When seeking a residential elevator to install inside one’s home, many homeowners research online to see which home lift is ideal for their project and needs. With many different designs and technologies available, often one of the deciding factors is the cost of their desired elevator and whether it is feasible to install inside one’s home. Beyond the equipment cost for the elevator itself, the pre-construction work and difficulty of installation are additional factors in calculating the cost of a home elevator project. For example, a 4-Stop Residential Elevator will require more equipment and labor than a 2-Stop home lift. Traditional box style elevators require far more pre-construction requirements, and thus more construction costs, than a pneumatic elevator. If the home is in a remote part of the state or if the desired location where the elevator is to be installed inside the home is incredibly difficult, more days may be needed for the authorized distributor to successfully install your residential lift.
As a result, below are some factors that need to be considered when calculating the cost of your desired residential elevator project.
Home Elevator Site-Visit With Authorized Distributor
Given the custom nature of each home elevator project, providing a budgetary price without physically visiting the home may prove to be inaccurate and not true to the project needs. This is why a site-visit with an authorized distributor in your area is required to properly assess the feasibility of your project and calculate the cost of your desired elevator. Home Elevators by PVE are custom built to the floor-to-floor heights of each home. Able to travel up to 5 stops or 50 feet in total rise, each residential elevator produced by PVE is customized to that specific project. As a result, the authorized distributor during a visit will gather the heights and details needed to calculate the correct equipment cost of your desired lift. During a site-visit, the local distributor will also make note of any pre-construction work needed to ensure the area is prepared for the elevator installation. Depending on the residential elevator purchased, the scope of work required can vary.
Pre-Construction Work Required For Home Lift
Once the location for your desired home elevator has been finalized, the next step is to review the scope of pre-construction work needed to prepare the space for the elevator arrival. This can vary depending on the elevator purchased, number of stops and technology utilized. For example, traditional box style elevators often require a pre-construction shaft and pit for operation thus increasing the cost of a home elevator. This will require far more construction work as these items will need to be completed prior to the elevators arrival. In addition, often a dedicated machine room is often required to properly operate these types elevators. This means more maintenance will be needed as harmful oils, gasses and lubricants are utilized for operation.
In contrast, home elevators by PVE have far fewer pre-construction requirements as they simply rest on the existing ground floor. As long as the floor is level, the elevator should be able to simply rest on the ground. If it’s a through-floor application, often a through-floor hole will need to be cut two inches greater than the diameter of the elevator purchased by PVE. For balcony mounted applications, often a landing and/or walkway is constructed on the upper balcony level. Lastly, residential elevators by PVE are Plug & Play systems that utilize a 220 volt power supply. That means no dedicated machine room is required for operations as the elevator simply gets plugged into the wall. In addition, less annual maintenance is required as no gasses or oils are utilized for operation.
Scope of Home Elevator Installation
The other deciding factor that goes into the cost of a residential elevator is the complexity of the installation. If the location of the project is remote and requires a greater commute, travel & accommodations may need to be factored into the cost of the elevator project. Depending on the number of stops and option/upgrade purchased, more days may be needed to successfully complete the installation. Lastly, depending on the size of the elevator purchased and detail of work needed, more personnel may be required on site to properly manage the installation.
In conclusion, if you are seeking a cost for a home elevator, it is ideal to schedule a site visit with an authorized distributor in your market to properly assess and calculate the price of your project. While budgetary pricing can be provided over the phone, just note that the number provided may not prove to be accurate to the scope of work needed to complete your project. As a result, an on site assessment is the best solution to properly calculate the equipment and scope of work needed to complete your project.
If you are looking to receive a cost for your residential elevator project, contact PVE on the link below and we can put you in contact with the closest authorized distributor in your area.
Seeking More Information For Home Elevator Cost
Celebrating 20 years in business, Home Elevators by PVE have over 550 authorized distributors worldwide with over 20,000 successful installation globally. When it comes to retrofitting a lift inside an existing residence, the home elevators produced by PVE are second to none. Contact us today to locate the closest authorized dealer to your residence and received a free in-home consultation to see if these elevators are right for your project and needs!
Home Elevator Frequently Asked Questions
Residential elevators by PVE are the only elevators in the world powered by the most abundant resource in the world, AIR! Resting on the existing ground floor, these plug and play elevators combine a beautiful external cylinder shaft with a fully welded and self-contained cabin on the interior that offers a 360° degree experience while traveling up and down. By manipulating air pressure, the principle of operation is based on the ascending push generated by the difference between the atmospheric pressure on top of and under the sealed car. The depression (vacuum) required to lift the car is achieved by turbines operating as exhaust fans which are located at the top of the elevator, or can also be remotely located. The descent is achieved by gravity, slowly allowing air back into the system at a controlled pace so the cabin can smoothly get to the lower level(s). Since 2002, Residential Elevators by PVE have developed a reputation for being a safe, reliable, aesthetically pleasing elevator to accommodate accessibility and architectural needs worldwide.
Fully certified home elevators are extremely safe for homeowners. PVE’s easy-to-install, self-supporting home elevators are fully certified by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers in all 50 states and 90+ countries globally under the European Machinery Directive, with 18+ years of experience in the market. In the event of a power failure while in operation, gravity will slowly bring the cabin down to the ground level, at which point the passenger is able to get out. All of the PVE residential elevators models are fully equipped with mechanical car locking devices on each floor and have a full set of Type A Safety Brakes, meeting the most stringent requirements in the industry. In addition, per elevator code, these fully certified home elevators come equipped with an in-cabin phone to ensure the passenger can communicate in the event of an emergency. Pneumatic Vacuum Elevators, LLC has a very unique approach in the industry in that every elevator undergoes full operational testing at the factory before shipping, ensuring the highest quality standards are met.
All elevators generate sound while the machinery is operational and PVE has machinery options that are as quiet, if not quieter than alternative products on the market. With the machinery only activated when the elevator is in use, Vacuum Elevators have a number of machinery options available for homeowners to choose from in order to fit their audio comforts and needs. View our machinery video online to learn more and to hear each machinery upgrade option available.
