Wheelchair & Platform Lifts for San Diego & Orange County Homes
Vertical and Inclined, Indoor and Outdoor
Choosing a wheelchair lift for your home
A wheelchair lift is a platform that carries a person, seated in a wheelchair or scooter, from one level to another. It is the direct answer to a front porch four steps above the walkway, a garage that sits below the living level, a pool deck, a back-yard guest unit, or a short run of interior stairs where a ramp would take more room than the house has. Advantage Elevator sells, installs and services the Savaria platform lift range from offices in Carlsbad (San Diego County) and Costa Mesa (Orange County).
Our work is mostly homes. We do service and install light-commercial lifts, but a homeowner who needs access is who we are built for. We are a Savaria Elite dealer and a licensed California elevator contractor, CSLB C-11 #1027832, with a 4.9-star rating across more than 300 Google reviews. Pricing is quoted after a free in-home measure, because the rise, the landing space, the power supply and the location decide the lift far more than any catalog number.
This page walks through the three questions that narrow the choice: vertical or inclined, indoor or outdoor, and lift or elevator. Then it lists every model we offer with a link to its own page.
- Vertical and inclined platform lifts from one manufacturer, so one dealer handles install, warranty and service
- Free in-home measure in both counties, with a written quote
- 24/7 service on lifts we installed and on lifts we did not
Wheelchair Lifts 500X300 Multilift
Wheelchair Lifts 500X300 Prolift
The three kinds of access equipment
Vertical platform lift
Inclined platform lift
Home elevator
Vertical lift, inclined lift or elevator?
Start with the geometry of your house, not the product name.
A vertical platform lift needs a safe, level spot at the bottom and the top, and it works best when the rise is a single fixed height: a porch, a raised entry, a garage-to-house step. It does the job in a small footprint and is usually the quickest to install.
An inclined platform lift is the answer when the stairs are the route. Many split-level houses built in the 1970s in San Diego and Orange County have a half-flight between the entry and the living level. A platform that follows the stair solves that without cutting a floor opening, and it folds out of the way so everyone else can still walk the stairs.
A home elevator makes sense when more than one level is involved, when the rider needs a closed cab, or when you are planning ahead for needs that will grow. If you are on the line between a lift and an elevator, we will compare them at your home. A stairlift is a third option for one seated rider on a staircase, and it is simpler than either platform.
Where platform lifts go in Southern California homes
Raised entries. Coastal homes in Del Mar, Encinitas, Point Loma and Newport Beach are often built a few steps above the street to clear drainage or add a garage below. A vertical lift at the front or side door gives a wheelchair user a direct way in without a long ramp.
Garage to living level. Hillside homes frequently put the garage a half-level or more below the main floor. A lift from the garage floor to the house level lets a rider leave the car and go straight inside.
Decks and pool areas. A raised deck, a terraced yard or a pool deck set above the patio often takes a platform lift where a ramp would eat the whole yard.
Accessory units. Back-yard guest units and converted garages are common across both counties. A platform lift can connect them to the main house or give the occupant a direct route in and out.
Interior level changes. A step-down living room, a family room above a garage or a short flight of stairs can take a short-rise vertical lift or an inclined platform.
Indoor or outdoor
Many Savaria platform lifts are rated for indoor and outdoor use, and one is not. The V-1504 Prestige and the Prolift are indoor lifts. The V-1504 Standard, Enclosure and Lux, the Multilift, the Delta and the Pegasus are listed for outdoor use, with the Delta listed for moderate climates and the Pegasus offered with stainless-steel rails for outdoor runs.
Outdoor use in Southern California is not hard on a lift because of rain. It is hard because of salt air. Homes within a mile or two of the water see faster corrosion on exposed metal, contacts and fasteners. We talk through the location, an enclosure or a cover, and an inspection schedule before you choose. Our maintenance plan covers lifts, and regular maintenance is a condition of the manufacturer warranty.
