HomeResidentialHome elevators
Residential elevator installationCustom home elevators for Southwest Florida.
Modern Lifts designs and installs residential elevators in new construction and existing homes, from Marco Island to Clearwater. We size the equipment to your floor plan, match the cab to the house and manage the permit.
An elevator that looks like it was always part of the plan.
In a new build, we work from your architect’s drawings and coordinate with the builder so the hoistway, pit and power are right the first time.
In an existing home, stacked closets often become the hoistway. Where that isn’t possible, a shaftless elevator travels through a framed opening in the floor with no hoistway at all.
- Custom solutions that match the home’s layout and finishes
- Full-service support from design through handover
- Smart-home integration and modern controls available
- Maintenance programs after installation
Which home elevator fits your house?
Most homes can take more than one of these. The right one comes down to space, travel height and how you want it to look.
| Type | How it works | Space it needs | Often chosen for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hydraulic | A hydraulic jack raises the cab; the pump unit sits in a nearby machine space. | Hoistway, shallow pit and a small machine room or closet. | A smooth, quiet ride and heavier loads in new construction. |
| Winding drum | An electric motor winds cables onto a drum to lift the cab. | Hoistway, with the drive placed above or beside it. | Homes where there’s no room for a separate machine room. |
| Shaftless | A self-contained lift that rides on rails through an opening in the floor. | A footprint about the size of an armchair. No hoistway or pit. | Two-story retrofits with limited space. |
| Glass and panoramic | A glass hoistway or cab makes the elevator a visible feature of the room. | An open location such as a stairwell or great room. | Homes where the elevator is part of the design. |
Model availability varies by manufacturer. We’ll recommend specific equipment after a home visit.
Choose your finishes online.
Panel style, wood species, ceiling, lighting, handrail and fixtures. Build the cab you want, then send it to us with your quote request.
Open the cab designerFrom first visit to first ride.
- Free, no obligation
Home visit
We measure, look at the structure and talk through how you’ll use the elevator. Free, with no obligation.
- Written price
Design and quote
You get a recommended model, layout and cab finishes, with a written price.
- We handle the permit
Permit and install
We handle the permit, coordinate with your builder and install the equipment to Florida code.
- Ongoing care
Handover and care
We walk you through the controls and safety features, then keep it running with a maintenance plan.
Step one costs nothing. Book the home visit and get a written price before you decide.
Book a home visitHome elevator installation FAQ
Can you add an elevator to an existing home?
Usually, yes. Stacked closets are the most common location. Where there’s no room for a hoistway, a shaftless elevator may fit. We’ll confirm what’s possible at the home visit.
How much does a home elevator cost?
Between $25,000 and $60,000 installed for most homes. Our cost guide explains what moves the price.
How much space does a home elevator need?
It depends on the type. A conventional elevator needs a hoistway roughly the size of a walk-in closet on each floor. A shaftless model needs much less. We’ll measure and show you the options.
Does a home elevator need a permit?
Yes. Your county or city building department issues the permit. We prepare and submit the application and schedule the inspections.
What happens if the power goes out?
Most modern home elevators include battery backup that brings the cab to a landing and opens the gate so nobody is left between floors. We’ll show you how yours behaves at handover.
Will an elevator add value to my home?
In elevated coastal homes an elevator is increasingly expected by buyers, and it makes a multi-story house usable for longer. A well-maintained elevator supports the home’s value.
What an elevator needs from the house.
A hoistway
An enclosed shaft running the full travel, roughly the footprint of a walk-in closet. In a retrofit it is usually made from stacked closets or built as a small addition. Shaftless models need only an opening in the floor.
A pit
A shallow recess in the slab at the lowest landing so the cab floor sits level with the room. In a flood zone the pit detail matters, and some models are designed to work without one.
Overhead clearance
Space above the top landing for the cab and the equipment that carries it. Low ceilings or a roof line can decide which drive type fits.
Power
A dedicated electrical circuit with a disconnect near the equipment, plus a lighting circuit. Your electrician installs these to our specification.
A machine space
Hydraulic elevators need a small closet for the pump unit and controller. Other drive types keep the machinery in the hoistway.
Landing doors
A door at each stop with an interlock that stops it opening unless the cab is there. Door swing and clearances are checked against Florida requirements at each landing.
When to bring us in.
If you are building, the best time to call is before the plans are final. Hoistway size, pit depth and overhead all affect the structure, and getting them drawn correctly costs nothing. We give your architect and builder the dimensions and rough-in requirements for the specific elevator, then return at framing to check the hoistway before drywall.
If the house is already built, we start with a visit. We look for the most practical route between floors, which is often a pair of closets that line up, a corner of the garage under an upstairs room, or an outside wall where a hoistway can be added. Where none of those work, a shaftless elevator may still fit. You will know after one visit what is possible and what it would cost.
Either way, safety equipment is not optional. Every elevator we install has door interlocks, an emergency stop, a phone or alarm, battery-powered lowering and the door and gate clearances that current Florida rules require to protect children.
Ready 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