For a wheelchair user, a house on pilings presents an obvious problem. The front door is eight, ten or twelve feet in the air. A ramp to that height at a safe slope would run well over a hundred feet. A vertical platform lift does the job in the space of a parking spot.
How it works
The lift has a tower and a platform with side guards. The user rolls on at ground level, holds a control, and the platform rises to the height of the deck or entry landing. A gate at the top opens when the platform arrives.
Where it is placed
- Beside the entry stair, rising to the front deck
- Under the house, rising through or beside the deck above
- At the side, serving a wraparound porch
Travel height
Platform lifts are made in a range of heights, including models that cover a full story and more. The exact rise is measured on site.
Coastal considerations
- Flood zone. Local rules affect what is installed at ground level and how. We coordinate with your builder and the permitting office.
- Corrosion. Choose marine-suitable finishes and rinse the lift with fresh water regularly.
- Wind and storms. Ask what to do with the lift before a storm, and have it checked afterward.
- Sand. Keep it out of the mechanism and off the pad.
Platform lift or elevator
A platform lift is the more economical way to reach the first living level. If the house has several floors above that, a home elevator serving every level is the more complete solution.
Rental properties
An accessible beach house appeals to families traveling with an older relative or a wheelchair user.
Inland homes
The same lift, in a shorter version, serves a porch or deck anywhere in the state.
Get a site assessment
See our wheelchair lifts. Call Nationwide Lifts of North Carolina on (910) 377-7643 or request a site visit.