Q Lifts Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about Q Lifts residential and low-rise platform lifts, including lift sizes, installation requirements, building consent, indoor and outdoor lifts, wheelchair access, servicing and retrofitting a lift into an existing New Zealand home. Our lifts are designed, engineered and built in the Waikato and installed nationwide.
The product
Where are your lifts made?
We design, engineer and build our own lifts in our Waikato factory, and supply and install them throughout New Zealand. We have our own full-time installers on the road, along with a network of contractors we work with.
Can the lift go outside?
Yes. Our indoor and outdoor lifts are fundamentally the same lift, but are finished and protected differently. Outdoor components are hot-dip galvanised and painted, while all outdoor electrical enclosures are stainless steel and powder coated, helping the lift stand up to coastal conditions.
What models do you offer?
We offer four models covering different travel heights:
Q Rise 3: up to 1 m
Q Rise 4: up to 1.5 m
Q Vista: up to 3.6 m
Q Ascent: up to 8.7 m
Which model do I need?
It comes down to travel height and environment. A Q Rise handles a garage-to-house step or split-level access, either indoors or outdoors. Q Vista covers a typical single-storey rise outdoors, while Q Ascent takes you through floors, up to 8.7 m.
Do you do glass lifts, or the type that drills into the ground?
No. Our lifts run up a mast against a wall, with everything above ground. This is the main difference from in-ground hydraulic lifts. You can have glass in the doors, but we do not build a full glass lift.
Can an outdoor lift be enclosed?
Yes. You can choose an open platform, a roof only, or a fully enclosed waterproof cabin. We build to order, so there is plenty of flexibility.
Size and space
What size is the platform?
From 900 mm × 900 mm up to 1400 mm × 1400 mm, and anything in between. It doesn’t have to be square — narrow and long, or wide and shallow, can both work.
How much space do I need to allow?
The mast adds 200 mm to one side, so the cavity is 1100 mm × 900 mm at the smallest and 1600 mm × 1400 mm for a full 1400 mm × 1400 mm platform.
Can you go smaller than 900 mm × 900 mm?
900 mm × 900 mm is what we recommend. Smaller is technically possible, but it is right on the limit because the code sets a minimum door size of 810 mm. Talk to us about your layout.
Will a wheelchair fit?
Plan on a 1.2 m × 1.2 m or 1.2 m × 1.0 m platform at a minimum.
How much headroom do I need at the top floor?
The mast needs to run about 1400 mm above the platform, but the top does not have to go through your roof. You can have an open top — with 1100 mm barriers on the sides and 1400 mm at the back wall — so as little as approximately 1500 mm of headroom can work.
How much can it carry?
270 kg — approximately three people.
Can I use it for groceries and luggage?
Yes, and plenty of our customers do exactly that. Load it, send it up, and walk the stairs yourself.
How it works
Does it need a wall?
Yes. The lift runs up a mast fixed to one wall — that is what it climbs. The lift attaches to the shaft; it is not structural itself. However, we can manufacture a frame for the lift to mount to if it is in the open.
Which way do you get in and out?
You can access the lift from up to three sides — the mast takes the fourth. For example, you can enter from one side at ground level and exit from a different side upstairs. Four-way access is not possible, but you can have two doors on one level.
Can the cabin have walls?
You can have up to three walls, but only if all the doors are on one side. If you are entering from more than one side, you are limited to a single wall. Under the code, you must have at least one wall, a roof and a handrail.
What drives it?
An oil hydraulic ram working at a 2:1 ratio — the ram is half the height of the travel, much like a forklift. The platform runs on a roller bogie in two channels up the mast.
Does it only stop at floor levels?
No. Micro sensors allow it to stop at any height, not just fixed floor levels.
What safety features does it have?
Safety strips run around the three moving walls. There is approximately a 10 mm gap, and if a finger or toe touches the strip, the lift stops immediately. There is also a mechanism that catches the platform if a chain were to fail.
