Many amazing home elevator products can revolutionize the look and capabilities of your home. If you want to maximize your home’s equity, an investment in a home elevator can be especially useful. For some people, having a home elevator can be a necessity for getting through each day. To help ease your mind about investing in a home elevator, here is an ultimate guide to the home elevator installation process:

Home Elevator Installation Pre-Installation Needs

Without the proper preparation, installing a home elevator can become incredibly difficult, costly, and frustrating. Thankfully, if you make a checklist, you can handle the pre-installation process with ease. There are five pre-installation tasks you should go over with vigor to ensure your home’s ready for a home elevator installation:

Machine Room Needs

For many elevator types, especially hydraulic elevators, you’ll need a machine room that contains all the operating equipment. These “machine rooms” can be costly to install, and will end up taking up room in your home nearby wherever you install your elevator. Ideally, the room should be placed near the lowest level of the elevator’s path. If you’re considering an elevator that needs a machine room, you’ll need to set aside at least a 4-by-4-feet space for it to be installed.

Minimum Pit Requirements

Nearly every elevator will require some type of pit to be installed. These will need to be a minimum of eight inches, but depending on how heavy-duty an elevator is, the pit may need to be deeper. Determining your pit needs is an important aspect of the pre-installation process.

Hoistway and Layout

Determining the required dimensions for the hoistway, and other elevator dimensions, you’ll need a sales representative to visit your home. These hoistways can be complex and highly unique, so this inspection process is of utmost importance for the pre-installation process. This process ensures the elevator is installed safely as well.

Ceiling and Floor Considerations

Depending on the type of elevator you decide on, you’ll need to take into account the ceiling and floor openings that will need to be created. Knowing that the changes follow your locale’s home codes and that you can afford the renovations, will be essential.

Wood Frame Blocking

If you’re considering a hydraulic or traction elevator, the pre-installation process will need to take into account the wood-frame blocking requirements. Knowing that the hoistway and wood frame will work in tandem is key to having a functioning, high-quality home elevator in your residence.

What Does the Home Elevator Installation Process Look Like?

The home elevator installation process can be incredibly tricky. The preferences of the homeowner and the requirements determined by the elevator installer have to be considered together to make the installation process work. When installing an elevator in a brand-new home that’s being built, the process is much simpler (and can add a ton of home equity to the property), but for already-built homes, some renovations will be required to install your home elevator.

First, you’ll have to determine the type of elevator you want to install. Hydraulic, traction, vacuum, and shaftless varieties are the most popular. Shaftless are the easiest to install, and hydraulic elevators require machine rooms to operate. On the other hand, traction and vacuum elevators can give you a ton of power without as many complex installation needs.

Next, before the installation gets going, you need to design the cab and visual design of your elevator. Finding a style that works with your home’s overall aesthetic is key here. In terms of aesthetics, many homeowners consider vacuum elevators, with their slender nature and glass walls, to be the most attractive. However, working with a salesman will help you determine the perfect look and design for your home’s new elevator.

How Long Does the Installation Process Typically Take?

Depending on the renovation and installation needs your elevator requires, the timeline of the installation process can vary wildly. Knowing that you’ll need to work extensively with your installer and salesman to determine the installation timeline is important, as if you do not expect this going in, you’ll end up becoming frustrated.

That being said, many manufacturers do their best to provide strict, easily-knowable timelines for the installation of specific home elevator products. Doing your best to follow local homeowner codes, and determining the actual needs that your elevator is meant to be meeting, will be key during this process.

Here’s to Your Brand-New Home Elevator

By installing a home elevator, you’re joining an illustrious group of homeowners who are embracing the future of home design. Elevators are incredibly convenient, and perfect for moving and designing your home. As you get used to the new addition to your home, you’ll wonder how you got along without a home elevator for so many years.