Practical Advantages Of Pitless Elevators For Home & Commercial Buildings

by | Aug 19, 2025 | Elevators

Elevators in home and commercial spaces are beacons of accessibility, helping create welcoming environments. Though elevator ownership continues to rise year after year, one aspect which may cause reluctance is the pit excavation process. It’s clear to understand why. Many traditional elevators require pits, which can sometimes mean a long-winded process of foundation excavation.

Pitless elevators are a natural remedy to these worries, and can be installed seamlessly in almost any building. Keep reading with us at RAM Elevators + Lifts to learn more about the benefits of pitless elevators for homes and commercial spaces. Read on to find out more!

  1. Quicker Installations = Less Downtime

When installing an elevator in your commercial building, business owners should mindful of the risks of downtime. Elevators in commercial spaces are often built centrally to ensure accessibility for the entire building. But installing a traditional elevator with a pit means more downtime and disruptions in day-to-day activities. For commercial buildings, this can lead to reduced accessibility for patrons and disorganized crowd flow. These issues can be especially damaging for smaller businesses or businesses that heavily rely on foot traffic.

Home elevators for personal use are a different story. While downtime often isn’t as worrisome, lengthy installations can still be disruptive to your schedule. The timelines of pit excavations aren’t always predictable. Once you add in noise pollution, dirt and debris, and limited movement throughout your home, the process becomes much more challenging.

Pitless elevators eliminate the need to excavate below ground level, minimizing the potential for lengthy disruptions. At RAM Elevators + Lifts, all our elevators are offered in a pitless design. With the use of a 2-inch ramp, pitless elevators can be seamlessly integrated into any space.

  1. Retrofitting with Ease

When an elevator is installed in any existing building, home or otherwise, it’s known as retrofitting. When retrofitting an elevator, available space is an essential factor to consider. Traditional residential elevators with a pit usually require anywhere from 6 to 12 inches of space underneath the shaft, or 4 to 5 feet for commercial elevators.

Pit excavation often isn’t a simple process for retrofits. When excavating the foundation of buildings and homes, it’s all too common to find pipes, reinforcement, rocks, and other obstructions in the way. Removing or rearranging these elements can be complex, increasing both installation time and costs. Pitless elevators, on the other hand, eliminate these issues.

RAM’s Pitless Elevator Models

At RAM, we offer several stunning, premium accessibility solutions for homes, residences, and commercial spaces.

Flex Lift™: The Flex Lift is the premier mobility lift solution for every space. Built with an advanced zero-load start design, the Flex Lift offers smooth transportation between two floors for wheelchair users and those with mobility challenges.

Stratus Elevator™: The Stratus offers reliability and high performance between two levels. With various finishes and designs offered, the Stratus is the perfect addition to bolster accessibility for any building.

Crystal Elevator™: The Crystal blends ultimate customization and accessibility into one stunning package. With a maximum travel distance of 50 feet, this elevator is perfect for multi-storey buildings.

Simple, Seamless Home and Commercial Pitless Elevator Installation is Closer Than You Think with RAM Elevators + Lifts

We understand that an elevator is a substantial investment. It’s essential to make sure it’s right for your circumstances and will last for years to come. That’s why when you choose RAM Elevators + Lifts, you receive personalized and knowledgeable support. For almost 40 years, we’ve been North America’s trusted manufacturer of home and commercial mobility solutions. Reach out to our team today to learn more about our innovative elevators and lifts—and experience the RAM difference today.

The RAM Team

RAM is a proud North American manufacturer of superior elevating devices for both residential and low-rise commercial use across Canada and the United States. Founded in 1987, our vision has been to engineer impactful accessibility solutions without aesthetic compromise.

GROUNDED SIMPLICITY,
ELEVATED DESIGN

Get started with RAM today.