One of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic has been a significant decrease in interest rates. In July 2020, mortgage interest rates dropped to less than 3% for the first time, encouraging many current homeowners to refinance their existing loans and spurring those who hadn’t yet entered the housing market to consider buying. As mortgage rates remain low, you might be considering buying a home or building a new home.

Before you decide to take advantage of these lower interest rates, review the home-buying process and compare it to the steps required to build a new home. You might decide that new construction is the way to go or that the money you save due to low mortgage rates gives you the option of personalizing an existing home.

The Homebuying Process

Unless you have enough cash available to pay for a home in full, upfront, you’ll need to get a mortgage. If you are serious about buying property, start the mortgage process before you begin looking at homes. Getting preapproved by a lender shows sellers that you are ready to buy a house and are likely to have the financing to pay for the expense.

While lower interest rates make mortgages attractive for buyers, many lenders have tightened their requirements in the wake of the pandemic. Fearing a large number of defaults and foreclosures on existing mortgages, lenders are more selective about who they lend to. You might have to put down a higher down payment to get approved for a loan. The lender might offer less than you anticipated, too.

When you start the mortgage application process, you can expect the lender to ask you to provide proof of income, a list of your assets and detailed information about your investment and savings accounts, plus any outstanding debts you have. The lender will also ask you how much you plan on putting down upfront. After reviewing and verifying your information, the lender may preapprove you for the mortgage. They will let you know how much you can borrow and the interest rate you can get.

With your preapproval in hand, you can start to look at houses and put in offers. If you find a home you like, you can submit a bid through your real estate agent. Many communities have become seller’s markets during the pandemic, meaning there is higher demand than availability.

In a seller’s market, multiple buyers will likely be interested in the same property. A bidding war can take place, during which interested parties push the property’s price up. The seller has the upper hand and can turn down offers below or even at the asking price, assuming a better offer will come along.

How Building a Home Is Different From Buying a Home

In a seller’s market, home inventory is low, so you might not find your ideal home. If that happens, one alternative is to build a house from scratch.

Financing new construction is different from the process of getting a mortgage. You can’t get a mortgage when the home doesn’t yet exist, as there is no house to serve as collateral on the loan. Instead, if you are going to finance the homebuilding process, you need to apply for a construction loan.

Construction loans differ from mortgages in several ways. First, they are usually short-term. While mortgages often have 30-or 15-year terms, a construction loan may only be for one or two years.

Home construction loan rates also tend to be higher than mortgage interest rates. With a mortgage, the home acts as collateral, and the lender can claim it and sell it if the borrower stops making payments. Mortgage rates tend to be lower.

After construction wraps up, the balance is due on the construction loan. You might still need a mortgage to afford the property, meaning you’ll have to go through an additional approval and closing process. Construction-to-permanent loans are also available. A C-to-P loan converts to a mortgage at the end of construction.

While the process of financing new construction can be more complicated than financing an existing home, you get more freedom when you build a house from scratch. You can design it to meet your exact needs, choosing the number of bedrooms and bathrooms that best work for you and including any desired amenities.

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Renovating an Existing Home

If you were considering buying a home before the pandemic began but put those plans on hold, you might be in a good place now to start the process of applying for a home loan. One advantage of having to wait is that you will likely get a better interest rate than if you bought before the pandemic. A lower rate means that your monthly payment will be less.

Even if you can’t find an existing home that meets all your needs or has all the amenities you want, saving money on your mortgage gives you some leverage. With a lower monthly payment, you could afford to put more down upfront, giving you more equity in the house from the beginning. You could borrow against that equity to renovate the home, adding luxurious features or practical updates.

For example, you could retrofit an elevator into the existing home. Adding an elevator can make your new home more convenient and allow you to age in place.

Another option is to take out a home renovation loan, either for a property you already own or one you are in the process of buying. You can use the funds from the renovation loan to pay for improvements and upgrades to the home. If you already own your home, you could refinance your existing mortgage to take advantage of low-interest rates. Doing so might get you some cash to cover the cost of installing an elevator, updating the kitchen or bathrooms or making other improvements to boost your home’s comfort and value.

Contact Inclinator to Add an Elevator to Your New or Existing Home

Whether you build a new home, buy an existing one, or renovate your current home, a home elevator can make your residence more convenient and comfortable. Inclinator installs home elevators in new construction or can retrofit an elevator into an existing property. Many cab styles are available to match your home decor and aesthetic. To learn more, find the Inclinator dealer nearest you today.

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Several features set luxury real estate apart from other properties. Luxury homes are in the highest value tier in their area. They are larger than other homes, made from higher-end materials and tend to be located in the most desirable areas. People hoping to buy luxury properties also tend to look for certain amenities that aren’t found as often in other homes on the market. Luxury home features make a property more comfortable, safer, and enjoyable to live in. Although trends come and go, the following luxury features constantly remain in demand:

1. Smart Appliances

Today’s luxury home is also smart. Buyers want appliances and technology that do the work for them. Smart features in demand include lights that turn on and off at the appropriate time and dim or brighten on command. Smart thermostats are also popular, as they learn a homeowner’s habits and help reduce energy use and costs.

Smart home technology can also integrate into a home’s security system. Luxury homeowners appreciate being able to check on their property status when they are traveling or at work through internet-connected cameras. Smart home security technology also makes it possible for a homeowner to communicate with a delivery driver or service technician from a distance.

Additional examples of smart appliances that appeal to luxury homeowners and buyers include:

• Smart refrigerators
• Smart window treatments
• Smart speakers or stereo systems
• Motion-sensor lighting

2. Fitness Room

Many people have started building at-home fitness areas for a convenient gym experience. In a luxury home, a separate room for fitness and exercise is now a must-have. An in-home fitness room can have everything a gym has, such as an exercise bike or treadmill, mirrors on the wall, mats on the floor and a set of weights. It also offers something a gym can’t — complete privacy. You can choose to work out on your own, follow along with a live-streamed video or hire a private personal trainer to help you get in shape, all from the comfort of your home.

3. Spa-Like Bathroom

No luxury home is complete without at least one bathroom that’s fit for a spa. The features included in a luxurious bathroom can vary from home to home, but they generally include heated flooring, high-end materials such as stone, tile, or marble, and soaking tubs. The shower in a spa bathroom might have a rainhead, and the windows in the room should let in plenty of natural light.

Small touches can contribute to the atmosphere of the space. For example, a beautiful chandelier can elevate the appearance of the bathroom. Wooden furniture and stone countertops add a calming, organic touch. The spa bathroom should be a place where a person can wash or soak away any cares and stresses of their day.

4. Outdoor Kitchen and Living Area

When it’s beautiful outside, it’s wonderful to spend time relaxing in the yard or entertaining guests on a patio. Outdoor living areas, including outdoor kitchens, are popular amenities in luxury homes. Having an outdoor living area can create a home away from home vibe, even though the space is on the same property.

Homeowners can choose a theme for their outdoor living area, such as a pizza kitchen complete with a brick oven or an outdoor bar with a full drinks station. One way to elevate the outdoor area is to install a fire pit. The fire pit extends the space’s useable life, making it comfortable and cozy even on chilly evenings.

