If you’ve been giving serious thought to upgrading your home and ageing in place, you’ve likely considered the possibility of adding an elevator to your space. While many tend to think elevators are only applicable in “mansions” or luxury estates, you might be surprised to learn just how common they’re becoming in homes all across Canada and the United States.
At RAM Elevators + Lifts, we’re proud to offer innovative home elevator solutions that remove the headaches of dealing with massive excavations thanks to our machine room-less and pitless design. Discover the benefits of pitless elevators and partnering with RAM below!
What Exactly Is a Pitless Elevator?
We’re all generally familiar with the traditional elevator that requires a large pit for the shaft to operate in. The thought of installing something invasive is, understandably, a little alarming for most homeowners, especially for those concerned about conserving floor space. Pitless elevators solve this dilemma and are designed to be installed directly on top of your existing foundation slab, without extensive excavation.
To make getting inside completely seamless, there are two simple options:
- A Shallow 2-to-3-Inch Floor Depression: If you are building a new home or doing a major floor renovation, your builder can leave a tiny, shallow dip in the floor so the lift sits perfectly level with your floor.
- A Small Access Ramp: If you are retrofitting the lift into your current home and don’t want to touch your flooring at all, the elevator can sit right on top of the ground, using a tiny, gentle 3-inch ramp to let you walk or roll right inside safely.
Why Skipping the Pit Changes Everything
Choosing a pitless design isn’t just about avoiding a messy construction project. It solves some of the biggest structural and financial headaches that come with home upgrades and offers plenty of benefits. Two immediate perks include:
- You Don’t Need a Dedicated Machine Room
Traditional hydraulic elevators require a separate utility room or closet to house loud pumps, controllers, and big fluid tanks. RAM’s pitless systems use a Machine-Roomless (MRL) layout, meaning that everything that makes the elevator run is tucked neatly inside the lift tower itself, preserving your precious square footage and keeping your home quiet.
- It Opens Up Your Layout Options
Because you don’t have to worry about what is beneath the floorboards, you have much more freedom to decide where the elevator goes. It can tuck into the corner of a living room, sit adjacent to a main stairwell, or bridge a split-level entry without disrupting the structural beams of your house.
At RAM, we believe installing home mobility solutions should be easy, and our pitless example is just one example of our dedication to smart, accessible products you can trust.
Beautiful Design Meets Smart Engineering
When you bring an elevator into your home, it should feel like a natural extension of your living space rather than a boring piece of machinery that sticks out. With three leading designs to choose from, all of which offer plenty of ways to customize and a fully electric drive system that uses up to 50% less energy than standard hydraulic units, RAM is here to help you shape the space you’ve always wanted to live in. From ageing in place to making every day more accessible for everyone at home, RAM has you covered!
Explore our full selection of Residential Elevators + Lifts to see how easily a premium lift can blend into your life. Ready to talk about options for your current layout? Contact our team today to learn more!