aleigh historic districts such as Oakwood, Boylan Heights, and Five Points feature early-1900s homes with basements or upper floors reached by original staircases. In hilly areas like Boylan Heights, these layouts can make moving between levels especially difficult.

That’s exactly the kind of home a PVE elevator was built for. Because the unit is self-supporting and needs no pit, shaft, or machine room, it can go into a Boylan Heights Craftsman bungalow or an Oakwood Victorian without a major structural rework. Most installations are done in two to three days, which matters in a city where any exterior work on a home within a local historic district requires design review, in addition to the standard elevator permit and inspection process.

For homeowners planning to stay in their Raleigh home long term, a residential elevator means the stairs stop being the reason to move. It connects a main floor to an upstairs bedroom or a basement without reworking the home’s historic character. And because the system draws minimal power and pairs easily with solar, it fits naturally alongside the growing interest in energy-efficient upgrades for Raleigh’s older homes.