Most elevators are easiest to install while a house is being built. The shaftless home elevator is the exception. It was designed for homes that are already finished and lived in.
What sets it apart
There is no enclosed shaft. Two slim rails stand against a wall, and a small cab rides them through an opening in the floor to the room above. With no pit to excavate and no machine room to find space for, the project is far smaller than a conventional elevator.
Choosing the location
You need two spots that sit one above the other. Common pairings are a living room and a bedroom, or a main-floor hall and a basement family room. The cab can stand in a corner or in the middle of a wall.
How the project runs
- Survey. The floor structure, ceiling height and electrical supply are checked.
- Floor opening. A carpenter cuts and frames the opening between the two levels.
- Installation. The rails, drive and cab are fitted and wired.
- Testing. Every safety feature is checked before handover.
Living with it
When the cab is upstairs, the area below is open floor. When it is downstairs, a lid fills the opening above so the room can be used normally. The cab is called from either level with a wall control.
Things to know before you decide
- It connects two levels, not three
- The cab is compact, so check the size if a wheelchair will ride
- Controls are the hold-to-run kind, for safety
- Travel is steady and unhurried
Who chooses one
Homeowners who want to keep using the upstairs bedroom, families bringing an older parent to live with them, and anyone who wants an elevator without turning the house into a building site.
Ask about the LUMA
Nationwide Lifts of Missouri and Kansas offers the LUMA elevator, a shaft-less design for existing homes. Call 660-624-2411 for a free in-home assessment.