{"id":8714773,"date":"2023-01-12T14:00:02","date_gmt":"2023-01-12T22:00:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.eastbaytimes.com\/?p=8714773&preview=true&preview_id=8714773"},"modified":"2023-01-13T04:04:23","modified_gmt":"2023-01-13T12:04:23","slug":"going-up-home-elevators-are-on-the-rise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.eastbaytimes.com\/2023\/01\/12\/going-up-home-elevators-are-on-the-rise\/","title":{"rendered":"Going up? Home elevators are on the rise"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ann McGee loves her home. Every room of the 2,800-square-foot Mediterranean-style house in Winter Park, Fla., reflects her well-traveled life and rich memories. She loves her neighbors and her community. What she doesn\u2019t love are her stairs.<\/p>\n

At age 73, the retired college administrator, who\u2019s had one knee replaced, found that an upstairs master was a bit of a pain \u2500 literally. Renovating to put a bedroom downstairs was too costly. Moving from her home of 15 years didn\u2019t appeal either.<\/p>\n

So when her niece showed her a magazine ad that featured a modern-looking shaftless elevator powered by air pressure, McGee was intrigued. \u201cIt didn\u2019t look like any home elevator I\u2019d ever seen,\u201d she said. \u201cIt looked like a piece of art.\u201d<\/p>\n

Plus, the installation did not involve knocking out walls or digging into the foundation as it does for traditional shaft elevators. Shaft elevators send cabins through minimum 5-foot square spaces within walls, while shaftless elevators sit in the open on finished floors. Their see-through cylinders transport passengers from floor to floor using air pressure or cables. After talking with a couple of elevator companies, McGee installed a pneumatic vacuum elevator just beside the stairs in her entryway in November, choosing the color of the metal as well as the tint on the polycarbonate windows.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love the look of it,\u201d she said. \u201cI worried that it would ruin the aesthetics of my home, but it\u2019s enhanced it.\u201d<\/p>\n

While she doesn\u2019t use it every time she wants to go up or downstairs, McGee, an avid traveler, definitely uses it for her luggage.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love where I live and how I live,\u201d McGee said. \u201cI wanted to buy more time in this house, and I did.\u201d<\/p>\n

Daytona Elevator owner Dawn O\u2019Connor rattles off the reasons customers call her: \u201cHips, knees, hearts, backs, lungs, in-laws, convenience.”<\/p>\n

To that list, Rich Eller, owner of Nashville-based HomeLift, adds people who \u201cflat out are not moving and have got to get upstairs.\u201d<\/p>\n

The demand for home elevators has been quickly growing, with shaftless models the fastest growing sector, he said. Five years ago, shaftless elevators accounted for 6 percent of Eller\u2019s home elevator installations. Last year, was double, and he expects that 20 to 25 percent of home elevators will be shaftless by 2025.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have a population of people who want to age in place,\u201d Eller said. \u201cMore people are realizing that installing an elevator or a stair lift is a lot cheaper than moving. Builders and architects recognize this is a growing market and are designing more homes with elevators in mind.\u201d<\/p>\n

While not every home is a candidate for an elevator, if your home\u2019s stairs are becoming an issue, here\u2019s what to consider before you pack up and move.<\/p>\n

A solution for every budget:<\/strong> If creating a downstairs bedroom isn\u2019t an option, the lift industry has many ways to get you upstairs, O\u2019Connor said. The least expensive option is a stair lift. A seat that travels straight up a flight of stairs typically costs between $3,500 and $4,000. If the stairway curves or takes a turn, the cost will climb to as much as $15,000. Pneumatic vacuum elevators or PVEs typically cost $35,000 to $60,000 depending on size. They come in three widths: 30, 37 and 52 inches, which will accommodate a wheelchair. McGee paid $40,000 for her 37-inch elevator, which includes a fold-down seat and phone. The extra construction cost to retrofit a space varies.<\/p>\n

Build it in:<\/strong> The best time to install an elevator is when you\u2019re building a home. But adding one later may be easier than you think. Have an expert take a look. \u201cOften people think they don\u2019t have a place to put an elevator, then we find two or three possibilities,\u201d Eller said.<\/p>\n

Location, location, location:<\/strong> When looking for the best placement, start upstairs where you want to exit, usually on a landing or common area, and work your way down. Remember, you can enter on one side of the elevator and exit out the other. A traditional elevator shaft can be inside a home or built onto the exterior, but a shaftless elevator is easier to fit in most homes.