Bengaluru has many older houses, apartment blocks, clinics and offices that were built without a lift. Owners often assume it is impossible to add one now. In truth, a lift can be retrofitted into many existing buildings, if the structure and space allow. Here is how to find out, and how a retrofit works.
Why retrofit a lift?
- Elders find stairs harder every year.
- Upper floors become hard to rent or sell without a lift.
- Accessibility is increasingly expected in commercial buildings.
Where a retrofit shaft can go
- Inside the staircase well. If the stairs wrap around an open void, a shaft can sit in it.
- In a stacked room or utility space. A store, pooja room or toilet stacked on every floor can be converted.
- Outside the building. A steel and glass shaft added to a wall that has space around it.
- A new internal cut-out. Cutting through slabs with structural strengthening.
What must be checked first
| Check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Structure around the shaft | Slabs, beams and walls must carry new loads and openings |
| Floor-to-floor heights | Decide the travel and the overhead needed |
| Space at ground and top floors | For the pit and overhead |
| Setbacks and building rules | Especially for an external shaft |
| Power supply | A dedicated, earthed supply |
| Access for materials | Shafts are built in stages from inside the building |
The retrofit steps
- Site visit and measurement by a lift company.
- Structural opinion from your engineer on the shaft position.
- Shaft drawing and quotation.
- Strengthening and shaft construction, if needed.
- Lift installation, testing and handover.
- Inspection, licensing and AMC.
Choosing the right lift
Retrofits often suit compact lifts with a shallow pit and low overhead. Read how much space a home lift needs and lifts for duplex and independent houses. For apartments and commercial buildings, see passenger lifts and home lifts.
Common concerns
- Disturbance. Plan work in stages and agree working hours.
- Cost. Depends on the shaft work, number of stops and finishes.
- Approvals. Check building rules for external shafts and confirm lift inspection steps.
Lifts in Bangalore and elevators in Bangalore: one team for everything
Share photographs and plans of your building and we will advise on a retrofit lift. Whether you need a lift in Bangalore or an elevator in Bangalore, one team can survey, supply, install, service and maintain it for you. Read about our lifts and elevators in Bangalore, see the areas we serve, learn about lift service and AMC, or contact our team for a site visit and quotation.
Key takeaways
- Many old buildings can take a lift in the staircase void, a stacked room, outside or a new cut-out.
- Check structure, heights, space, rules, power and access first.
- Start with a site visit and a structural opinion.
