A Builder Who Understands Lifts. Not a Lift Company That Does Building on the Side.
Sydney Lift Builders brings licensed residential construction expertise to every lift project — so the building work is done properly, from the ground up.
We Saw the Gap. We Built the Solution.
Over more than 25 years delivering high-quality residential projects across Sydney, Michael Smith noticed the same problem arising again and again.
Homeowners wanted lifts retrofitted into their existing homes. Lift suppliers were happy to sell and install the lift itself. But the substantial building works required — the structural modifications, the shaft construction, the approvals process — fell into a grey area that neither the lift company nor a general builder was well-placed to handle.
Lift companies aren't builders. General builders often lack the specific experience to work confidently around lift systems and their technical requirements. Homeowners were left to manage the coordination themselves, or to accept work from parties who were learning on the job.
Sydney Lift Builders was created to fill that gap — a business that focuses specifically on the building works side of lift installation, with the experience and licensing to do it properly.
Michael Smith — Licensed Builder, Master Builder, Northern Beaches Specialist
Michael Smith is the director of Michael Smith Constructions Pty Ltd and the driving force behind Sydney Lift Builders. A licensed residential builder and Vice President of the Master Builders Association's Manly-Warringah division, Michael has spent over 25 years delivering complex, high-quality residential projects across Sydney — with a particular focus on the Northern Beaches.
Michael's career began in 2001 with a four-year apprenticeship building intricate timber staircases — setting out and constructing curved, geometric stairs in Australian hardwoods, manufactured in the workshop and installed on site to the millimetre. Moving people between the floors of their own home is where his career started. With Sydney Lift Builders, it has come full circle: the same problem, solved with 25 years of building experience behind it.
In between, Michael has worked across an unusually wide range of construction — cyclone-rated homes in Far North Queensland, tier-1 industrial and marine projects, heritage renovations, and award-winning custom homes. That range matters on lift projects, which combine fine finishing with serious structural work in the middle of an occupied home.
In 2025, Michael Smith Constructions won Best House in Category and Best Plunge Pool in NSW at the Master Builders Association NSW Excellence in Housing & Pool Awards, and Michael was a finalist for Builder of the Year — top 4 builders in NSW.
Michael has also been modelling his projects in 3D since 2012 — every build is modelled and visualised before work begins, so clients see the finished result before anything is cut. That 3D spatial planning between building levels is exactly what complex lift positioning in a multi-storey home demands.
The People You'll Deal With
Real people, local and accountable — this is who answers the phone and who turns up.
Michael Smith
Builder & Principal25 years in residential construction. Vice President, Master Builders Association (Manly-Warringah division). Known for clear advice, practical solutions and long-term thinking.
Michelle
Project AdministratorExperienced in building certification and compliance. She manages plans, council forms and approvals, keeps you informed at every stage — and when you call, Michelle is who you'll get.
Justin
Site ForemanA retired police officer who runs a disciplined, well-organised site — and a genuinely good bloke.
Lily
ApprenticeDetail-focused, precise and respectful in clients' homes — care and attention from site protection through to final finishing.
Plus the wider MSC trades team, most of whom live locally on the Northern Beaches.
Sydney Lift Builders is a specialist arm of Michael Smith Constructions, which means every project is delivered by this same experienced team — not subcontracted out or handed to whoever is available.
Have a look at who we are and what we build: MSCBuilt.com.au
We Do the Building. You Choose the Lift.
Sydney Lift Builders focuses exclusively on the structural and building works required to retrofit a lift into an existing home.
This includes:
- Structural feasibility assessment and site inspection
- Lift well and shaft design and construction
- Lift pit excavation and concrete works
- Council and certifier approvals management
- All associated carpentry, electrical, plumbing, plastering, and finishing works
- Coordination with your chosen lift supplier throughout
What we don't do:
We don't sell lifts, and we don't recommend specific brands.
That independence is intentional — it means our advice is always based on what's right for your home and your project, not what earns us a referral fee. We know most of the suppliers, though, and can give you options if you'd like. Every house and scenario is genuinely different, and each lift supplier has different offerings and options.
Practical. Honest. Builder-Led.
Straight Advice
We'll tell you what's genuinely feasible, what it's likely to cost, and what to watch out for — before you commit to anything. No upselling, no pressure.
Experienced Hands
Every project is delivered by Michael's own team. The same people who have been building high-quality Sydney homes are the ones working on your property.
Full Accountability
As licensed residential builders, we carry full responsibility for the construction works. We're bound by all the building laws, insurance requirements and statutory warranties that apply to residential building work. You have a single point of contact and a single party accountable for the outcome.