If you’re in the process of constructing or renovating your home and plan to install a residential elevator, one of the first things you should think about is the location of your elevator. Your contractor or architect can help you determine the best location that will ensure structural integrity as well as work within the design parameters of your house.
As a homeowner, you likely have many concerns when it comes to elevator placement. You may not want to change design of your home with an elevator that throws your interior design off kilter, or you may be worried that limited space will force you to put your elevator in an inconvenient, out-of-the-way spot. Below are a few tips and idea to help you make the best decision for your elevator’s placement:
Considerations
There are many things to keep in mind throughout the elevator location design process.
- Direct access: Think about whether you want your elevator to provide immediate access to a specific part of your home or room. You may want to be able to come home and have fast access from the garage to the upper floors, for example.
- Size requirements: Think about how much room you will realistically need. You will need more space if you have to accommodate a wheelchair, for instance, than just a couple of standing passengers.
- Visual appeal: You may wish to have an elevator with a discreet, minimalistic design that’s tucked away in a more obscure place. Or, you may want the elevator to take a place of prominence and become a focal point of your design scheme.
Common Locations
Sure, you can install an elevator pretty much anywhere in a home, but here are the most common locations chosen by homeowners due to practicality and design considerations.
- Stairwells: Many people install residential lifts adjacent to the stairwell for convenience.
- Garage: Home elevators make a great addition to garages as well, which taps into the homeowner’s most common point of entry.
- Adjacent to core rooms: Many home elevators are situated in locations near, or inside, frequently-accessed rooms, such as living rooms, bedrooms, and kitchens. These locations can reduce strain brought on by everyday movements around your house and can also help people with limited mobility spend the most time in the rooms they enjoy being in.
No matter where you end up placing the elevator, there are additional things to consider, such as freedom of space and design flexibility. For example, you will have more leeway when it comes to location choice in a new construction home than if you are retrofitting an existing house. In the end, you should rely heavily on your builder or contractor to help determine the optimal location for practicality, functionality and aesthetic design.
Contact Mowrey Elevator
Once you know where your elevator will be located, you can start the design of the actual frame and unit. Browse our many elevator products and safety features. To ask questions, contact Mowrey Elevator today.