5. Residential Elevator

Comfort and convenience are key features of luxury homes, and residential elevators provide both. Whether your home is two or three stories, or more, installing an elevator can help you move from floor to floor with ease. Luxury home elevators are available in a wide range of styles and finishes, so it’s possible to choose one that matches your home’s overall aesthetic.

A residential elevator can increase the value of your home by making the property more appealing to buyers. Buyers with limited mobility are looking for features that can help them live in and navigate their homes fully. An elevator can also make a luxury home more appealing to people looking to age in place.

6. Walk-In Closets and Dressing Areas

Storage space is in demand, and a walk-in closet is just one example of a storage area that luxury homebuyers want. Walk-in closets can range in size from small rooms attached to the primary bedroom to separate, bedroom-sized areas complete with ceiling-to-floor mirrors, seating areas and a storage island in the middle. Often, the bigger the walk-in closet, the better. Some must-have features include:

• Shoe storage
• A safe
• Vanity area with lighted mirror
• Beverage station for coffee and tea
• Storage island with charging station
• Seating
• Elegant Lighting

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7. Restaurant-Quality Kitchen

Kitchens and bathrooms are the two rooms that are most likely to help a home sell. A kitchen needs to have commercial-quality appliances in a luxury home, such as a six-burner gas stove. It also must have the best materials to stand out, such as granite or stone countertops. A top-of-the-line kitchen looks lovely and performs better than a standard kitchen. High-end appliances keep food at the correct temperature and heat food more efficiently than standard appliances.

Some of the features of a restaurant-quality kitchen aren’t found in standard kitchens. A high-end kitchen will have warming drawers to keep food at the right temperature before it’s served. It may have a wine refrigerator to keep bottles at the correct temperature. It might also have double ovens to make it easier to cook meals for large parties. Large islands provide plenty of counter space for food prep and storage space for kitchen gear.

8. Entertainment and Recreation Area

Many luxury homes come equipped with entertainment or recreation rooms that make staying at home just as fun as going out. The entertainment area can feature a projection screen for showing movies and watching TV or a large flat-screen television. Surround sound speakers are a must. Depending on the homeowner’s tastes, the room can have gaming equipment, such as video game consoles and comfortable gaming chairs, or gaming tables such as a billiards table, ping pong table, or foosball table.

Contact Inclinator for Luxury Home Elevator Installations

Updating your home to include some of the more popular luxury home items can increase your property’s value. Luxury home features also make your home a better place for you to live. If you’re interested in installing an elevator to increase comfort and convenience in your home, Inclinator can help. Find an Inclinator dealer near you to learn more about installing or retrofitting a residential elevator today.

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A residential elevator can last for several decades on your property, allowing you to access multiple levels of your home. The elevator lifespan depends on several factors, including its specific model. Learn about how long your lift system will last so you can take care of it to protect your investment.

Residential Elevator Lifespan

Elevators typically have a life expectancy of 20 to 30 years with regular maintenance. To extend the life of your elevator, schedule regular maintenance with a certified technician and follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for use and care.

Factors That Affect How Long Your Elevator Lasts

A lift system typically has a lifespan of several decades, but several factors affect how soon you’ll have to replace it. Here are some ways to know how long your elevator will last.

• Regular maintenance: Home elevator maintenance helps prolong your elevator’s life expectancy. During a professional inspection, a specialist can look at your unit and replace any worn-out components. When your lift system has updated parts, you’re less likely to need emergency repairs. You can expect your elevator to last much longer when you have it serviced by an expert technician.
• Proper installation: After you’ve found the best lift system for your living space, a reliable elevator contractor will analyze the best location to install it. Your house may already have room for an elevator, or you may need to create space for one. When a technician installs your elevator correctly, its components will suffer less wear and tear, resulting in fewer repairs. It’ll also be safer to use and less likely to have frequent breakdowns.
• Frequency and quality of use: If you continuously operate your elevator throughout the day, you can expect its lifespan to decrease a little more quickly than if you only used it a few times a week. Every time you operate your lift system, you put wear and tear on its components. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for maintaining your elevator to keep it in excellent condition.
• Upgraded features: An elevator has several moving parts that transport you safely from one floor to the other. Since those parts have a limited lifespan, you’ll need to have them replaced so your whole system works. However, if your elevator is decades old, it may contain obsolete parts that aren’t up to code. You may also have a challenging time finding a technician who’s qualified to repair your outdated elevator.

What Happens When You Don’t Take Care of Your Home Elevator

Even though scheduling a professional inspection requires spending money, this simple appointment will be a better financial investment than requesting emergency repairs. On the other hand, if you don’t maintain your elevator, its lifespan could reduce dramatically. As a result, you may experience the following issues:

• More recurring repairs: Neglecting to care for your lift will result in spending money to fix it. A home elevator that hasn’t been maintained efficiently typically has more issues that require replacements from a professional. On the other hand, when you take care of your elevator, you can prevent costly problems by having your technician replace broken components.
• Potential breakdowns: If you have an elevator in your home, you need it to work at all times. Unfortunately, any of the elements can stop working when you least expect it. As a result, you’ll need to call for emergency service, which usually costs more money. Making regularly scheduled appointments with a technician can help prevent random system failures.
• Safety risks: You may be putting yourself in danger if you’ve gone a long time without having your elevator inspected. When any of the complex electrical components in your lift system stop working, you could injure yourself while trying to use it. You may want to call an expert to fix your elevator if you notice any strange sounds or jolting motions while operating it. Technicians have the necessary training for safely repairing or replacing your lift system.

How to Maintain Your Home Elevator

Even though repairing your home elevator can be costly, scheduling annual preventative maintenance with a local technician can help prevent issues. You can also do some of your maintenance to keep your lift system up to date. When taking care of your home elevator, follow these tips:

• Refer to the manufacturer’s instructions: The most efficient way to care for your unit depends on its specific model. The manual should have information about what temperature to keep in the room and what cleaners to use on each component.
• Avoid unnecessary wear and tear: Be careful not to exceed your elevator’s weight limit when you’re using it. You may want to keep the door closed to maintain stable pressure for your lift.
• Check your elevator at least once a week: As you operate your lift system, pay attention to any unusual noises or sticking. Clean the light ray unit, car tracks and hall door with a cleaner recommended by the manufacturer. Removing debris from your lift system’s components can help prevent future breakdowns. If your buttons get stuck, try tapping them lightly instead of using tools that could damage them.
• Keep a written record of any issues: If you need to call a technician to repair your elevator, write down what’s wrong with it so they know what to check when they arrive.
• Schedule maintenance at least once a year: Besides taking care of your lift system on your own, you should also request an inspection from a professional at least once a year. You may want to get more frequent maintenance if your elevator is older. During the appointment, the technician will replace any obsolete parts, including burnt-out cab lights.

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When You Should Replace Your Elevator

Even though regular maintenance of your home elevator can prolong its lifespan, you’ll eventually have to replace it. Here are some warning signs that you’ll need to invest in a brand-new lift.