What happens in a power cut?
It keeps working if you have the battery model. The control box runs on a battery that is kept charged from the wall, so a power cut does not leave you stranded. You can always get down the shaft without power using the emergency down function.
What power supply do I need?
A 10 amp socket. Low-use installations run on a 12 volt system; for high-use or commercial applications, we use 240 volt.
Where does the control box go?
It is a 600 mm × 300 mm × 1000 mm enclosed box containing the battery and electrics, with a plug on it. It usually sits in a cupboard beside the lift. It can be up to approximately five metres away, provided we can run a conduit and hydraulic hose.
Installation and site
Do I need a pit dug?
Q Ascent and Q Vista are generally set in a 200 mm pit — about one block deep — formed as part of the slab, which provides flush access. All Q Rise models sit entirely above ground; however, you can also use a Q Rise with a pit if you want level entry.
What if I don’t want a pit?
Without one, we can bring the platform down to 170 mm, and you can add a step or ramp for access.
What about an existing concrete floor?
You would cut the slab, dig down approximately 300 mm, lay a new pad and form it up. It is a straightforward job.
What sort of slab does it need?
A standard 100–120 mm reinforced slab is enough.
Can it be retrofitted to an existing home?
Yes. Outdoors is generally the easier and cheaper retrofit. Indoors depends heavily on your layout and usually requires more building work. Nothing is insurmountable, and older homes, including villas, are not a problem.
How accurate does the builder need to be?
The shaft needs to be square and true within approximately 3 mm. We have a little tolerance, but not much.
What is the lead time?
Once we have pre-wired, the lift takes around four to six weeks to build, and then we come and fit it.
What is the process from start to finish?
Your architect designs the lift into the project using our architect pack. Once the shaft is framed up, we come and pre-wire — running cables where they need to go and measuring every noggin so the lift is built specifically for your house.
Your builder then lines the shaft and fits the doors using the locks we supply. We build the lift, return to fit it, and wire it up.
Can I make provision now and install the lift later?
Yes, and it can be a smart move. Design the shaft in, then pay for the pre-wire and measure while the walls are open. We keep the drawings on file and you can use the space as a cupboard in the meantime. Years later, the lift can be installed without touching your linings — you would just need to renew the consent.
Consent and certification
Do I need building consent?
Usually, yes. On a new build, it goes through as part of your building consent.
Do you handle the consent?
We do not lodge the consent, but we supply the compliance documents for the lift. We provide the PS1 your council needs and the PS3, and we engage an independent inspector for the PS4. Your council signs the lift off based on our documentation.
Your architect or engineer covers foundations and walls using the information we provide.
Finishes
What does the cabin look like inside?
However you want it. Walls are usually lined in ply, which is harder-wearing than GIB, and you choose the colour, trims and rails. You can also add a mirror if you like.
Flooring goes on top of the platform, so you can match the carpet, vinyl or tiles used throughout the rest of your home.
What about the doors?
For built-in lifts, you can use the same internal doors as the rest of your house. Glass panels are also an option, and we offer automatic-opening doors. The doors must accommodate our latches and safety mechanisms and be smooth on the inside.
Servicing
What maintenance does it need?
We recommend an annual service, just like a car. Commercial installations must be serviced every six months.
Residential servicing is not mandatory — responsibility sits with the property owner — but keeping servicing up to date matters for resale and helps ensure the lift remains safe.
Does a lift add value to the house?
It does, both for resale and accessibility.
Quoting
Do you need to visit my site to quote?
Not at the early stage. We can quote from a video-call walkthrough, and if we are in your area, we are happy to call in. You are also always more than welcome to visit our showroom.
What does a quote cost?
Nothing. Once we understand the site layout, we can give you a figure quickly.
What affects the final figure?
Site complexity and specification. An outdoor retrofit that attaches to the house is the simplest. An indoor lift depends on your layout and generally involves more building work.
