What is Lift
A fluid flowing around an object exerts a force on it. Lift is the component of this force that is perpendicular to the oncoming flow direction. It contrasts with the drag force, which is the component of the force parallel to the flow direction.
Lift Prices In South Africa
What different types of home lifts are there?
There are a wide range of home lifts available on the market today and the differences are based mainly on the style of the residential lifts and how they are powered.
Hydraulic Cable Lift
Cable lifts vary depending on whether they require a lift shaft, pit or machine room. They are often powered by a motor which turns a drum with a cable wound around which pulls the lift upwards. The motor and drum are typically situated in a pit bel ow the elevator or in a machine room with the cables routed downwards. The cables will be stretched over time and tend to get replaced every five years which, is an extra financial outlay to consider when buying a Hydraulic Cable Lift. These types of lifts are also described sometimes as ‘Traction Elevators’ and are more cost-effective when they are built into new homes.
Non-Hydraulic Cable Lift
Cable lifts without shafts, are much more flexible as these can be installed simply and quickly – and in almost any location in a private property. These smart and sophisticated-looking elevators were introduced in Europe in 2010 by Stiltz Homelifts – and established distributors in South Africa eight years later. The lifts are usually substantially cheaper than any other type of residential lifts and are loved by our customers. In 2019, a video by an American YouTuber about ‘how to install a home elevator in your living room’ went viral.
These intelligent residential lifts do not require supporting walls or hydraulics and are powered by a self-contained motor drive system which never needs to be replaced and is situated, out of sight, on top of the lift. It simply plugs straight into a standard dedicated 230v home outlet, just like any other major appliance. The lifts have been designed for all eventualities, including power outages. The home lifts are freestanding and travel on unique self-supporting dual rails which glide ‘through the floor’ with no extra weight burden on the home. The home lifts are extremely safe, are spatially economical and considered much safer than a stair lift.
Stiltz Home Elevator Case Studies
Stiltz Homelifts have been installed in hundreds of South African homes and has a ‘life-changing’ impact on people’s lives.
Chain Elevators
Chain elevators are operated by a chain – instead of a cable – and use counterweights to balance the lift. The chain will usually go over a toothed flywheel at the top of the elevator and back down to the counterweight. The lift is powered by a geared-motor which turns the flywheel with the motor placed at the top of the shaft. This is a more cost-effective than a hydraulic cable lift with shafts as chains tend to last for 20 years instead of five for cables.
Hydraulic Lifts
Hydraulic lifts work by pumping hydraulic fluid into the cylinder of a hydraulic arm through a valve. A piston is forced up by the pressure of the fluid and the lift is pushed up with it. Typically, hydraulic lifts need a lot of space and a separate machine room which means homeowners have to sacrifice a wider area in their home and find a suitable location. These types of lifts often also need more regular servicing and maintenance which means they can prove costly compared to other solutions on the market.
Pneumatic Elevators
Pneumatic elevators use a vacuum system inside a tube to power the lift with no machine room or pit required. The elevator is self-supporting and air pressure, pumps and turbines pull the lift upwards and downwards which can often be noisy. These types of elevators are also known as ‘Vacuum Elevators’.
How much do home lifts cost?
The cost to install a home lift has reduced significantly since residential lifts were more commonly introduced in the 1990s. This has been down to a substantial improvement in the design of these lifts, in the way they are powered, and the increase in competition with more manufacturers introducing new products to the market place.
• Hydraulic Cable Elevators start at R202,000 up to R471,000
• Chain Elevators start at R270,000 up to R670,000
• Hydraulic Elevators start at R270,000 up to R670,000
• Pneumatic Elevators start at R471,000up to R670,000
The cost of a Stiltz Home lift is considered to be very competitive compared to the residential lift cost of other manufacturers. We keep Stiltz liufts costs down because, unlike other lifts featured on home lift price lists, the product does not need a separate machine room to operate it or require an elevator pit. A Stiltz homelift price will depend on the model, size and installation so in order to get an exact lift price the customer would need a full site survey. However, Stiltz lifts costs are still likely to be much less than other home elevator alternatives.
How much does a Stiltz Home Lift cost?
The cost of a Stiltz home lift can vary considerably depending on the model of lift you require, the options needed, and how much site preparation/construction is required to be completed by your Stiltz partner ahead of your home lift being installed. There is no substitute for having one of our local partners visit your home and provide an accurate written quote which will give you a full cost for the project. If you would like an idea of a typical price for a home elevator in your area, excluding the preparatory work and permits (if required in your area), please call our experienced telephone advisors at 021 300 2134 and they will be happy to help with this information. Please note, we can only give a price indication with a phone call once we know a little about your particular home and potential product choice. The price will be a guide only and will vary depending on your specific application and location.
We pride ourselves on giving honest, objective information and recommendations, and never use pushy sales techniques. We believe that if we can provide a solution that works for your needs and budget, your decision will be much easier. Our advice typically is to take advantage of the free / no commitment in-home quote service our local partners offer. Even if you don’t end up buying a Stiltz product, we will leave you in a more informed position about what’s right for you and your home.