Putting in an elevator

[Anonymous]

Has anyone added an elevator to their house? If so, how much did it cost, where were you able to add it, and how does it look?

[Anonymous]

My in-laws have one. It’s relatively small, maybe 2 to 3 people fit.

The outside of it looks like a closet door. It goes to 3 floors of their home, including basement. They built the elevator iwhen they built the home, eg it was always part of their plans.. I don’t know how much they paid. I do know they have to get it inspected routinely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My in-laws have one. It’s relatively small, maybe 2 to 3 people fit.

The outside of it looks like a closet door. It goes to 3 floors of their home, including basement. They built the elevator iwhen they built the home, eg it was always part of their plans.. I don’t know how much they paid. I do know they have to get it inspected routinely.

Thanks. Curious about folks who added the elevator after the house was already built.

[Anonymous]

I've only ever seen this done during the build.

[Anonymous]

I have cousins who added one that looks like a glass tube. I know it was added as their mom needed it, but I don’t know the cost or manufacturer. It was installed between the foyer and the bedroom above (probably in the basement too for the mechanicals).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My in-laws have one. It’s relatively small, maybe 2 to 3 people fit.

The outside of it looks like a closet door. It goes to 3 floors of their home, including basement. They built the elevator iwhen they built the home, eg it was always part of their plans.. I don’t know how much they paid. I do know they have to get it inspected routinely.

Thanks. Curious about folks who added the elevator after the house was already built.

There are existing threads on this. They are very expensive to install after the fact and can only be done where the walls and floors will allow it. You will need a structural engineer to verify. Don’t believe the company selling the elevator. I knew a couple that looked at over 199 preexisting homes before they found one that could handle the addition. They had a structural engineer verify before they made the offer

[Anonymous]

Would you consider a stair lift as an alternative?

[Anonymous]

Include a generator in the cost. The elevator has to work 100 percent of the time to avoid trapping people alone in a house.

[Anonymous]

And if you have young children, or anticipate grandchildren while at the house, just don't do it -- far to many accidents involving inhome elevators

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And if you have young children, or anticipate grandchildren while at the house, just don't do it -- far to many accidents involving inhome elevators

Even the new ones?

[Anonymous]

I don’t think I could use an elevator if I was in the house by myself. I also wonder how long it would take for my DH to miss me?. 😂

[Anonymous]

We had elderly friends who installed one in a standard colonial and it was about $40K. It went through their dining room (not great) and into the basement so they could get to the laundry room. They needed it during the last couple of years they were in the house. It didn't seem to impact the sales price either way when they sold it in 2023.

[Anonymous]

Servicing them is a real issue.

Not many companies left that do that.

[Anonymous]

My parents looked into this for their house but then decided not to because of safety concerns with the grandkids. They have stair lifts instead and moved the laundry to the main level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My in-laws have one. It’s relatively small, maybe 2 to 3 people fit.

The outside of it looks like a closet door. It goes to 3 floors of their home, including basement. They built the elevator iwhen they built the home, eg it was always part of their plans.. I don’t know how much they paid. I do know they have to get it inspected routinely.

Thanks. Curious about folks who added the elevator after the house was already built.

I know someone who did this, but the house was built with stacked closets so they put it there. A stair lift is much more practical. Elevators break a lot.