Retrofitting an elevator: options, costs and solutions with Lehner Lifttechnik
Having an elevator retrofitted is a major step – but often the key to genuine accessibility, greater living comfort and long-term value retention. Whether it is an apartment building, an existing property or a single-family home: in many buildings, a lift can be integrated at a later date if planning, structural requirements and system selection are aligned.
While classic passenger elevators in existing buildings often require investments starting at around €30,000–€50,000 and more, vertical platform lifts and lifting platforms – as offered by Lehner Lifttechnik – can be a space-saving and more economical alternative in many situations, especially for typical height differences in single- and two-family homes.
- What does “retrofitting an elevator” mean in existing buildings?
- Indoor or outdoor elevator? The most important retrofit options
- Structural requirements and planning steps
- Costs of retrofitting an elevator: ranges and influencing factors
- Retrofitting an elevator with Lehner: platform lifts as an alternative
- Conclusion: Step by step to the right lift
- FAQ – Frequently asked questions about “retrofitting an elevator”
What does “retrofitting an elevator” mean in existing buildings?
Guides and elevator manufacturers generally understand “retrofitting an elevator” to cover two main situations:
- First-time installation of an elevator in a building that previously had no lift – typically apartment buildings, residential complexes or single-family homes where accessibility is to be created.
- Modernisation and upgrading of an existing system when technology and standards are no longer up to date, or when design, energy efficiency and comfort are to be improved.
In both cases, the key question is: How can an elevator be integrated or adapted so that it fits the building, the residents, the budget and the applicable regulations – without turning the house into a permanent construction site?
Indoor or outdoor elevator? The most important retrofit options
Specialist literature on “retrofitting an elevator” primarily highlights three basic ways to add a lift to an existing building.
1. Elevator in the stairwell / stairwell void
Many guides recommend first checking whether the stairwell void or the area next to the stairs can be used. A steel or concrete shaft is built in the stairwell void and provides access to all floors directly from the stairwell.
Advantage: Good integration into the building, short distances.
Challenge: Structural requirements, stair width and fire protection must be suitable; in some cases, extensive openings are required.
2. Outdoor elevator on the façade
If there is no space inside or the intervention in the stairwell would be too extensive, many providers recommend an outdoor elevator: a self-supporting shaft structure outside the building with access via new door openings in the façade.
- Often quick to implement thanks to modular shaft systems
- The building remains habitable during construction work
- Visual enhancement possible with modern glass elevators
3. Home lifts and vertical platform lifts
In addition to classic cabin elevators, market overviews specifically for smaller properties and single-family homes mention: home lifts with a compact cabin and vertical platform lifts with an open platform – especially for wheelchair users and people with limited mobility.
Structural requirements and planning steps
Regardless of the system, the major elevator manufacturers agree: installing an elevator in an existing building is always a construction project that must be carefully prepared.
Typical planning process for retrofitting an elevator
- Needs analysis & goal definition: Which floors should be served? Is the focus on accessibility (wheelchair, rollator) or on comfort and increasing value?
- Survey of existing conditions: Measuring the stairwell, corridors and outdoor area – initial structural assessment of whether an internal shaft is possible or an outdoor elevator is more suitable.
- Comparison of options: Indoor vs. outdoor, cabin elevator vs. platform lift – taking into account space requirements, extent of intervention and costs.
- Permits & funding: As a rule, a building approval process is required; for multi-unit buildings, a resolution by the owners’ association is also needed.
- Implementation & commissioning: Construction work, installation, official acceptance, instruction and a maintenance contract.
Time frame: Manufacturers of passenger elevators typically cite several months to just under a year from the initial concept to commissioning. With more compact platform lift solutions, the time required may be lower – depending on the scope of the construction work.
Costs of retrofitting an elevator: ranges and influencing factors
When it comes to costs, current cost calculators and guides clearly distinguish between fully fledged passenger elevators and more compact solutions:
| System | Typical price range (guideline values) | Typical application |
|---|---|---|
| Classic passenger elevator (multiple floors) | from approx. €30,000–€50,000; for outdoor installations often €40,000–€70,000 and more | Apartment building, residential complex |
| Compact home lift (1–2 floors) | from approx. €15,000–€25,000 | Single-family home, small properties |
| Vertical platform lift / lifting platform | from approx. €15,000, depending on lifting height and equipment | Raised ground floor, entrance, terrace, 1–2 floors |
These figures are general market guideline values, not specific offers from Lehner Lifttechnik.
