4 Types of Shaftless Elevators for Homes

When you think of a shaftless elevator, what do you envision? One of the elevator lifts pictured below?

Maybe you picture a  chair that goes up and down the stairs, or a wheelchair platform lift in a garage or next to a porch. Or perhaps a modern through-the-floor home elevator? All of these have been called shaftless home elevators, since they are all types of elevators or lifts for homes that do not require a shaft. 

Each type of shaftless home elevator has unique features for different in-home applications. Learn more about the four types of shaftless home elevators.  

1. Shaftless, Through-the-Floor Home Elevator

The type of home elevator most commonly referred to as a shaftless elevator is a through-the-floor style lift such as the one pictured here:

This type of shaftless home elevator travels between two stories in a home via a hole cut through the floor of the upper level and the ceiling of the lower level. It has a trapdoor-like mechanism that covers the opening in the floor when the elevator is on the bottom level. 

Some people call the through-the-floor elevator a vanishing elevator. The reasoning is that when the car is on the top level, you can walk beneath it on the bottom level, and when the car is on the bottom level, you can walk over it on the top level. 

All of this is done with your comfort and safety in mind. As with all elevators and lifts installed by Arrow Lift, we ensure that they meet all applicable safety codes and that all safety devices work properly before turning them over for use after installation.

2. Stairway Chairlift

Perhaps the most prevalent example of an elevator without a shaft for the home is a stairway chairlift, also called a stair chair, chair lift, or stair lift. 

This type of home lift is indeed a shaftless elevator (or lift, technically). Even though stair lifts use the existing stairway as a shaft of sorts, there is usually plenty of room for individuals not using the lift to walk up and down it. The available space is thanks to two features of all modern stairway lifts: 

1. The seat, armrests, and footrest all fold up when not in use, and
2. When parked at the bottom landing, the chair and “carriage” (the part of the stair lift where the motor and heavy-duty batteries are located) are off the stairs entirely.

Typically, a stairway chairlift is the most economical means to stay in your home if a wheelchair is not needed, and home accessibility is the primary goal. 

3. Unenclosed Vertical Wheelchair Lift

Vertical wheelchair lifts, also known as vertical platform lifts, have a platform that accommodates a wheelchair and moves up and down as much as 14 feet vertically. They can be installed indoors, in a garage, or outdoors, up to a porch or deck.

These vertical lifts for homes come in several different styles: unenclosed (this would be the “shaftless lift” type), enclosed (in a metal or plexiglass enclosure that comes with the lift), or in a shaftway (less common for homes but available as an option). The lift mechanism is very similar for these three platform lift types. What differentiates them is the surrounding area of the building.

4. Incline Platform Lift

While less common than shaftless, through-the-floor home elevators, stair lifts, and vertical wheelchair lifts, there is one more type of shaftless lift for homes. It is called an incline platform lift, a cross between a stairway chairlift and a vertical wheelchair lift.

Like a stairway chairlift, the incline platform lift travels at an incline within an existing staircase. Like a vertical wheelchair lift, it has a platform large enough to accommodate a wheelchair rather than a seat or a smaller area designed for standing.

Where to Buy a Shaftless Home Elevator

If you are considering purchasing a shaftless home elevator, it is important to work with an experienced home elevator company with a brick-and-mortar office near you. Ensure the business has experience installing the type of elevator or lift you purchase. Ask if they have a dedicated service department for maintenance and repairs after installation. While home elevators are reliable, they need periodic maintenance check-ups to continue operating safely and reliably. 

Arrow Lift has been installing and servicing home elevators for almost 40 years, and we would be pleased to see if we can help you find the right lift or elevator for your home.