How-to · 4 min read · Updated 6 November 2026
Moving machinery into a basement or upper floor: your options
Start with three measurements
- The machine's weight, including fluids and any parts left attached
- Its smallest dimensions once guards, tables or panels are removed
- The narrowest point on the route: doors, corridors, stair turns, lift cars and hatches
Also check the floors along the route. Corridors with suspended timber floors, raised access floors in offices and tiled lobbies may need plywood or steel plates laid down before anything heavy rolls across them.
Measure the clear opening, not the door frame. Hinges, handrails, door closers and fire doors that only open partly often take several centimetres off what looks like a wide enough gap.
The main options compared
| Method | Suits | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Goods lift | Items within the lift's rated load and car size | Never exceed the rated load and check the car floor |
| Powered stair climber | Safes, small machines and plant on straight stairs | Rated capacity, stair strength and tight turns |
| Gantry or chain block through a hatch | Basements and plant rooms with a lifting point or opening | Rated beam or anchor point needed |
| HIAB through a window or door | Upper floors close to the road | Window or frame removal and parking |
| Mobile crane over the building | Rooftops, courtyards and plant decks | Lift plan, highway permits and oversailing |
| Partial dismantling | Machines too large or heavy in one piece | Engineer reassembly and recalibration |
Using a goods lift safely
A goods lift is often the simplest route, but the plate in the car shows the rated load and that figure includes the people and any trolley or skates. Lifts in workplaces are lifting equipment under LOLER and should have a current thorough examination report. Ask the building manager for the rated load and the date of the last examination before you plan around it.
- Check the car's internal dimensions and door opening, not just the load rating
- Protect the car floor and walls with boards and blankets
- Confirm the lift can be taken out of public use while the move happens
- Never ride in the car with an item that is close to the rated load unless the method statement allows it
Through windows, roofs and walls
When internal routes are too tight, the usual answer is to create an opening. A glazing contractor removes a window or curtain wall panel, the machine is lifted to the opening by HIAB or crane, landed on a temporary platform or loading bay, then skated into position. Roof plant is commonly lifted by crane straight onto the roof deck.
This involves extra trades and permissions: the building owner's consent, a lift plan, often a highway licence for the crane or lorry, and sometimes agreement from neighbours if the load swings over their land. Allow time for all of these when you plan the date.
Basements: the extra risks
- Steep, narrow and turning stairs that limit stair climbers
- Low headroom that rules out lifting from above inside the room
- Pavement lights, cellar hatches and vaults that may not carry weight
- Damp floors that make skates and pallet trucks slip
- Difficult exit routes if something goes wrong
Many basement moves are done by lowering the machine through a pavement or courtyard hatch with a gantry or crane, then skating it across the floor. Pavement hatches may be on the public highway, which brings in the council.
What it typically costs
Basement and upper-floor moves cost more than ground-floor moves because they take longer, need more crew and often involve extra trades. Typical guide ranges in 2026 are below, but every route is different.
| Job | Typical guide price (2026) |
|---|---|
| Item up or down one flight with a stair climber | £400 to £1,500 |
| Machine into a basement via hatch and gantry | £1,000 to £3,500 |
| HIAB lift through an upper-floor window | £900 to £3,000 plus glazing work |
| Mobile crane lift onto a roof or over a building | £2,000 to £8,000 or more |
Window removal and refitting, highway licences, parking suspensions and engineer reassembly are often priced separately, so ask what each quote includes.
Planning checklist
- Send photos and measurements of every door, stair and corner on the route
- Ask the building owner for lift details, floor ratings and any rules on access times
- Check the final floor position with a structural engineer for heavy items
- Book electricians or engineers for disconnection and reconnection
- Agree in writing who removes and refits windows, doors or panels
- Get the method statement and lift plan before the day
Frequently asked questions
Can machinery be lifted in through a window?
Yes. It is common for upper-floor offices, labs and workshops. A window or panel is removed, the item is lifted to the opening by a HIAB or crane and landed onto a temporary platform or inside the room, then moved into place. It needs a lift plan, the building owner's consent and usually a glazier to remove and refit the window.
How heavy an item can a stair climber move?
Powered tracked stair climbers come in a range of capacities, and the larger models are rated for several hundred kilograms. The real limits are often the stairs themselves, the turns and the landings. The mover should check the climber's rated capacity, the stair construction and the route before agreeing to use one.
Do I need permission to block the road for a lift?
If a lorry, crane or outriggers will stand on the public road or pavement, or the load will swing over it, you usually need a permit or licence from the local highway authority. Councils commonly ask for at least a week's notice and much longer if a road closure is needed. Your mover can usually advise on the application.
basement upper floor goods lift window lift
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