• The elevator is more than 20 years old: A home elevator is a significant investment, so you’ll probably want to keep it for as long as you can. However, when you neglect to replace it after several decades, using your unit could be unsafe. Schedule an appointment with a technician to replace your elevator and prevent injury or costly repairs. When you update your decades-old lift system, you can be confident that your upgraded elevator will have all the modern technology you need to travel throughout your house.
• You notice an increase in emergency repair calls: A residential elevator technician should be available for emergency repairs, so you can call them if your lift stops working in the middle of the night or on the weekend. Pay attention to how often you have to call to have your lift system fixed. If you notice that you suddenly need to contact the technician more often than before, you may consider replacing your elevator instead of getting it repaired. A brand-new elevator will last for many years on your property.
• The cost of repairs is getting overwhelming: You may think that replacing your elevator will cost more money than making a quick repair, but these little fixes can add up. Look over the last few times you’ve had to call to get your lift fixed. When you consider the upfront cost of a new elevator, you might realize that you can save money by replacing it. If you’re concerned about affording an updated lift system, discuss your options with a local home elevator dealer.

Contact Inclinator for Home Elevator Repair Services

A residential elevator can help modernize your home and make it more convenient to use. Whether you want to install a new elevator in your home or your old one needs a replacement, we’ll help you find the best product for your lifestyle. Reach out to your local elevator dealer or technician to get the assistance you need to make your home safer and more reliable.

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If you want to make your home more accessible, consider having an elevator or dumbwaiter installed. A residential elevator transports people up to multiple landings, increasing mobility throughout the house. On the other hand, a residential dumbwaiter carries bulky or heavy household items up different floors, helping you avoid injury and muscle strain during chores. Both lift systems add value to your living space and keep you safe during your daily routine. This guide can help you decide which systems are suitable for your lifestyle.

Dumbwaiter vs. Elevator Use

Each lift system can serve a unique purpose in your home, depending on your mobility and lifestyle needs.

Dumbwaiter Use

You may want to use a dumbwaiter in your home to transport items that are challenging to carry, such as household supplies, groceries, trash bags and boxes of office records. By putting these items in a safe, reliable lift system, you can avoid pulling out your back or falling down the stairs.

A dumbwaiter is useful for the following purposes:

• Bringing groceries upstairs from your garage to the kitchen counter.
• Transporting your holiday decorations down from the attic.
• Carrying wine bottles and cases to or from a cellar.
• Hauling firewood from the ground level to your indoor fireplace.
• Bringing laundry from bedrooms to the utility room.

Elevator Use

A residential elevator can carry a few people to another floor in the house, including those who use wheelchairs or other mobility devices. By having an elevator in your home, you’ll have a reliable, safe alternative to walking up the stairs.

You may want to install an elevator in your home if you’d like to age in a familiar place instead of moving into a more convenient residence. This system is also helpful if you or someone in your family has physical disabilities that make it difficult to go up the stairs. Even if you suffer from a sprained ankle or sore hip every once in a while, an elevator gives you a safe and healthy way to access your whole house.

Dumbwaiter vs. Elevator Size

Both lift systems are available in custom sizes that can accommodate your home’s available space.

Dumbwaiter Dimensions

We offer dumbwaiters at custom sizes up to 24 inches long, 24 inches wide and 24 inches high, providing you with plenty of space to transport food and other household items. A dumbwaiter is usually about the size of a cardboard box. Its small configuration allows you to access your belongings without straining your back to reach inside.

As you think about where to place your dumbwaiter, keep in mind that you may need to allow a minimum of 6 inches of space for the pit if you want the unit to stop at floor level. If you’re planning on installing it at counter height, you won’t need to worry about leaving pit space.

Elevator Dimensions

Since it has to be big enough to carry at least one person, a residential elevator is much larger than a dumbwaiter. Our elevators are available in several custom sizes to fit within the space you have in your home. Cabs can be up to 15 square feet, and we provide elevators with heights up to 96 inches and widths up to 50 inches. A residential elevator is accessible, with enough space for someone who uses a wheelchair.

As you plan the space in your home for this addition, keep in mind that you’ll also need a pit of 6 to 10 inches, depending on the drive system.

Dumbwaiter vs. Elevator Weight Capacity

Discover how much weight each lift can hold to find out if they can benefit your unique lifestyle.

Dumbwaiter Weight Limit

The Homewaiter® has a 120-pound (54-kilogram) capacity, which is typically more than enough for groceries and laundry. When you’re first getting used to your dumbwaiter, you may want to weigh items and find out what you could put in the lift. To maintain your safety, make sure you adhere to the weight limit and follow what the manufacturer’s instructions suggest. Exceeding the recommended weight capacity could damage your dumbwaiter and reduce its lifespan.

Elevator Weight Limit

An elevator has a sufficient weight capacity for holding several people at once. A 15-square-foot cab can hold up to 1,000 pounds, but one with a 500-pound capacity can be 12 feet at most. However, their exact weight limit depends on the drive system:

• Cable drum: The Elevette® Cable Drum drive system has a maximum capacity of 1,000 pounds for 15-square-foot cabs and 500 pounds for 12-square-foot cabs.
• Hydraulic: The Elevette Hydraulic drive system has a maximum capacity of 1,000 pounds for 15-square-foot cabs.
• MRL overhead cable drum: The Elevette MRL Overhead Cable Drum drive system has a maximum capacity of 1,000 pounds for 15-square-foot cabs or more.

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Dumbwaiter vs. Elevator Cost

You can find a dumbwaiter or elevator within your budget. Find out what each system costs before speaking with an authorized dealer.

Dumbwaiter Cost

A dumbwaiter tends to be more affordable than a residential elevator. The exact price varies based on the specific unit, installation location and size. It also depends on the personalized features you wanted to add, such as the number of stops and openings. You might not be able to negotiate the installation or permit costs, but you can speak with a local dumbwaiter dealer to find a product at your price point.

Elevator Cost

An elevator tends to be more expensive than a dumbwaiter because of its size. The cost you’ll pay for your elevator depends on several factors:

• Custom add-ons: Anything you’d like to customize on your residential elevator could increase the price.
• Cab style: If you invest in a bigger unit, you’ll have to pay more money.
• Hoistway: A complex hoistway configuration involving multiple components tends to cost more money than a simple design.
• Drive system: A hydraulic system is typically more affordable than a traction elevator because it doesn’t use overhead hoisting machinery.
• Permits and regulations: You may have to pay for the paperwork and inspections required to ensure your unit is up to code.
• New build or retrofit: If you’re building a brand-new house and want to add an elevator to your floor plan, you may have to pay less money in installation costs than trying to find space for one in an existing property.

Find an Authorized Inclinator Dealer and Installer

Whether you need a dumbwaiter or elevator, we have a vast inventory of safe and reliable residential lifts. We offer designs that fit every home and style preference. Our products are safe to use and comply with local and state regulations. Find a dealer near you to discover the lift system that best suits your home.

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Having a dumbwaiter in your home or business gives you convenience and flexibility. These miniature freight elevators make it easy to move laundry, firewood, pet supplies, shop tools, retail goods, commercial kitchen supplies — whatever will fit safely inside.

