Thinking about taking the leap and installing a home elevator, but unsure about the construction process? Hesitant about taking on a time-intensive home improvement? If so, you’re not alone. While home elevators are rising in popularity, the renovation process can make homeowners take a second look.
Below, let’s dive into the details of installing a pitless home elevator without major internal home renovations. Read on!
Why Early Elevators Require Renovations
Early traditional home elevators were designed around the assumption that the building would be modified to accommodate them. Most required a dedicated pit at the base of the shaft to house buffers, guide rail supports, a sump pump, and other equipment. As a result, retrofitting an elevator into an existing home often meant excavating the bottom level to create a pit several inches deep.
Dust, debris, limited access to parts of their homes, and noise alone are often enough to make homeowners reconsider entirely.
How Pitless Home Elevators Change the Process
While retrofitting a home elevator used to be a disruptive task, pitless technology has made it significantly simpler. Modern pitless systems work by housing essential components within the hoistway itself rather than in separate spaces. This design approach means your existing floor structure remains intact, and there’s no need for the extensive excavation that made older installations so disruptive.
Why Homeowners Would Go Pitless
Now that we understand the purpose of elevator pits, let’s take a look at some of the key benefits of going pitless.
Interior Preservation
- A pit-based system means tearing into your basement floor or excavating below grade, neither of which is easy to undo. Pitless elevators sit on the existing floor, leaving your foundation and lower levels untouched.
Lower Cost
- Excavating the bottom level of a home to house a pit isn’t cheap. Skipping that step alone can save thousands in concrete work, labour, and the inspections that come with it.
Quicker Construction
- Let’s face it: no one wants to deal with a long-winded construction process. A pitless install dramatically shortens the installation process and keeps more of the home accessible while work is underway. This means less disruption to daily routines and a quicker turnaround time for whole-home accessibility.
Are Major Renovations Really Not Required?
Yes, it’s true! Pitless home elevators often don’t need any long, month-on-month renovations. That said, while Pitless elevator systems are designed to be relatively compact, some renovations may be unavoidable.
Some of these modifications may include:
- Clearing vertical clearance to place the elevator
- Electrical work to ensure the elevator can be reliably powered
- Some framing or drywall work to align entry points at each landing
Is It the Right Fit For Your Home?
While pitless elevators eliminate much of the extensive work, other factors still play a role in your decision to choose a pitless home lift. Several factors matter, such as your ceiling height, the available space on each floor, and your home’s electrical capacity.
While the exact work depends on the home itself, it may sometimes involve initial home modifications, such as floor levelling and framing, to be completed before the installation can proceed. But when done right, a home elevator can transform your home, adding value through both future-proofed accessibility.
Skip the Pit with RAM Elevators + Lifts
At RAM Elevators + Lifts, we believe in barrier-free living without compromise. Our pitless home elevators bring the convenience of vertical mobility to your home without requiring a months-long renovation.
Contact us today to learn more about our versatile pitless elevator solutions, and help get you in touch with a RAM dealer near you.