Shopping for a residential elevator starts with one decision that shapes everything else: which type. There are three families to know, and each solves a different problem.
Traditional elevators
A cab moves up and down inside an enclosed shaft, driven by a hydraulic or cable system.
- Floors served: two to several, including a basement
- Cab: the roomiest, with space for a wheelchair and a companion
- Look: hidden behind doors that match the rest of the house
- Construction: the most, since a shaft has to be framed
- Good for: new builds, major renovations and long-term accessibility
Pneumatic elevators
A clear tube with a cab that rises and falls on differences in air pressure.
- Floors served: two or more
- Cab: from single-passenger to wheelchair size
- Look: a visible, modern feature
- Construction: light, with no pit and no machine room
- Good for: existing homes with an open spot near the stairs
Shaftless elevators
A compact cab on rails that travels through an opening in the floor.
- Floors served: two only
- Cab: small
- Look: stands in the room, unobtrusive when parked upstairs
- Construction: the least
- Good for: finished two-level homes and tighter budgets
Custom elevators
For a statement piece, such as a glass cab in a foyer or a design matched to period architecture, a custom-built elevator is the fourth route. It is the most expensive and the most personal.
Five questions that point to the answer
- How many levels must it reach?
- Will it carry a wheelchair, now or later?
- Is the house being built, renovated or left as it is?
- Do you want it concealed or on show?
- What is the budget, including building work?
Talk it through with someone local
Nationwide Lifts of Missouri and Kansas installs all of these types. A free in-home assessment will narrow the field quickly. Call 660-624-2411.