From their initial use in Ancient Greece through their popularity in wealthy late 18th- and 19th-century homes as manual winch-and-pulley contraptions, dumbwaiters have now developed into sleek, modern mechanical appliances. With that evolution has come the need for more regular maintenance. Routine maintenance on a dumbwaiter is essential. It keeps the lift running smoothly and reduces the likelihood of injuries, repair needs and catastrophic breakdowns.

What Is the Recommended Maintenance for Dumbwaiters?

It’s a good idea to have your dumbwaiter professionally inspected at least once a year. A trained eye can spot problems to give you another year of dependable performance and convenience. Of course, if you notice anything amiss between yearly inspections, you’ll want to make an appointment to determine what’s wrong.

Service professionals generally recommend a few regular maintenance procedures to keep your dumbwaiter in good working order:

• Lubrication: The tracks and rollers of your dumbwaiter will lose their lubricant over time. They’ll need more to reduce friction, prevent wear and tear and keep your dumbwaiter from making harsh whining or squealing noises.
• Cleaning: The interior of a dumbwaiter should also receive regular cleaning. A maintenance technician can use safe, professional-grade solvents to remove grime or moisture that could gum up the works, prevent the doors from opening properly and impede performance overall.
• Checking for worn components: Even with proper lubrication, a dumbwaiter’s moving parts will wear down over time. A trained professional can spot worn components in the motor or rollers and replace them so your dumbwaiter can keep working as it should.
• Inspection of safety locks: Many dumbwaiters have safety features like locks to ensure that the doors won’t open unless the cab has reached that floor and come to rest. Otherwise, a person could tumble into the empty hoistway or receive injuries from the moving dumbwaiter. Regular inspections ensure that these safety features are providing the intended protection.
• Electrical inspection: A technician should also inspect a dumbwaiter’s electrical wiring. Faulty wiring can cause fires, so you’ll want to ensure your wiring and insulation are in good condition.

If you’re wondering what home dumbwaiter service is required by law, the best thing to do is to check with your local building authorities. They can tell you what dumbwaiter lift maintenance you may need to ensure safety and compliance.

Tips for Reducing Residential Dumbwaiter Maintenance Needs

In operating your dumbwaiter, you should follow a few best practices to reduce strain on the lift and minimize the amount of maintenance it will need.

• Observe the weight limit: Many dumbwaiters have a weight limit for what they can carry — our commercial models have capacities of 200, 300 and 500 pounds, for instance, and our residential models can move 120 pounds. Exceeding the maximum weight causes excessive wear and tear on the dumbwaiter’s components. This overloading may cause the appliance to need premature repairs.
• Take breaks between loads: Constant operation also strains a dumbwaiter. If you can, pause between trips to reduce the stresses on your lift and give it a chance to cool down.
• Clean the interior: Clean the inside of your dumbwaiter regularly with a damp rag or gentle cleaning product. Routine wipe-downs prevent stains from caking on, and they remove standing moisture that could cause corrosion on metal parts. Contact the manufacturer if you have questions about what cleaning products are safe for use.

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What Can Happen If You Don’t Get Regular Home Dumbwaiter Service?

If you don’t get regular home dumbwaiter service, it will likely begin to malfunction. It may become unreliable, stop working altogether or pose a hazard to you and your family or clients and coworkers. Here are a few things you risk if you neglect routine maintenance:

1. Poor Performance

Without routine maintenance, a dumbwaiter’s quick, effortless performance may deteriorate over time. When you first install a dumbwaiter, it should run smoothly and rapidly from floor to floor. Without regular maintenance, the dumbwaiter may slow down because of worn parts or insufficient lubrication. Its motion may also become jerky or halting instead of fluid and frictionless. These small malfunctions can delay the transport of household or business items and reduce the convenience of owning a dumbwaiter.

2. Unwanted Noises

The “dumb” in the word “dumbwaiter” refers, if a bit crudely, to the lift’s near-silent operation. But as parts wear down or lubrication loses its effectiveness, your dumbwaiter may start to make undesirable noises. Ideally, the dumbwaiter should glide so softly that you barely notice its operation. An unmaintained dumbwaiter may grind or squeal, potentially disrupting the quiet atmosphere in your home or business as it labors up and down.

3. Breakdowns

If you neglect to keep up with your dumbwaiter’s maintenance and it develops small mechanical problems, those tiny issues can grow into more significant ones over time. Ultimately, the dumbwaiter may break down. If this happens, the costs of repair or replacement are likely to be steep.

4. Safety Risks

Within its hoistway, the guide rails, guide rollers and pulleys raise and lower your dumbwaiter. Over time, these components can wear down or break. The dumbwaiter could come crashing down with its heavy load of household or business items and damage the walls and support beams. It could also seriously injure someone if the safety locks stopped working and a person opened the doors as the lift was descending.

5. High Costs

An average homeowner spends between 1% and 4% of the home’s value on annual maintenance and repairs. Commercial businesses incur many maintenance costs as well. And skipping that maintenance can lead to much costlier repairs and replacement projects down the road. Repairing or replacing a broken dumbwaiter is often considerably more expensive than having small amounts of preventative maintenance done in the first place. Even though the cost of maintenance may seem like a burden, routine care is likely to save you money over the long term.

Working With Dumbwaiter Maintenance Professionals

Working with Inclinator’s pros for dumbwaiter repair or maintenance offers many advantages. Our technicians have extensive industry knowledge and experience, so they can provide trustworthy service to keep your dumbwaiter reliable and safe. We are adept and catching small problems before they balloon into larger ones. Our friendly, professional service makes the process quick and easy, and it gives you the peace of mind of knowing the safety of your home or business is in good hands.

Let Inclinator Be Your Trusted Source for Dumbwaiter Maintenance

When you need reliable dumbwaiter service and repair, partner with Inclinator. Find a dealer near you today to schedule a maintenance appointment.

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Installing a residential elevator can make your home more accessible and allow you or your loved ones to age in place. If you’ve been hesitant to consider a home elevator because you aren’t sure how it will look or whether it will fit inside your home, you can rest easy. You have many options when it comes to the design and style of a residential elevator. It can blend into the background of your home, looking like just another closet or door, or if you prefer, the elevator can be a focal point of the room.

Inclinator residential elevators are available in several styles, designs and finishes. Use our home elevator design guide to create a residential elevator that matches your tastes and fits in well with the rest of your home.

Home Elevator Cab Styles

The elevator cab determines the overall aesthetic of your home elevator. Inclinator offers six cab styles to choose from, giving you plenty of options. Whether you prefer a more modern aesthetic or are in the market for something elegant and classic, here’s what you can choose from:

• 100 Cab: The 100 Cab is our simplest design. It has a wood laminate floor and a white ceiling and the option to paint the interior walls any color you’d like.
• 200 Cab: The 200 Cab design trades painted interior walls for wood-paneled walls. You can choose from eight wood species, including light and dark finishes, whichever best coordinates with the overall aesthetic of your home.
• 250 Cab: The 250 Cab design is a Shaker-style cab, meaning it is made of solid wood and has veneer inserts for the finishes. The cab opens and closes with a vinyl accordion-style gate.
• 300 Cab:  If you prefer an elegant look, the 300 Cab might be just right for you. It has wood paneling available in eight finishes and the option of adding moldings, such as a chair rail or picture frame. The flooring of the cab can be left unfinished so you can match it to your home’s existing flooring.
• 400 Cab: The 400 Cab provides the most luxurious aesthetic of the bunch. It has solid wood walls with paneling, molding and trim. You can also install acrylic panels so you can see through the walls of the cab.
• 500 Cab: The 500 Cab offers a sleek, modern aesthetic. Its aluminum frame can be silver, white or black, depending on what works with your home decor.

