courtesy inclinator company of america
A platform lift is basically a box with a door through which you enter. The box moves up and down along an adjacent tower that houses a motor. Platform lifts are also sometimes referred to as vertical wheelchair lifts.
I have used platform lifts indoors and outdoors. A typical outdoor installation would raise you to a deck, platform or stoop, from which you could then enter your home.
Outdoor installations are affected by the weather, and the units need more regular servicing. They are however sometimes be the only practical solution to gaining accessible entry into your home.
I’ve specified platform units for installation inside garages, where the total rise is typically about 30”. They can also be used inside specially created shaftways, and they work similar to a full-floor elevator, at far less cost.