Retrofitting a Lift in an Older Villa Without Major Renovation – Screw‑Driven Lifts Have Minimal Structural Requirements and Can Fit Even in Narrow Stairwells

When it comes to adding a lift to an older villa, many homeowners‘ first reaction is not “should we?” but “can we?”

The house has been lived in for over a decade – the interiors are long settled. Underneath the ground floor might be a garage or a waterproofing layer – digging is out of the question. The stairwell is so narrow you can barely turn around – where could a lift possibly go? And if work does start, would it mean tearing the house apart?

These are all perfectly valid concerns. But today, we want to tell you about a type of lift that was built precisely for these “impossible” situations.

1. Why Is Adding a Lift to an Older Villa So Difficult?

Let‘s start with why traditional lifts struggle in older villas.

• Can’t dig a pit. Traditional traction lifts require a pit of at least 300‑500 mm (or even deeper) to accommodate buffers. If your older villa has a basement, underfloor heating, or a waterproofing layer underneath, excavation is simply not an option. Forcing it could damage the waterproofing – or worse, affect the foundation.

• No space for a machine room. Traditional lifts need a dedicated machine room and a structural hoistway. For an occupied home, this means high costs, long timelines, and significant disruption.

• Not enough space. Many older villas have narrow stairwells that simply cannot accommodate a traditional lift. Forcing one in would require knocking down walls and altering the structure – a major project.

These challenges combined often discourage homeowners – not because they don‘t want a home lift, but because it genuinely seems unfeasible.

2. Screw‑Driven Lifts – Designed for Homes That “Can’t Have a Lift”

The reason screw‑driven lifts are known as “the lift type with the lowest structural requirements” comes down to a fundamentally different drive principle.

Traditional traction lifts rely on steel ropes and counterweights, requiring a deep pit for buffers. Screw‑driven lifts, however, use mechanical engagement between a nut and a screw – a physical design that does not require buffers, and therefore does not need a deep pit.

This single difference gives screw‑driven lifts an overwhelming advantage in older‑villa retrofits:

① No deep pit required – in some cases, no pit at all
The minimum pit depth for a screw‑driven lift can be as little as 50 mm – about the thickness of a floor tile. More advanced models can even be installed directly on the finished floor, using only the floor‑covering height to replace any excavation. For finished villas, homes with extremely limited space, or structures where digging is not an option – this is as close to a perfect solution as it gets.

② No machine room or traditional hoistway
Screw‑driven lifts come with an integrated shaft – no separate machine room is needed. For older homes, this means no structural alteration and no need to “make way” for the lift.

③ Minimal footprint
Screw‑driven lifts require a minimum footprint of approximately 1 square metre. Some models can go as small as 860×860 mm – less than the space taken by an ordinary wardrobe.

④ Fast installation with minimal disruption
For occupied homes, installation typically takes only a few days to a couple of weeks. With an integrated shaft and no structural works required, daily life is barely affected.

3. Can It Really Fit in a Stairwell? The Space‑Saving Magic of Screw‑Driven Lifts

Many older villas have extremely limited stairwell space – but screw‑driven lifts excel precisely in these conditions.

Screw‑driven lifts can be installed in various locations: in the stairwell void, beside the stairs, in a corner of the living room, or against a wall. No pre‑existing shaft is required – they can be installed with or without one. For three‑run staircases and similar layouts, screw‑driven lifts are the optimal choice – because they require no pit and no machine room, making the most efficient use of space.

One case shows that with a stairwell void of just 1540×970 mm, a screw‑driven lift was successfully installed. Even in more extreme spaces – 840×940 mm – installation was still possible.

In other words, if you can find a corner of roughly 1 square metre, a screw‑driven lift can fit.

4. ZADIM – Screw‑Driven Lifts Designed for Older‑Villa Retrofits

ZADIM offers what can only be called a “tailor‑made” solution for older‑home retrofits:

• Minimum footprint only 860×860 mm – less than 1 square metre

• No deep pit required – pit depth only 50‑130 mm; some models can be installed directly on the floor using only floor‑covering height

• No separate machine room – integrated shaft included

• No traditional hoistway – no damage to existing structure or finishes

• Full lift range CE certified; factory ISO 9001 certified – globally recognised quality standards

• Four core safety hardware systems combined with nine safety protection systems – forming a comprehensive safety defence, from structure to control

• Over 70 showrooms and service providers across Asia‑Pacific, Australia, Europe, and the Middle East – offering localised one‑stop installation and after‑sales service

ZADIM offers multiple series including Z5000, Z6000, Z7000, and Z8000 – covering a complete product line from entry‑level to high‑end customisation. Whether before or after renovation, ZADIM provides high‑quality lift solutions. The brand‘s permanent‑magnet synchronous vertical direct‑drive technology eliminates side‑mounted belt drives, ensuring balanced central loading between screw and nut – with operating noise far lower than traditional screw lifts, so even in a quiet older villa, daily life remains undisturbed.

The biggest fear when considering a home lift for an older villa is “wanting it but not being able to install it.” Either there isn‘t enough space, or structural damage is a concern; either the lead time is too long, or the budget spirals out of control.

Screw‑driven lifts have largely solved all these problems at once – 1 square metre is enough, no pit, no structural damage, and completion in days.

If you also live in an older villa and are considering a lift, visit a ZADIM showroom and see it for yourself. Sit in one, listen to it – and see how a lift with just 860×860 mm footprint can fit into a confined space. “Going upstairs has never felt so comfortable.” – only those who have truly experienced it will understand.