All six of our cab styles work with any type of drive system. Each style can open on one or two sides, depending on your needs.

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Home Elevator Finishes

The cab style is just part of the overall design of your residential elevator. The finishes you pick for the walls, floors and ceiling also affect how well they blend in with your home’s aesthetic and how well they match your taste.

• Walls: The finish options for the elevator walls of your elevator depend on the cab style you choose. Many styles can be finished in the factory with hardwood or with exotic wood species. You can also leave the walls unfinished and paint them the color of your choosing.
• Floors: Inclinator residential elevators include a laminate floor, available in five wood grain finishes. Some cab styles allow you to choose an unfinished floor, giving you the option of matching the floor of the cab to the floor in the rest of your home.
• Ceilings: While the ceiling of the 100 Cab can’t be customized, the 200 Cab, 300 Cab and 400 Cab all have nine ceiling finish options that match or coordinate with the walls of the cab.

Home Elevator Accessories

The customization options for your residential elevator don’t end with the walls, floors and ceilings. You can also choose the style of the handrails, lights and operating panel to reflect the decor of your home and your taste.

• Handrails: Handrail styles include a standard, flat style or rounded rail. The standard handrail can match the wood finish on the walls, while the round rail is available in three metal finishes: oil-rubbed bronze, brushed stainless and brushed brass.
• Ceiling lights: Inclinator’s elevators come with two lights as standard, each with LED bulbs and the choice of a white acrylic finish or a white and painted bronze finish. You can increase the number of lights in the cab if you’d like.
• Operating panels: The operating panels inside the cab and in the hall can be flush with the wall or raised. They are available in three finishes: oil-rubbed bronze, brushed stainless or brushed brass.

Home Elevator Door Design Options

Your home elevator needs a gate and door to operate safely. Inclinator has 18 gate configurations available, meaning you’ll be able to find an option that works with your needs and style. Your elevator can have a gate on one side or two sides. If it has a gate on two sides, the sides can be opposite each other or next to each other. Each elevator has an accordion fold gate that needs to be fully closed before the elevator will operate.

Design options for your home elevator door include:

• Vinyl laminate, available in 16 finishes
• Hardwood, available in six finishes
• Acrylic, available in bronze or clear
• Aluminum, available in gold, silver and bronze

The frame of the accordion gate can be one of two colors: nickel or bronze.

Contact Inclinator for the Best Home Elevator Design Options Today

A residential elevator doesn’t have to look out of place in your home. With so many design options to choose from, you can easily take advantage of the convenience and value offered by a home elevator without having to sacrifice the aesthetics of your home. To learn more about popular residential elevator designs and to see your options up close, find an Inclinator dealer near you today.

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Elevators have dramatically changed how people live. Thanks to elevators, it’s now possible for buildings to tower above the ground, consisting of dozens or more stories. Elevators have also revolutionized home living. Thanks to elevators, people with limited mobility can remain in multi-story homes. Elevators also make it easy for people to transport bulky or heavy objects from one floor to the next.

How Do Elevators Function?

So, how do residential elevators work? Understanding what the different parts of an elevator are and how they fit together will give you a better idea of how these machines can take you from one floor to the next.

What is an Elevator?

An elevator is a transportation system that moves people or goods between floors in a building. It consists of a cab inside a vertical shaft, operated by mechanical systems that pull or push it to different floors. Take a closer look at the parts of an elevator to see how they work together:

Elevator Cabs

The elevator cab is the part of an elevator that many people are most familiar with. It’s the car that you ride in to get from one floor to the next. Elevator cabs are available in a variety of sizes and finishes. Some of the features most cabs have in common include:

• Operating panel
• Handrails
• Ceiling lights

Depending on the style of the cab, it might have painted or wood-paneled walls. Some cabs have laminate flooring or can be created with a floor that matches the flooring in the rest of the house.

Elevator Doors and Gates

So, how do elevator doors work? Elevator gates and doors do more than open and close — they play an essential role when it comes to safety. The gate and door keep people from falling out of the cab while it travels. They also keep people from falling into the shaft when the elevator is on a different floor.

Home elevators often have either one or two entrances, depending on the design of the elevator and the layout of the home. Each entrance needs its door, which opens on the landing, and its gate, which is part of the cab.

Elevator gates are available in a variety of styles. One popular style for home elevators is an accordion gate, which folds up and collapses to one side to let people on and off the elevator. Home elevators might have a scissor, or collapsible gate, installed instead.

The door to an elevator is on the landing and should stay closed when the elevator is not on the floor. Often, a landing door looks like other doors in your home. The key difference between a landing door and a door to a closet or bedroom is that you’ll find an elevator cab rather than a bedroom or closet when you open the door. For safety reasons, a landing door should be locked when the elevator is on a different floor or is in transit.

Safety measures also limit the space between the elevator gate and the landing door. To prevent a small child or pet from becoming stuck between the gate and the door, there should be no more than 4 inches between the two. If a 4-inch round object, such as a ball, is placed in the space between the gate and the door, the door will not be able to close, and the elevator won’t run.

Elevator Drive Systems

The drive system is the machinery that moves the elevator cab from one floor to the next. Inclinator offers three drive system options:

1. Cable drum: The cable drum drive system is ideal for compact spaces, as it uses a patented monorail to guide the cab up and down. The drive system itself is located in a separate machine room. A cable drum system is compatible with all of our cab styles and can travel up to 50 feet.
2. Hydraulic: The hydraulic drive system also features a monorail and requires a separate machine room. A notable benefit of our hydraulic drive system is that it uses much less fluid than other home elevator brands.
3. MRL Overhead Cable Drum: The MRL overhead cable drum drive system uses two guide rails to draw the cab up and down. It requires less height between floors than other drive systems, making it an ideal choice for split-level houses. “MRL” stands for “machine room-less.”

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Elevator Shaft

The elevator shaft is the part of the home that houses the elevator cab and rail. Typically, a home elevator shaft will contain the following:

• The pit: The pit is the area just underneath the lowest level of the home. It provides space for the bottom of the cab when the elevator is on the bottom floor of the house. The depth of the pit can vary based on the type of drive system and cab installed.
• The rail wall: The rail wall holds the monorail or guide rails. It keeps the cab of the elevator stable and secure.
• Overhead: The overhead area is the space at the top of the shaft on the uppermost floor. Just as the pit provides room for the bottom of the cab when the elevator is on the lowest level, the overhead space provides room for the top of the cab when the elevator is on the top story.

