HomeService areaSanibel & Captiva
Lee County, FloridaHome elevators and lift service on Sanibel and Captiva.
Island homes stand on pilings, face open Gulf weather and sit a causeway away from the mainland. Modern Lifts installs and maintains elevators and platform lifts on Sanibel and Captiva with those three facts in mind.
- Florida registered elevator company
- All major residential brands
- Monday–Friday, 8:00am–4:30pm
The hardest place in the county to be an elevator.
Almost every home on the islands is elevated, with living space a full story or more above grade and a long flight of exterior stairs to reach it. An elevator or a vertical platform lift isn’t a luxury here. It’s how many owners stay in their homes as the stairs get harder.
The islands are also where equipment wears fastest. Salt spray reaches everything, and Ian’s surge put water through the ground level of most properties. We specify corrosion-resistant components where the manufacturer offers them, keep critical equipment above flood level wherever the design allows, and recommend a service interval that reflects how exposed the house is.
The work we do here most.
Elevators for piling homes
Ground level to the main living floor and above, designed around the flood line.
Outdoor platform lifts
Vertical lifts beside exterior stairs for wheelchair and scooter access to a raised entry.
Post-storm restoration
Assessment and rebuild of elevators damaged by surge, with upgrades where they make sense.
Lifts that suit island homes.
On Sanibel’s East End, in Shell Harbor and Sanibel Isles, canal homes sit on pilings with parking underneath and one or two living levels above. A two- or three-stop elevator from the ground-level slab is the usual installation, with the pit detail and the lowest landing designed around the flood line.
Along West Gulf Drive, in The Sanctuary and on Captiva, homes are larger and more exposed, and owners often want the elevator to be seen: glass, good timber, proper lighting. For cottages and older stilt homes where a full elevator doesn’t fit the budget or the structure, an outdoor vertical platform lift beside the stairs reaches the main entry and handles a wheelchair.
Permits in Sanibel & Captiva
Sanibel is its own city with its own building department and its own rules on what can be built below base flood elevation. Captiva and North Captiva are unincorporated and permit through Lee County. Both pay close attention to what sits in the flood zone, and we design the installation to suit.
Storms and salt
Ian’s surge crossed both islands and took out sections of the causeway. Most elevators at ground level were submerged in salt water. Many have been rebuilt since, and where we do that work we look for every chance to move controls and drive components higher than they were before.
What our customers say
A few words from homeowners whose lifts we have installed and looked after.
Professional and quality service. Repeat customer.
PBPete BianchettaNaples, FL
I found Modern Lifts to be knowledgeable and friendly.
MEMarc EisemanNaples, FL
Great job and nice guy!
JBJohn BakerSanibel, FL
Looking after lifts in Sanibel & Captiva.
Service on the islands is planned differently from the mainland. Getting a technician across the causeway for one small fault is slow and expensive for everyone, so we encourage island owners to stay on a maintenance schedule and let us catch problems early. A typical visit covers cleaning and protecting exposed metal, checking door locks and gates that salt tends to seize, testing the backup battery and emergency lowering, and looking at the pit for signs of water. If you rent the house out, we can work with your management company for access and report directly to them. When a repair is urgent, call us and we’ll tell you honestly how soon we can be there.
What a home elevator costs in Sanibel and Captiva.
New home elevator, installed
$25,000to$60,000
Stairlifts and platform lifts cost less.
Where yours lands depends on the drive type, the number of stops, the hoistway and the cab finish. On the islands, flood rules shape the price. Equipment has to sit above base flood elevation or be built to tolerate water, and exterior lifts need materials that stand up to salt air. An outdoor platform lift is often the most affordable way to reach a raised entry. For a full elevator in a piling home, the number of stops and the hoistway construction matter most.
Our home elevator cost guide breaks down each factor, and the stairlift cost and funding guide covers VA, Medicaid and other help with paying for a lift.
How a project runs
In-home visit
We measure, check the structure and power, and talk through the options. It’s free.
Written quote and design
You get the equipment, price and schedule in writing. Choose a finish in the cab designer.
Permit and installation
We prepare the application for the City of Sanibel or Lee County and coordinate with your builder if there is one.
Inspection and handover
After final inspection we show you how everything works and set up a maintenance plan if you want one.
Where we work in and around Sanibel & Captiva.
Not listed? We cover all of Lee County. Call 239.499.4749 and ask.
- East End
- Lighthouse Point
- Shell Harbor
- Sanibel Isles
- Beachview
- The Dunes
- Gumbo Limbo
- Sanibel Bayous
- Chateaux Sur Mer
- West Gulf Drive
- The Sanctuary
- Sea Oats
- Blind Pass
- Captiva Village
- Roosevelt Channel
- ‘Tween Waters area
- South Seas
- Sunset Captiva
- North Captiva by arrangement
Nearby: Fort Myers · Cape Coral · Bonita Springs & Estero · Naples · full service area
Questions from Sanibel and Captiva homeowners.
How often should an island elevator be serviced?
More often than a mainland one. Salt air is constant on Sanibel and Captiva, so we usually suggest at least two visits a year, and we’ll confirm an interval once we’ve seen the equipment.
Is a platform lift a good alternative to an elevator for a stilt home?
For reaching the main entry from the ground, yes. A vertical platform lift costs less, installs faster and suits a wheelchair or scooter. It won’t serve upper floors the way an elevator does.
Can equipment be kept above the flood line?
Much of it can. Depending on the model, the controller and drive can often be located at an upper level, leaving only what must be in the pit at the bottom. We’ll tell you what’s possible for your house.
Do you come out to the islands for routine service?
Yes. Sanibel and Captiva are part of our regular Lee County service area, and we schedule island visits so maintenance isn’t left until something breaks.
How much does a home elevator cost in Sanibel and Captiva?
Most new home elevators we install cost $25,000 to $60,000. The number of stops, the drive type, the hoistway and the cab finish decide where a home in Sanibel and Captiva lands. Stairlifts and platform lifts cost less. We give a written quote after a free in-home visit.
Does Medicare pay for a home elevator or stairlift?
Original Medicare does not, because it treats elevators and stairlifts as home modifications rather than medical equipment. Some Medicare Advantage plans, VA benefits and Florida Medicaid long-term care can help in certain cases. Our stairlift cost and funding guide explains each option.
Our services in Sanibel and Captiva.
Home elevators
Hydraulic, traction, shaftless and glass elevators, designed around the house.
See home elevators
Repair
Diagnosis and repair for elevators that have stopped, misleveled or started making new noises.
See repairStorm damage
Preparation before a storm and restoration after one.
See storm damageReady when you are.
Quotes and in-home consultations are free. If your lift is down, call and we’ll get a technician moving.
or call 239.499.4749 · Monday–Friday, 8:00am–4:30pm