Compare the models
This table uses published Savaria figures. Final capacity, travel and dimensions depend on your site, local code and the options you pick, and we confirm them in writing on your estimate. Where Savaria’s pages conflict, we say so on the model page and confirm on the spec sheet.
| Model | Type | Capacity | Travel | Indoor / outdoor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V-1504 Standard | Vertical, hydraulic | 750 lb | 48 in standard; 60 or 72 in for home use without a shaft | Indoor and outdoor |
| V-1504 Prestige | Vertical, hydraulic | 750 lb | 6 ft (2 stops); framed to 12 ft (3 stops) | Indoor only |
| V-1504 Lux | Vertical, hydraulic | 750 lb | 10 ft (12 ft per local code), up to 4 stops | Indoor and outdoor |
| Multilift | Vertical, screw drive | 750 lb | 48 in; 72 in optional | Indoor and outdoor |
| Prolift | Vertical, hydraulic, commercial grade | 750 to 1,050 lb (SCL); up to 1,400 lb (HD, where code permits) | 8 in to 14 ft | Indoor |
| Delta | Inclined | 550 lb (660 lb optional) | 8 in to 80 ft | Indoor; outdoor in moderate climates |
| Pegasus | Inclined | 660 lb | 8 in to 164 ft | Indoor and outdoor |
Every model, and who it suits
- Savaria V-1504 — the hydraulic workhorse, in Standard, Enclosure, Prestige and Lux versions. It covers the widest range of porch, garage, deck and interior jobs, and the enclosed versions add weather protection and a finished look.
- Savaria Multilift — a screw-driven lift on a 15-amp circuit, in Standard, Enclosure and Mobile versions. It suits short rises such as a raised entry or a single deck.
- Savaria Prolift — a commercial-grade vertical lift for indoor use. We mention it because customers ask; it is a better fit for a school, church or small building than for a house.
- Savaria Delta — an inclined platform lift that follows a straight flight of stairs and folds up when not in use.
- Savaria Pegasus — an inclined platform lift built for long runs, with outdoor-rated stainless rails.
Savaria no longer lists the Omega on its current platform lift page. If you own one, we still service Omega lifts.
Installation, permits and service in both counties
Every job starts with a free visit. We measure the rise, check the space at the top and bottom, look at the surface the lift will sit on, find where power will come from and ask about the chair or scooter, including whether it may change. You get one or two recommendations and a written quote, not a menu.
We coordinate the building permit with your city. We do not promise a permit outcome, and we do not promise insurance, Medicare or tax treatment; check with your own provider on those.
After install, our maintenance plan keeps the lift tested and in warranty. For local details, see wheelchair lifts in San Diego County or wheelchair lifts in Orange County. In an emergency, call (833) 865-7887, any hour.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a wheelchair lift and a home elevator?
A wheelchair lift is an open or lightly enclosed platform for a short, single level change. A home elevator is a full cab that serves two or more floors. Lifts generally cost far less and install faster; we quote both after a free measure.
Can a wheelchair lift go outdoors?
Yes. Several models are rated for outdoor use, including the V-1504 Standard, Enclosure and Lux, the Multilift, the Delta in moderate climates and the Pegasus. Salt air near the coast is the main concern, so we plan protection and inspections around your location.
Do I need a building permit for a platform lift?
Usually yes. We coordinate the building permit with your city and schedule the inspection. We cannot promise an outcome, because that depends on your city and your site.
How long does installation take?
It depends on the model and the site. A short-rise vertical lift on a prepared pad is the quickest, and a long inclined run or a lift with an enclosure takes longer. We give you a schedule on the written quote.
Do you service lifts you did not install?
Yes. We service platform lifts and home elevators of every major brand, including the Savaria Omega that is no longer on Savaria’s current list.
Not sure which lift fits your house?
Free in-home measure in San Diego and Orange County. Call (833) 865-7887.