Residential Elevators vs. Commercial Elevators

If you’re considering adding an elevator to your home, you’ll want to install a residential elevator, not a commercial model. There are some notable differences between how residential elevators work and how commercial models do. There is also a difference in size.

For example, commercial elevators need to be specific sizes to meet ADA Standards and safety code requirements. The same rules don’t apply to residential elevators. Residential elevators tend to be much smaller than commercial ones.

Are Elevators Safe? How Elevators Are Built.

Elevators have come a long way in terms of safety over the years. Today’s home elevators are designed and built to follow safety standards outlined in section 5.3 of the National Safety Code for Elevators (ASME ANSI A17.1/CSA B44-2016). The safety standards create weight limits, speed limits, and distance limits. They also detail how much space can be between landings and doors and doors and gates to minimize the risk of accidental injury.

All of Inclinator’s elevators are designed and built to follow the code. Our elevators have numerous safety features that ensure they meet or exceed the most up-to-date safety codes.

Learn More About How Home Elevators Work Today

An elevator can help you stay in your home for longer and can make life more convenient. If you’re interested in learning more about your options, search for an Inclinator dealer near you today. You can also contact us with any questions you have about residential elevators and the installation process.

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Table of Contents:

• Size Requirements for Home Elevators
• Space Needed for an Elevator Machine Room
• Other Regulations for an Elevator in the House
• Why You Should Consider a Residential Elevator Installation
• Tips for Preparing Your Home for Elevator Installation
• Order Your Residential Elevator From an Inclinator Dealer

Previously considered an expensive luxury reserved only for mega-mansions, home elevators have become far more cost-friendly, customizable and dimensionally feasible for many home and mobility needs. The question is no longer if elevators in your house are realistic — it’s where and when you could install one.

From simple elevators for 2-story houses to multi-floor lifts, discover how to calculate enough space for your home elevator. Installing a custom-fit elevator can deliver peace of mind that your home stays your home for years to come, regardless of what life throws your way.

Do I Have Enough Room for a Home Elevator?

Yes, in the vast majority of cases, there is enough space when adding an elevator to an existing home.

By consulting with an elevator manufacturer or representative, you can determine the perfect-fit residential elevator size, including:

• Proper height, width and depth
• Necessary load capacity
• Appropriate home placement
• Installation and ongoing costs
• Energy efficiency tips and best practices
• Machine room or MRL

In addition, working with a residential elevator manufacturer directly introduces a range of customizations to make your elevator look and feel as cozy as your home. Possible home elevator cab customizations might include:

• Walls: Wall paneling and finishes feature hardwoods, exotic woods and clear glass panes or unfinished panels for you to make a true custom mark.
• Flooring: Commercial-grade, durable yet aesthetic laminate floors to match your hardwood or unfinished flooring prepared for custom floors.
• Rails: Handrails that offer form and function, from wood fixtures to upgraded metal pieces in a range of tones and glosses.
• Ceiling: Ceiling panels and tiles to match the rest of your elevator and bring cohesion to your overall elevator. Here at Inclinator, most of our residential elevators carry the option for customizable grained ceilings.
• Lighting: Custom LED lighting can be installed into your unit, or choose to configure your own fixtures for added detail.
• Operating panels: Pick accents and finishing styles for your elevator’s operating panel to match the rest of your look.

Size Requirements for Home Elevators

An ADA-compliant residential elevator should adhere to the following dimensions. The door should have a width of at least 36”. The elevator cab’s depth should be at least 51”, and the width should be at least 68” for side doors or 80” for centered doors.

The dimensions of an elevator allow enough room for one to two people to fit comfortably within your home elevator. However, these sizes only determine the interior elevator cab, the portion of an elevator where passengers ride. Having enough room for a home elevator system requires space for numerous elevator mechanical components, as well as that cozy cab.

Adding an elevator to an existing home requires room for:

• The elevator shaft
• The elevator cab
• Clear entry and exit pathways
• Possible machine room or mechanical control system

In total, experts recommend roughly 18 to 20 square feet of space to build or retrofit a custom residential elevator. Check your state’s specific building ordinances to know the exact sizing maximums or restrictions that exist for residential work.

Now that you have a rough estimate of how an elevator may fit into your home, you should consider several other factors to make sure you get a well-designed, well-functioning unit.

1. Standard Residential Elevator Sizes

Most home elevators have a cab depth of 36”-60”, width of 48”-60”, and height of at least 80”.  Some variation occurs based on architectural features, the layout of your home, and local, state and federal residential building codes. Ultimately, there is no one-size-fits-all blueprint for building home elevators.

Typical residential elevator room sizes include:

• 38 inches wide by 48 inches deep
• 36 inches wide by 60 inches deep
• 40 inches wide by 54 inches deep
• 60 inches wide by 60 inches deep

Again, the final size of your residential elevator will be determined by home layout, building regulations and the overall shaft allowance. The shaft and your elevator’s power and control mechanisms must be built first, influencing the rest of the spatial design.

2. Custom Home Elevator Weight Capacities

In addition to the size of your elevator, you’ll also need to select your unit’s weight capacity. Elevator weight capacity dictates how many people can ride in the cab at once. It also gives a reasonable basis to determine additional items or cargo you can transport with you, from groceries or luggage to home goods and even furniture.

Residential elevators come in four typical weight capacities:

• 500 pounds
• 750 pounds
• 950 pounds
• 1,000+ pounds

An elevator’s weight capacity, lift platform design and mechanical powering systems all go hand-in-hand. For example, a 500-pound capacity unit can’t be bigger than 12 square feet.

Because weight capacity, lift design and unit powering method are so interconnected, it’s essential to work with an architect, elevator installation expert or certified elevator dealer to ensure you’re getting a cohesive and safe system that meets your needs.

Do I Have Space for an Elevator Machine Room?

Today, two main mechanical powering systems are operating residential elevators:

• Machine-room powered: As their name suggests, machine-room powered elevators require dedicated space above or below the elevator to house and maintain the unit’s mechanical pulley and power cables, motors and similar components. Most elevators are machine-room-powered, including the common hydraulic elevator type, as well as machine-room-powered track elevators.
• Machine room-less (MRL) powered: Machine room-less elevators do not require system mechanics to have their own dedicated space at the top or bottom of the unit. Instead, their designs tend to rely on pneumatic tube systems to safely raise and lower lifts, with the tubing itself installed into adjacent walls.
  

The amount of room you have available in your home will be the largest factor influencing whether a machine room or MRL system is right for you. Both types of powering mechanisms are one of the most important components for elevators in homes.

Powering systems control your home elevator’s movements, and they influence where in your home you can install your new or retrofit elevator. For this reason, determining if your home has space for an elevator machine room is just as essential as planning for shafts, cabs and cleared door entry and exit ways.

Luckily, both types are available to configure within the vast majority of homes — even for retrofit projects where architects and elevator installation specialists recommend one type over the other. Both types of elevators additionally come with their pros and cons described below.

