in place to ensure that passengers not only remain safe, but can exit the cabin of the elevator safely in the case of power failure.
We also offer ongoing maintenance following installation to ensure that your lift remains in perfect working order for longer, as well as advice so that you can care for your lift in between services.
In most cases, a home survey will be required and advised when buying a lift for your property. A survey enables us to determine the suitability of your property for a lift, the size options available to you as well as the overall cost of installation or any work that may need to be done by our trusted contractors prior to installation. As part of our whole project management service, we use a site survey to determine any building work requirements or features that may be needed to ensure a lift operates well and safely in your home.
You can contact us to arrange an on-site survey, or use our virtual home survey service for a video-based meeting. All you will need is a tape measure and a device to use for the call.
The cost of a domestic elevator varies depending on the model, size, additional options that you choose and work required at the installation site. We will provide you with a quote prior to starting any work and there is no obligation to go through with the purchase at this stage. For more information about pricing, please visit our home lifts pricing guide.
To get a free, no-obligation quote, you only need to get in touch. You can give us a call directly on 01702 780002 to speak to our team about your vision, or make an enquiry right here on our website. You can also send us an email at enquiries@morganellis.co.uk. We can also arrange a visit to your property for a discussion so we can provide an accurate, no-obligation quotation bespoke to you, your property and your requirements.
The size of residential elevator you need will depend on two main factors - the size of your home, and how many people will need to use the elevator at any one time. While we can offer bespoke elevators to suit most space availability, those looking for a home lift for a wheelchair user will need to consider that a larger size may be required. If you are unsure, our team can offer a free site visit and consultation to determine the best home lift size and type to suit your home, lifestyle and budget.
The overall delivery time for your home lift will typically be 8-10 weeks after drawing approval, depending on the production time necessary. Following final approval and payment, we start production of your lift and once this is completed, we will call you to arrange a suitable installation date. The project manager will visit 2-4 weeks before this date to ensure that all works have taken place in preparation for installation.
The total installation time will vary depending on the home lift that you have chosen. Standard installation times, however, can be as follows:
- Stiltz Duo+ and Stiltz Trio+ - 1 day
- Aritco Home Lifts - 1-3 days
- Aritco 4000 & 6000 - 1-3 days
- Altura Platinum & Altura Diamond - 1-3 days
- PVE Pneumatic Vacuum Lifts - 1-2 days
We will provide you with a more accurate installation duration following approval of designs.
You will not need to pay the full cost of your home lift straight away. We will ask for a 50% deposit prior to production of your lift, and a further 25% on approval of drawings. The remaining 25% of the cost will then be requested prior to installation in order to complete the payment.
You can find out more in our lift buying guide.
In most cases, homeowners will not require planning permission and will only need to submit a standard building notice application, however the requirement for planning permission will differ from property to property and it is always best to speak to the relevant authority first. In general, planning permission is only required when the elevator is being installed outside of the property or if you are looking to install a home lift in a listed building. If you are unsure, you can speak to our team for advice or contact your local authority for more information.
The space needed will depend on the model you have chosen, however we are proud to offer a variety of lifts that cater to different sizing requirements. We even have elevators that require as little as 750mm in space in the form of our stylish Pneumatic elevator. Homeowners that require a residential elevator for wheelchair users or are looking to include a seat in their elevator should consider that a larger floorspace may be required, however this can be discussed with our team by phone, email or during your initial site survey.
All of the lifts that we offer come in sizes that are suitable for wheelchair users or those in need of a seat installed in the elevator itself. Our Pneumatic Vacuum range, for example, comes in 1 person, 2 person and 3 person/wheelchair sizes, while the Altura ranges can each be customised to suit the size that you need. Our Stiltz and Aritco ranges also offer sizes suitable for wheelchair users.
Each brand and model of lift that we offer here at Morgan Ellis is available in a range of sizes, ensuring that you can opt for the elevator that you need for your lifestyle. Whether you’ll be taking the elevator upstairs with kids, need space for a wheelchair or seat, or will have a carer with you, we are proud to offer a vast range of home lift sizes to suit it all. You can see the full range of available sizes on the relevant product pages or in the brochure.
Whether you’re considering selling soon, in the future, or are just curious, you may be pleased to know that adding a home elevator to your property can add value. In some cases, we can ‘uninstall’ a lift to move it to a new property, however offering it as an incentive to sell can attract more buyers and raise the overall price. Showcasing an innovative feature that also provides accessibility can also give you an edge in the market, helping you to sell faster.
Find out more, here.
There may be things you need to do in order to prepare your home for a lift, however we do offer whole project management, including site preparations by our team of contractors. They can conduct any necessary building work to prepare your property and ensure it is ready for installation on the arranged date. Additional requirements, such as the required access size, electricity voltage and minimum clearance can be discussed during your initial survey or found in the product brochure.
The height that a wheelchair or residential lift can go will depend on the model and in some cases, your property. Some of the lifts we provide pass through one floor, while others can rise as high as six. We can discuss your needs and the best model for your property during the initial consultations, with no obligation to complete a purchase following this discussion. You can also find out the maximum heights of all of our lifts on the relevant product pages or within the product brochures
Hydraulic home lifts are residential elevators that use a hydraulic system to operate. Hydraulic fluid is pumped into and released from a cylinder depending on whether the lift is being called up or down. The pressure from the pumped hydraulic fluid will lift the elevator to the relevant floor and careful release of that pressure will lower the lift back down to the ground floor, or whichever floor is needed. They offer a smooth ride quality and are generally more energy efficient than a traction lift and will always come with a battery-operated safety feature so passengers can lower the cabin and exit in the case of power failure.
Traction lifts are one of the most common types of elevator, typically seen in higher rising buildings or where speed is needed. Also known as cable lifts, rope lifts or counterweight lifts, these elevators use a motor that is attached to a sheave to pull and lower a rope or cable. This rope/cable is attached to the lift car on one end and a counterweight on the other, and is looped over the sheave which will turn one way or the other depending on whether the lift has been called up or down. This system offers a slightly faster ride than a hydraulic lift and is typically best suited to taller buildings or where there is more limited space.
The car will also be attached to rails, with automatic safety breaks to ensure the car will not drop in cases of lost power or the rare case of a fault with the cable.
Find out more about Traction lifts, here.
Through-floor, or vertical lifts, are a common form for residential elevators. They are built to pass from one storey of the home to another through the floor and in many cases, can be placed where other lift types or full elevator shafts may not. We offer a number of through-floor lifts that are self-supporting, including the Stiltz Duo+ and Trio+, which can be placed anywhere in the home in most cases.
Pneumatic lifts, also known as vacuum home lifts, utilise air-powered technology to drive the elevator up and down as needed. Utilising pumps and turbines, the self-supporting vacuum elevator will drive the cabin up, and release pressure in order to bring the cabin down under controlled conditions. Pneumatic lifts will have an outside ‘tube’ which offers 360 degrees of vision, with a steel cabin inside. The control compartment is typically at the top of the elevator, and safety mechanisms are always in place to eradicate the risk of drops and that the cabin will always lower to ground floor in the case of a power failure.
You can find out more, here.