Installing a homelift isn’t just about the lift itself — it’s about preparing your home properly so everything works safely, smoothly, and exactly as it should.
At 1st Choice Homelifts, we manage all homelift preparation works and building works as part of a fully managed installation of your domestic lift. When we have the whole homelift installation process covered from start to finish, it makes the whole home lift process feel easy for a smooth installation. From cutting the floor aperture to electrics, carpentry, and finishing, everything is planned and coordinated by our experienced team — so you don’t have to juggle builders, electricians, or contractors yourself.
It’s one clear plan, one trusted team, and no guesswork.
Detailed Site Survey - Every homelift installation starts with a home visit survey. During this visit to your house, the surveyor will note your specific requirements for the lift car design for your residential lift, which model you may need, which platform size you'll require that will fit into your property. The domestic homelifts that we do cover ground to first floor, currently we don't do a lift that covers a number of floors above this. We offer Stiltz homelifts and Wessex Lifts brands so we can help you to choose which lift design will best suit your needs.
Quotation - after checking your specific needs and options you need on the lift to be able to work it correctly, we will also assess the place where the lift will be fitted. We'll take into account the work that needs to be done to open up the ceiling to form the aperture which is the hole in the floor. Whatever works we can see that need doing, we will quote for them and include all the works for the job within our quote for your home lift solution.
Order - when ordering the next step is for us to order your lift from the manufacturers and get it delivered. In the meantime we'll project manage your job with our contractors and project surveyor to make sure everything happens to get your home ready for installation day.
Installation - your home lift will be installed, and after testing to make sure everything is assembled and operating correctly, including all the safety features, it's your turn to test drive it. Our engineers will stay with you on a full handover demonstration of your home lift installation to make sure you can operate it safely. You'll then have the accessibility and convenience of your own home lift and leave the staircase for others to walk up.
Homelift preparation works are the essential building and technical tasks required before a lift can be installed.
These typically include:
Creating the floor opening (aperture) where a hole is cut in the ceiling and the floor upstairs, and the floor is strengthened to support the home lift.
Re-routing of services - sometimes the electrical wires, or plumbing pipes may need to be re-routed if they are in the ceiling void in the way of the installation. This can sometimes be found on the survey for the lift but sometimes this can be unforeseen as we are unable to take the floor up at time of survey. Extra costs may be incurred if unforeseen work should be needed.
Electrical power point nearby to the lift to feed the power supply to operate the lift
Optional other building works if a lift shaft or cupboard/wall is required to hide the home lift away.
One of the biggest worries people have when considering a home lift is:
“How much building work will this involve?”
That’s exactly why we manage it all for you. Although it may seem a complicated process, if you do this all the time it's pretty straight forward.
When you choose 1st Choice Homelifts, we:
Plan every stage of the preparation works
Coordinate all trades
Ensure everything meets regulations
Keep disruption to an absolute minimum
Tidy your home afterwards so you shouldn't have anything to do
You’ll always know:
What’s happening
When it’s happening
Who’s responsible
Our surveyor and customer service team will make guide the installation and help answer any questions that you may have. If ever you have any queries, then all you need to do is give us a call.
A precisely measured opening is created between floors so the lift can travel safely. When the home lift isn’t in use, the aperture is neatly sealed to maintain fire safety and insulation. It's so safe that you can also walk across the top floor above the lift so there's no need to worry about anything.
An electrical supply is installed to manufacturer requirements, ensuring safe, reliable operation of your lift.
Where required, structural reinforcement and carpentry works are completed to support the lift and ensure a clean, professional finish.
Yes — and we’re completely transparent about this.
You’re welcome to use your own trades if you prefer. However, many customers choose us to manage everything because:
We know exactly what the lift requires
We avoid delays and costly mistakes
We coordinate everything in the correct order
In most cases, a fully managed approach saves time, stress, and unexpected costs. There will however be extra visits required by us to check on the works to make sure they are compliant that will come with a charge. The trades people that we work with all the time are used to our specifications so every home lift installation runs smoothly, sometimes with customers own trades they may not go quite as well and have the smooth experience as you would using our trades people.
It can also cause delays to the installation date if the preparation work is done incorrectly.
1st Choice Homelifts are a sub-brand of 1st Choice Stairlifts. As well as home lifts, we also specialise in stairlift products and wheelchair platform lifts, helping home accessibility whatever your requirements are. We are with you every step of the way from the survey, installation, and maintenance beyond. We offer:
With showrooms in Calne, Wiltshire and Ferndown, Dorset, we support customers across:
Wiltshire, Swindon, Bath, Bristol, Dorset, and parts of Somerset, Hampshire, Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire.
1st Choice Stairlifts are endorsed Which? Trusted Traders with 5* Customer Care and members of the British Healthcare Trades Association adhering to their code of practice which protects consumers when purchasing mobility products.
Every home lift project starts with a free, no-obligation home survey.
We’ll be with you every step of the way to guide you on how suitable a home lift will be for your needs. We'll:
Call us on 01249 814528
or
Request a home survey online
Yes. All through-floor homelifts require some preparation works, but these are usually far less disruptive than people expect.
In most cases, preparation works are completed within a few days, depending on the home and lift type. Our surveyor will give you an approximate home lift installation guide time when they are aware of the preparation and installation works that need to be done.
No. Apertures are sealed safely and securely whenever the lift is not in use.
Yes. We ensure all works meet current safety standards and manufacturer requirements.
25 Harris Road, Porte Marsh Industrial Estate, Calne, Wiltshire, SN11 9PT
Showroom Open: Mon-Fri 08:30 to 17:00
Emergency Out of Hours Repairs: 365 days a year
Unit E6, 9 Nimrod Way, Ferndown Industrial Estate, Ferndown, Dorset, BH21 7UH
Showroom Open: Mon, Tues, Thurs 08.30 to 15.30, Friday 8:30 -13:00