1. Home Elevator Models Requiring Machine Rooms

Home elevators with machine rooms remain a popular choice for several reasons:

• Pros: Machine-room elevators are quieter and produce fewer vibrations than an MRL. In a home setting, these sound controls are key to a convenient, comfortable system. Most machine-room-backed elevator types, such as hydraulic, can also carry heavier loads and maintain smoother lift rates.
• Cons: Machine-room elevators require a base pit or similar space to house their major power and control mechanisms. In some cases, these pits may have to be specially dug or configured within your home, slowing down the construction timeline.

2. Home Elevator Models Without Machine Rooms

Consider these advantages and disadvantages of home MRL elevators:

• Pros: On average, MRL elevators are more energy-efficient than their traditional machine-room counterparts. This type of elevator uses hoist space better, making it an attractive option when the installation space is tight or narrow. Because of this spatial flexibility, the MRL elevator’s pneumatic components can fit into existing floor spaces, wall spaces or even attached to balconies, trimming down installation timelines and saving money up-front.
• Cons: Still requires additional space at the top of the elevator for the hoist.

In the end, you and your trusted elevator installation team will determine the best type for you based on several factors, from your budget and ideal installation timeline to the spatial availability and energy efficiency of your home.

Other Regulations for an Elevator in the House

Aside from state and local building ordinances, a few other regulations pertain to fitting an elevator in your home.

1. Special Needs and Accessibility

Given its private, residential setting rather than a public or commercial one, elevators in homes do not need to meet the ADA’s full list of detailed size, placement, dimensional and aesthetic qualifications.

Logically, though, a home elevator does need to be designed for wheelchair accessibility. This includes designing platforms and cabs capable of fitting wheelchairs, plus providing enough room for wheelchair spins, movements and changes of direction without great hazard or inconvenience for the rider.

Other safety and building regulations may still apply, particularly at the local level. However, to get the most out of your home elevator, you may invest in additional elevator components or add-ons, such as:

• Braille text on operating panels to assist those with vision impairments
• Automated doors or gates to simplify entries and exits
• Motion-activated lighting

2. Safety Regulations

Home elevators are a safe and secure form of in-home transportation. With today’s advancements in mechanical engineering, architecture and technology, there’s never been a safer or more convenient time to install one in your house.

What’s more, general safety regulations exist guiding elevator manufacturing and installation best practices. Ask all elevator businesses you’re vetting if they follow 2016’s ASME 17.1/CSA B44 ordinances. Following these residential elevator codes is voluntary, so you’ll want to find out early if a manufacturer adheres to them. In doing so, you proactively take your safety into your own hands.

At Inclinator, we outfit state-of-the-art elevator technology that meets the utmost safety standards. We install our elevators like they’re going into our own homes, carrying our own loved ones. This means elevator safety features such as:

• Code-compliant safety gates
• Backup battery-powered cabs
• Emergency backup lighting
• Full-time cab monitoring
• Optional door safety guards and light curtains

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Why You Should Consider a Residential Elevator Installation

More and more Americans are installing elevators in their homes for a wide range of reasons, including:

Improved Mobility in the Home

Many seniors want to live in their own homes as they get older. If you’re a senior who wants to live the remainder of your golden years in your own home, you’ll probably need to make some changes to your property. You’ll want to make your front door more accessible, make modifications to your tub and shower and install grab bars in various spots in your home.

One of the greatest risks that older adults face when they live alone is falling or injuring themselves. As we get older, many of us don’t want to risk walking up and down the stairs. Several older adults sell their two-story homes and move into single-story homes to avoid stairs, even if the two-story property was their dream home.

Fortunately, with a home elevator, you don’t have to give up your dream home. Plus, it will likely be less expensive to add an elevator to your existing home than it would be to purchase a new single-story home.

Customized to Fit Your Home’s Style and Decor

Not all elevators look the same. In fact, you can customize your home elevator to fit the style and decor of your home. This customization includes the door, trim and flooring. A residential elevator can blend in so well with the rest of your home, that the only thing that distinguishes it is the call button.

Increased Resale Value of the Home

While a home elevator installation may cost you upfront, the installation can also significantly increase the resale value of your home. Though a residential elevator can be quite costly, the price can vary depending on your custom options, your location, taxes, the size of your elevator and the type of drive system you choose.

Despite the upfront cost, a residential elevator can also increase your home’s value by 10 percent. With an elevator, you’ll have more equity in your home, and your property will become more appealing to potential buyers, as they’ll be able to imagine themselves in this home long-term.

With the increase in the value of your home, you’ll likely completely recoup the costs of your elevator or even exceed the cost when you sell.

Tips for Preparing Your Home for Elevator Installation

1. Decide Whether to Add or Retrofit

2. Find a Contractor

3. Choose Your Custom Options

4. Decide When Your Elevator Will Be Installed

5. Schedule Your Annual Maintenance

Order Your Residential Elevator From an Inclinator Dealer

At Inclinator, we manufacture safe, reliable and customizable home elevators. Because our elevators are so customizable, they can fit into just about any space without sacrificing precision.

We’re the first in the industry to bring elevators to American homeowners, and we’ve been providing residential elevators to Americans for nearly a century.

Customizing your elevator is an easy and simple process, as each of our elevators is designed individually by our team of experts. Following installation, you’ll find your home elevator is a valuable investment. The value of your home will likely increase enough to recoup the costs of the elevator installation. When you’re ready to sell your home, you’ll also be able to sell to a wider market.

Are you ready to schedule your home elevator installation? Locate an Inclinator dealer or contact us with any questions today.

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If you are looking to make the most of your home and keep your independence as you age, you may consider purchasing a home elevator. With a home elevator, you can access every floor of your home with ease. Many people build elevators into their existing homes so they can stay mobile as they age. In-home elevators also allow you to keep the same house you’ve lived in for years. If you’re considering installing a residential elevator, you’re probably wondering how long the process will take.

Here at Inclinator, two of the questions we get most frequently are, “How long does it take to build an elevator?” and “How long does it take to install an elevator?” The length of the rest of the process will depend on how long it takes you to make the right decision. You might wrestle between two cab designs, for instance. Or, maybe you know exactly what you want. If so, that part of the process will be a bit shorter. You should feel confident in the choices you make, so don’t rush.

Getting Quotes

The first step to installing a residential elevator is to understand the cost. When installing an elevator in your existing home, you will need to have a system custom-built to work in your home. We build each elevator to order so the machinery will fit in your home and stop at each floor of your house. Because of the highly customizable nature of in-home elevators, we recommend you find a dealer near you to help you through this process.

Using our online request form, you will fill out some information about your project:

• Your name
• Your email address
• Your phone number
• The ZIP code of the installation
• More information about the request

After you fill out our online form, your local dealer will call you and ask you a series of questions about your project. Through this conversation, our elevator professionals will learn about the construction of your home. Then, they will help determine what kind of elevator will fit best. The number of floors you have will be one of the determiners of cost. The more floors you have, the more stops your elevator will need to make, and the more complicated the installation. There are several things you should discuss to receive the most accurate quote.

