In an elevator refurbishing method in which a hydraulic elevator in which a hydraulic jack is installed in an equipment installation zone is refurbished into a machine-roomless elevator that uses a two-to-one (2:1) roping method, the equipment installation zone being a region inside a hoistway on either a left side or a right side of a car when viewed from directly above, at least one guide rail from a pair of counterweight guide rails is installed in the equipment installation zone while leaving the hydraulic jack in position, the hydraulic jack is removed from the hoistway, the hoisting machine is installed in a lower portion of the equipment installation zone using a space that is created by removal of the hydraulic jack, and a car return sheave and a counterweight return sheave are installed on an upper portion of the counterweight guide rails.