July 17, 2026

Lift Refurbishment: What Is Involved, How Long It Takes and When It Is the Right Choice

A lift does not have to fail before it starts costing you money. Rising callout frequency, dated interiors, obsolete spare parts and complaints from building users are all signs that a lift is approaching the point where doing nothing becomes the most expensive option. For many buildings, the answer is not a full replacement. It is a lift refurbishment.

This guide explains what a lift refurbishment actually involves, how long a typical project takes, and how to decide whether refurbishment, modernisation or replacement is the right route for your building.

What Is a Lift Refurbishment?

A lift refurbishment upgrades or replaces selected components of an existing lift while retaining the parts of the installation that remain sound, typically the shaft, guide rails and structural elements. Rather than removing the entire lift, a refurbishment targets the areas where age is showing: the car interior, the doors, the control system and the drive components.

The result is a lift that looks, performs and complies like a new installation, at a significantly lower cost and with far less disruption than a full replacement.

Refurbishment sits on a spectrum. At one end is a cosmetic refresh of the car interior. At the other is a comprehensive programme that replaces the controller, drive, doors and car in a single project, sometimes called a full modernisation. Most refurbishments fall somewhere in between, shaped by the condition of the existing equipment and the priorities of the building owner.

What Does a Lift Refurbishment Include?

Every project is scoped individually following a site survey, but a typical refurbishment draws from the following areas.

Car Interior

The most visible element of any refurbishment. Wall panels, flooring, ceilings, lighting, mirrors, handrails and car operating panels are replaced or re-lined. LED lighting is now standard, cutting energy use and maintenance visits. For buildings where appearance matters, from residential lobbies to hotels, the interior refresh alone can transform how the lift is perceived by users.

Landing and Car Doors

Doors account for a large share of lift breakdowns. Worn door operators, rollers, tracks and safety edges cause the nuisance faults that generate callouts: doors that stall, re-open repeatedly or fail to close. Replacing door operators and fitting modern full-height safety curtains improves reliability and passenger safety in one step.

Control System

Older relay-based or early electronic controllers are a common driver of refurbishment. Spare parts become scarce or obsolete, fault-finding takes longer, and downtime stretches from hours into days while components are sourced. A new microprocessor controller restores parts availability, improves ride quality and journey times, and adds diagnostic capability that makes future maintenance faster.

Drive and Motor

Replacing an ageing drive with a modern variable frequency drive delivers smoother acceleration, accurate floor levelling and a substantial reduction in energy consumption. Where the existing motor is retained, it is inspected, tested and overhauled as required.

Safety and Compliance Upgrades

A refurbishment is the natural point to address compliance. That can include car top controls, emergency communication systems ready for the digital phone network, improved guarding, and any items raised in your LOLER thorough examination reports.

How Long Does a Lift Refurbishment Take?

Timescales depend entirely on scope, but as a working guide:

•      Interior refurbishment only: typically 1 to 2 weeks per lift

•      Doors and door operators: typically 1 to 2 weeks per lift

•      Controller and drive replacement: typically 2 to 4 weeks per lift

•      Comprehensive refurbishment (controller, drive, doors and car): typically 4 to 8 weeks per lift

Lead times for equipment should be factored in ahead of works starting, usually 6 to 12 weeks depending on specification. In multi-lift buildings, works are phased so at least one lift remains in service at all times. A well-planned refurbishment keeps disruption to building users to a minimum, which is one of its main advantages over replacement.

Refurbishment, Modernisation or Replacement?

The three terms overlap, and the right choice comes down to the condition of your existing installation.

Refurbishment suits lifts where the core structure is sound and the issues are concentrated in specific areas: reliability, appearance, obsolete parts or compliance. It delivers the biggest improvement per pound spent.

Modernisation is a broader programme, typically replacing the majority of the electrical and mechanical equipment while retaining the shaft. If your lift is over 20 to 25 years old and problems span multiple systems, modernisation is usually the more economical route than tackling components piecemeal. Our guide to warning signs your lift needs modernising covers the indicators in detail.

Replacement becomes the right answer when the existing installation is beyond economic upgrade, when the building’s requirements have changed, or when structural issues affect the shaft itself. Our comparison of lift replacement vs lift refurbishment walks through that decision.

If you are unsure where your lift sits, the starting point is a condition survey. An independent assessment of the controller, drive, doors, safety gear and car will tell you what genuinely needs replacing and what has years of service left, so you only pay for the work your building needs.

When Is Refurbishment the Right Choice?

Refurbishment is usually the right route when:

•      Breakdowns are increasing but the lift’s core structure remains sound

•      Spare parts for the controller or drive are becoming difficult to source

•      The car interior is dated, damaged or no longer suits the building

•      Door faults are generating repeated callouts

•      Energy costs need reducing without the outlay of a full replacement

•      The lift must keep running with minimal downtime, ruling out a lengthy replacement programme

•      Compliance items need addressing, from emergency communications to safety edges

Our article on the 5 signs your lift needs refurbishment covers the warning signs in more depth.

Planning a Lift Refurbishment with VM Elevators

VM Elevators delivers lift refurbishment and modernisation projects across London, Essex, the Home Counties and nationwide, from single-lift residential buildings to phased multi-lift programmes in live commercial, healthcare and hospitality environments. Every project begins with a detailed survey and a clear scope, so you know exactly what is being replaced, why, and what it will achieve.

If your lift is showing its age, talk to our team about a refurbishment survey. Visit our lift modernisation page or call us on 0800 448 8615 for a free consultation.