Creating a home that’s easy to navigate inside and outside doesn’t have to mean extensive excavation and months-long construction that prevent you from enjoying your safe place. With more North Americans than ever planning to age in place, outdoor features such as elevated decks, raised porches, and uneven entryways can pose unwelcome navigation challenges. Whether you’re a senior, a veteran, or in need of extra mobility support, installing a home lift is a great way to ensure you have access to all areas of your home.
At RAM Elevators + Lifts, we’re proud to create elevation products that help homeowners across the US & Canada navigate with confidence, both inside and outside their homes. Our innovative Flex Lift vertical platform lift (VPL) is the perfect fit for both indoor and outdoor applications, and is built tough enough to withstand even the most demanding weather conditions, so you always have peace of mind.
Below, we’ll cover some of the key points to be aware of when looking at outdoor lift solutions. Read on to learn more!
Simple Foundations vs. Complex Excavation
If you’ve been looking at outdoor lifts and elevators*, you’ve likely wondered how difficult it will be to integrate a unit into your space. Most homeowners are understandably curious about how much work will be required to build the foundation for a new unit and how much excavation (and cost) is involved.
If you’re worried about the headache of an extensive construction project, there’s no need to fret: RAM’s Machine-Roomless (MRL) design eliminates most of these concerns entirely. Flex Lift’s MRL design means that each unit is self-contained and houses all components within its tower, which can save you as much as 25 square feet and forgo the need for an extensive (and expensive) excavation of your property.
Industry tip: When people search for “outdoor elevators”, they’re most often looking for a VPL instead of a dedicated enclosed unit for their exterior. While outdoor elevator units do exist, their applications in the residential world are typically quite niche. Lifts are usually more than sufficient to meet the vast majority of your outdoor elevation needs.
Engineered for All-Weather Dependability
Leaving mechanical components out in the open means planning for extreme weather shifts and finicky climates. Across the US, regional climates can swing from freezing northern winters to intense coastal humidity and heat waves. When you rely on a VPL for daily access to key areas of your indoor and outdoor space, freezing up and overheating aren’t an option!
Flex Lift also features our patented Zero-Load Start design, which allows the electric motor to spin up to full operating speed before it engages or lifts the platform’s weight. This reduces wear and tear on electrical components and guarantees a reliable start, whether it’s dealing with a winter freeze or a mid-summer heatwave.
One Box, 70 Layout Configurations
Rigid, single-piece lift designs often force you to alter your deck or porch stairs to accommodate the equipment. At RAM, we believe this added headache shouldn’t be the only option. Engineered for both residential and low-rise commercial spaces, a single Flex Lift package can be configured into 70 unique layouts directly on-site. Whether your project requires a straight-through path, a tight 90-degree turn, or a same-side entry and exit to navigate a narrow walkway, Flex Lift’s platform adapts to your existing blueprints without forcing a redesign. Equipped with non-slip metal platforms and responsive, oversized Soft Touch controls, it also provides a safe, independent travel experience for all users.
Future-Proofing Your Outdoor Spaces
Explore how our modular VPL solutions can bring code-compliant safety to your home. Contact our team today to connect with a certified local partner dealer right in your neighbourhood!