Key cost drivers
| Cost factor | Impact |
|---|---|
| Building type & number of floors | More floors = higher material, installation and construction costs |
| Installation location (indoor / outdoor) | Outdoor is often more complex (weather protection, permits), but involves less intervention in the building |
| System type | Cabin elevator > home lift > platform lift (tendency towards lower costs) |
| Lifting height & load capacity | Larger cabins, higher payloads and longer travel distances increase the investment |
| Equipment & design | Glass shaft, special colours and automatic doors drive up the price |
| Construction work | Shaft construction, foundation, ceiling openings, façade openings |
Especially in single- and two-family homes, independent reports show that vertical platform lifts can often noticeably reduce total costs because no conventional elevator shaft is required and the structural intervention is less extensive.
Retrofitting an elevator with Lehner Lifttechnik: platform lifts as an alternative
Many major elevator manufacturers focus on classic cabin elevators with a shaft – Lehner Lifttechnik, by contrast, has specialised for decades in solutions for accessibility and mobility.
Typical retrofit scenarios with Lehner solutions
| Retrofit scenario | Challenge | Lehner solution |
|---|---|---|
| Outdoor lift for a detached house | Raised ground floor, steps to the entrance or terrace | Liftboy or Sigma (outdoor) |
| One floor in a residential building without a shaft | No space for a conventional elevator shaft | Sigma (indoor) or platform stairlift |
| Barrier-free access to practice / office | Few steps in a smaller building | Liftboy or StepSaver |
| Multi-unit building – entrance area | Targeted accessible access at the building entrance | Vertical platform lift at the entrance / inner courtyard |
Lehner Lifttechnik works with a partner network that takes measurements on site, proposes the suitable lift solution and handles quotation, installation, commissioning and maintenance – resulting in a solution tailored to your structural situation.
Retrofitting an elevator – which solution is right for your building?
Send us photos, measurements or plans of your situation – together with a regional partner, we will assess which lift can be retrofitted.
Conclusion: Step by step to the right lift
Retrofitting an elevator is an investment in accessibility, comfort and long-term quality of living. Current specialist articles and manufacturer information show:
- In many buildings, solutions are possible both indoors and outdoors
- The range extends from the classic cabin elevator to home lifts and vertical platform lifts
- Costs vary widely and can only be specified through individual planning
Lehner Lifttechnik deliberately focuses on lift solutions for accessibility – especially platform lifts, which can often be retrofitted into existing buildings with less structural effort than a classic shaft elevator.
If you would like to assess which lift solution makes sense for your building, it is worth getting in touch directly: with photos, measurements and a brief description of the situation, an authorised partner can usually assess very quickly which solution is suitable for you.
All information in this article is for non-binding information only and is provided without guarantee; for further information, please contact Lehner Lifttechnik directly.
FAQ – Frequently asked questions about “retrofitting an elevator”
In many cases, yes – either in the stairwell, in the stairwell void or as an outdoor elevator on the façade. Where classic cabin elevators reach space limits, vertical platform lifts or platform stairlifts can be a solution because they require less space and do not need a full shaft. However, a binding assessment is only possible after an on-site inspection or planning analysis.
That depends on your structural situation. An indoor elevator usually integrates very well visually, but often requires interventions in ceilings, structural elements and fire protection. An outdoor elevator can be structurally simpler, but must be designed to withstand weather and requires approval. Guides recommend reviewing both options during preliminary planning and then deciding based on space, costs and the approval situation.
Manufacturers of passenger lifts typically quote several months to less than a year from the first concept to commissioning. The actual construction and installation work often takes about 8–12 weeks, during which the house can generally remain occupied. For more compact platform lift solutions, construction work usually takes no longer than a few days.
A platform lift is particularly suitable when the main requirement is accessibility for a wheelchair or rollator, only one or a few floors need to be bridged, there is no space for a classic shaft elevator, and structural interventions and costs are to be kept limited. In single-family homes, smaller properties or for accessible access at the building entrance, vertical platform lifts from Lehner Lifttechnik are therefore often the more practical and economical retrofit solution.