PHP Simple If Statement Failing

My if statements are not working despite the log file confirming that the values meet the conditions required.

As you will see below I have attempted to use both boolean and numerical values (as I have read that there are a few querks with boolean statements in php.)

  $lift = isset($p["lift"]) ? $p["lift"] : 0;
  $parking = isset($p["parking"]) ? $p["parking"] : false;

// LIFT
  if ( $lift === 1 && $home ) {
    $query .= " AND `lift` == $lift";

  }

  // PARKING
  if ( $parking === 1 && $home ) {
    $query .= " AND `parking` != '';";
  }


  $log_file = "../../queries.log"; 
  $error_message = "query: '$query' \n\n lift: ".$lift."\n home: ".$home."\n";  
  error_log($error_message, 3, $log_file);

I have tried both double and triple equal operators without success. I have tried both boolean and numerical values. The log statement prints the following:

'SELECT id, ref_crm, `type`, prov_name, prov_id, muni_name, muni_id, barrio, price_latest, photo,sqm,bed,bath,lift,parking,`year`,descr,
            x(pt) as lat, y(pt) as lng, ref_cat FROM outlet WHERE prov_id = '06' AND `type` = 'Piso' AND price_latest >= 0 AND price_latest <= 500000 AND sqm >= 0 AND sqm <= 200'

 lift: 1

 home: true 

As you can see, the string statements are not being attached to the query despite the two conditions both being met.

I have also tried removing the variables I've created ($lift and $home) and simply used $p["lift"] and $p["parking"] without success. The only way I am able to make this work is to specifically state $lift === 1 and $home === true (double or triple equal operators) above the conditions. This despite the log confirming that these variables already have those values set!