How Much Do Residential Lifts Cost in Sydney ?

If you’re into home decor, you’ve probably worked on loads of kitchen and bathroom DIY renovation projects, but have you ever considered investing in a residential lift?

Now, we know the first thing you’re probably concerned about is the residential lifts in Sydney cost but don’t worry because we’ll walk you through the entire process of selecting and installing a home life, including all associated costs, so you’ll have plenty of time to think over that. For now, you should focus on whether you even need a home lift and if yes, then what kind you need because that’s going to directly determine the cost.

Generally, residential lifts are considered a luxury that could potentially boost your home’s value and overall functionality. However, they can also be installed to facilitate individuals with mobility restrictions, i.e., physically impaired persons. So, depending on the specific use for your lift, you should choose an appropriate type of residential lift because that’s how you’ll know the residential lifts in Sydney cost. So, read on to find out how much a residential lift will cost in Sydney.

Do I Need a Home Elevator?

Home elevators are typically installed for two reasons- necessity and/or luxury, which basically means just about anyone with a multi-storey house can get a lift installed. However, if you can’t decide whether to opt for an elevator construction or not, here’s how an elevator can make things easier:

• It can help increase your house’s resale value significantly
• It will be much more convenient to move between floors.
• It’s safer, especially for physically challenged persons.
• You can actually save space compared to a staircase.

How Much Do Residential Lifts in Sydney Cost?

Home elevators in Sydney typically cost somewhere between $20,000 to $50,000 but this cost will vary significantly depending on the size, style and whatnot of your lift. On the outside, it might seem like installing a lift is a piece of cake but it’s really not. There are so many things to consider, and each of these things will affect the cost differently. And of course, you might also want the lift to complement the rest of your house in terms of colour theme and style. But while this would be great for boosting your home’s value, it will definitely cost you more. So, really, it’s about prioritizing to adjust the cost.

Home Elevator or Stair Lift

Home elevators and stair lifts are often confused or used interchangeably for each other but they’re actually pretty different contraptions. Home elevators can be sued to transport people, items, and other stuff between floors. And again, there’s no set cost for it, and it will vary depending on the specifications. But if space is a concern for you, you can also consider getting a stair lift instead. Stair lifts basically constitute a motorized seat installed on a staircase, which helps transport persons from the top to bottom and bottom to the top of the stairs. But the main thing is that they can help you save up on both space and cost.

Factors Influencing Residential Lift Sydney Cost

Like we said, your home elevator cost depends on the exact specifications, but what are these specifications?

Well, we’ve got you covered! Just read on to find out.

#1 Labour

Installing a lift is obviously not easy. In fact, it’s harder to add one to an already-built house. Plus, if you need a mechanical room to go with it, it will cost you even more. But you can cut down on labour costs by opting for a simple vertical or exterior lift.

#2 Number of Floors

Yes, it does matter how many floors your elevator will cater to. Home lifts are usually good enough for up to four floors, however, each floor comes at an additional cost of around $5000 to $15000. Still, if you’re looking to cut down on costs, you can opt to install the lift only for certain floors where you most need it.

#3 Size & Style

A home lift will generally require at least 25-40 square feet of space on each floor. A smaller lift, kind of like a church elevator will take up 10-15 square feet as it’s smaller. And naturally, the larger the lift size, the more expensive it will be.

#4 Type of Elevator Drive System

Elevators have different drive systems including the shaft, traction shaft, pneumatic, and hydraulic drives. We recommend opting for a hydraulic system as it’s much easier to manage and takes up less space as well – so generally, much better on the whole.

#5 Installation

Whether you’re installing an elevator for a new or existing house will also affect how much it costs you. Incorporating a lift in an already existing house is harder, requires more labour, and thus, costs a lot more as well because you might even have to demolish a few parts to make room for the elevator.

Additional Costs

Apart from the standard cost considerations, you’ll also need to look into the following before you can finally opt for a home elevator:

• Do you absolutely need to hire an architect?
• Should you have a mechanical room to go with your lift?
• Should you opt for an entirely new elevator or just get a retrofit?
• Will you opt for extra features like panels, special lighting, or music?
• If a physically handicapped person will use the lift, does it have the appropriate safety guide installed?
• Which inspection or maintenance service will you opt for?
• Will you need a loan to cover the costs?
• Is the elevator eligible for tax deduction?

Why You Should Always Opt for a Hydraulic Elevator?

The type of elevator can make a huge difference, especially in terms of cost. You can take your pick between cable-driven, geared and gearless traction, chain-driven, vertical platform lift, pneumatic vacuum, shaftless, hydraulic, and even an outdoor lift. These might all have their own pros and cons but hydraulic elevators are definitely the best option.

You see, most of these systems require additional space for a mechanical room, pully system, or chains. As for the pneumatic vacuum elevator, it’s hard to hide it behind a wall. Outdoor lifts are great if you’re restricted by budget, though. And shaftless elevators are only good for two-storey houses. Plus, since they’re smaller, only one person can get in the lift at one time – so not very efficient.

We recommend a hydraulic elevator because uses a large piston to operate the elevator via a hydraulic lift. This means you won’t need to spend extra on a mechanical room or any cable or chain system. Sometimes, you might need a pit as well, but it can be avoided. Not to mention, these lifts blend quite easily into the home’s interior and the operating machinery can be easily hidden, thus preserving your home’s value and aesthetic appeal. And you can expect to pay the standard $10,000 to $15,000 for a hydraulic elevator.

Tips to Save Money on Residential Lift Cost in Sydney?

Now that you’re well aware of the costs associated with elevator installations, you should be better able to decide if they fit your budget or not. But there are ways to work around budget restrictions. In fact, we’ve even made a list of our top tips to help you save up on your next home lift installation:

• Compare prices from different companies
• If you have the option, try to incorporate it as you’re building the house rather than adding it to an already constructed house.
• Be clear about the purpose the elevator will serve.
• Decide the most critical floors that absolutely need an elevator.
• Consider an outdoor lift system if you’ll need to do a lot of renovating to add an elevator to an existing house.
• Don’t keep changing your mind in between the construction/installation process.
• Avoid customizing the style too much.
• Cut down on labour costs.

However, what we don’t recommend is settling for just about any elevator drive simply to cut down on costs. Unless unavoidable, you should always go for a hydraulic lift because it will serve you best in the long term. And considering a lift will last you a good 20-25 years, you should at least choose something that you won’t have to change before that.

The Bottomline

Home elevators can be an excellent addition to just about any home. Whether it be for luxury or necessity, a lift will generally elevate your home’s value. But installing a lift, especially in an already fully-constructed house, can be quite expensive. You should expect to pay somewhere between $20,000 to $50,000 for a home lift. However, the residential lift’s cost will vary drastically depending on your chosen specifications, though there are ways to still minimize costs to a certain extent.

Nevertheless, we recommend going for a hydraulic lift system since it is the most efficient and ideal for the long term. And considering that a lift is definitely a long-term commitment, it only makes sense to make the investment worth it!