The Whys and Hows of Residential Elevators

Are residential elevators worth your consideration?newly constructed homes and in retro-fit installations.
Maybe so. Ask yourself these questions: Does yourSignificant recent technological advances are providing
current residence have multiple levels of living space?smooth operating elevators at a surprisingly
Do you find yourself wishing for an easier transitionaffordable price and home designers are scoring high
between these levels even on the rare occasionmarks with these cost effective solutions for
when you are NOT hauling the groceries or thehomeowners.
laundry from level to level? Or are there simply areasResidential elevator design has evolved recently to
of living space at your home that can no longer beprovide designers with great flexibility that
enjoyed because of disability?incorporates the system seamlessly within standard
Take just a minute to imagine the smooth ride of anframe and masonry construction types found in most
elevator from the garage level to the kitchen level inhome construction. There are ultra-compact designs
about 20 seconds! If you have a multi-level homethat can fit into a 34" x 34" shaft area. These
with this type arrangement, this thought has nocompact units do require an additional electrical panel
doubt entered your mind! And let's face it althoughand mechanical device area of 16" wide x 6" deep
we all wish for eternal youth and perfect health, thethat is generally concealed in the same shaft area
simple fact is that 36% of us may experience theand quite simply provide the user with maintenance
need for an easier means of egress between levelsfree use. There are elevators that can be installed
of our home in the future due to partial andinside or on the home's exterior. There are also
permanent disabilities.self-contained models.
Do you agree that the simple term "elevator" is mostWhere new construction allows for the larger
always associated with a commercial environmenthydraulic drive mechanical unit, the designer enjoys
and seems to be "too extravagant" or certainly "toothe freedom with multi-stop systems for increased
expensive for my modest home?"design with its installation requirements that allow the
Let us share with you some simple facts regardingsystem to be transported flexibility. The hydraulic
residential elevators that are designed for residentialsystem has become attractively streamlined through
duty use to clear the air of the myths that elevatorsstandard door widths and assembled in limited height
are for commercial use or "houses that are as big asareas as low as 8'-0" high. The previous designs that
hotels."incorporate pit design with mechanical access are all
Did you know that home elevators have become abut a thing of the past! Another of the many
standard design element in nearly 40% of newbenefits of the residential elevators offers the user is
homes as small as 1600 sq. ft. in many regions of thespeed control, ease of level finish adjustment, and
United States?virtually silent operation.
According to the American Institute of Architects,Perhaps your dream of an elevator in your home is
the median age of U.S. dwelling unit ownership: "ournot such a stretch after all! If you're interested, begin
beloved Baby Boomers" are showing an everyour research today into the world of residential
increasing desire to incorporate elevators in theirelevators.