• Your desired cab style: You may have several designs you are considering. If so, our representatives can discuss the varying costs of each design.
• The drive system you select: Certain drive systems will need extra overhead clearance or an engine room. Our representatives would be happy to make recommendations based on your home’s layout.
• How many elevators you would like to install: Depending on the layout of your home, you may only need to build one elevator. You might also find it easier to access each room by building two elevator systems, one on each side of your home.
• Your location: Your state and local government might have specific regulations regarding the installation of a home elevator. Your ZIP code will help us determine if there are any codes we’ll need to meet that influence your design and installation process.
• The level of complexity and configuration in the hoistway: The number of floors you have, and other elements of your home’s layout will determine how complicated your home elevator installation will be. Consider discussing this with your contractor, or ask your contractor to discuss this with the dealer directly.
• The accessories you want: You can select from a wide variety of accessories for your home elevator, from handrails and custom finishes to lighting and operating panels.

At Inclinator, we offer fast quotes through our local dealers. After you submit our contact form, an Inclinator dealer will call you back promptly. You’ll then receive a reliable estimate after a short phone call. You should budget 15 minutes to half an hour for each company you consider. This conversation will allow the dealers to get as much information as they can about your home, so they can provide you with an accurate quote. You may need a week or two to gather each of these quotes and discuss your options with your contractor.

Choosing a Company

As you gather quotes from several elevator companies, you will start to understand where each price range falls. The cost is one factor of many you should consider while selecting the right elevator company for you. Other factors include:

• Safety: Your home elevator is designed to make every level of your home more accessible. Your elevator manufacturer should offer many safety features to ensure safety you always have the best experience when using your elevator. Your company should provide secure gates that interlock so the door cannot open unless the cab is securely parked. Ceiling and floor lights offer visibility and safety whenever you use your elevator. Handrails help you keep your balance. All Inclinator models feature gates, interlocks, lighting systems and handrails as a standard. Most importantly, you should look for a company that provides emergency responsiveness. All Inclinator models have full-time cab monitoring and a backup battery, so your elevator can operate even in a power outage. We also offer the options to install a phone in the cab and add automatic doors.
• Expertise: Your home elevator company should have plenty of experience in the business. A home elevator is a mechanical device, which requires engineering and professional installers. Because of the many building codes governing residential elevators, it’s best to work with an experienced local dealer. Their local knowledge will ensure your elevator is compliant with state and municipal codes. Inclinator has nearly a century of experience in the industry, with local dealers stationed throughout the country.
• Maintenance: Your elevator will need regular inspections and the occasional repair to keep everything operational. It’s best to look for a company that offers full repair services and a focus on preventative maintenance first. Your residential elevator company should provide annual inspections. Experienced service personnel help you spot any problems before they become major issues. Preventative maintenance through your local Inclinator dealer will help you save money in the long run. An Inclinator elevator has a strong construction that minimizes spontaneous maintenance needs. You’ll have confidence that your elevator rides will be smooth.

Selecting the right company for you is a decision you’ll make hand-in-hand with your contractor, architect and the other members of your household. Do your research on each company you are considering. How long it will take to make a decision depends on how much time you wish to spend. You may need to find a time to sit down and weigh your options alongside your builder. You might also want to do extensive reading on each company you consider.

Planning Where the Elevator Will Go

Your home’s layout will play a large part in determining the best place to install your elevator. When retrofitting your home with an elevator, you may need a dedicated room for the engine. The cable drum drive system requires a separate engine room, so it needs less overhead room. Other elevator drive systems, such as our motor roomless (MRL) elevators, have a self-contained system, which doesn’t need a separate engine room. Motor roomless elevators will need more overhead room.

For the elevator itself, you will need space cleared for the elevator shaft. Most of our cabs are standard 15-by-15 feet. We also offer the option for a smaller cab, which is 12-by-12 feet. With any car you choose, you will need about 1 foot of extra space on each side to house the elevator shaft. The contractor you work with on this project can help you figure out the best area to clear space for your elevator.

Many homes have a layout that simplifies the process of building a shaft. If your home has closets in the same location on each floor, it’s quite simple to carve these existing closets into an elevator shaft. If you do not have a stacked closet layout, your contractor may need to build an addition to your home for the elevator shaft. No matter where you place your elevator, you will also need a pit between 6 and 10 inches deep and up to 10 feet of extra clearance overhead.

You’ll also want to consider convenience. You may want an elevator near the main rooms such as your bedroom and your living room, for example. As you discuss the plan of where to place your elevator with your contractor, you may discover the need to take on more construction. The timeline for this will depend on the work you need done and what your contractor can accommodate. The next step in the process is to design your cab and have it built to your specifications. So, you may be able to move on to this step while your home is under construction.

Designing the Elevator

Next, you will select from many cab designs and drive styles. At Inclinator, we offer six cab designs. You can choose a look that will match your home’s interior and your decorating preferences. Our standard cab features white walls that can be painted to match the color of your home, as well as beautiful laminate flooring. Our upgraded models offer a selection of wood or aluminum finishes.

You will also select a drive system for your elevator. We offer three drive systems, including the Cable Drum, the Hydraulic and the MRL Cable Drum. These will each travel up to 50 feet high with up to six stops. They each come in both 1,000- or 500-pound capacities. Work with one of our licensed dealers to help you determine which drive system will fit best with your home and your lifestyle needs.

We break down the entire process of designing and selecting the right elevator for your home in our free ebook. After you choose the cab design, drive system and other features, your elevator will be custom-built. Custom building a home elevator will take four to eight weeks. We recommend you begin working on construction to retrofit your elevator while it is manufactured.

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Installing the Elevator

Before we install the elevator itself, the site must be prepared. Your contractor will need to dig the pit and build the hoistway. If the elevator needs a separate engine room, this room must also be constructed before the wiring gets prepped for the installation. All construction and preparation will depend on how fast your contractor can work. After your contractor finishes building the hoistway and begins to set up the wiring, the home elevator installation process can begin. 

At Inclinator, our professional installers take great care to protect your home before installation begins. We cover all floors and furniture, and after the elevator is installed, we test the elevator to make sure it is working properly. A simple two-stop elevator installation will take approximately four days to install with two technicians working on it. Each added floor will add an extra day to the installation. Only Inclinator licensed dealers can install our elevators, and our dealers are well-trained, experienced and efficient installers. Our elevators also come pre-assembled, unlike other in-home elevators. Since our elevators come ready to install, the process is much faster.

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Many of the steps in the elevator selection and installation process will have varying timelines, depending on your schedule and how quickly your contractor can construct the elevator shaft.

• Gathering quotes: Getting quotes from elevator companies is estimated to take one to two weeks. The timeframe depends on how much research you want to do and how many companies you contact.
• Choosing a company: Selecting an elevator provider is estimated to take one to two weeks. You might take longer if you speak to more companies or plan to do more significant research before you make a choice.
• Planning where the elevator will go: You will likely discuss this step with a professional contractor. Your contractor can help you understand what is possible in your current layout and make a recommendation. Selecting a location may take up to one week. Then, it will be the contractor’s responsibility to draw up a plan. Talk to your contractor to get a better time estimate.
• Designing your elevator: Selecting a cab design and drive system is up to you. You may take just one day to pick which design you like, or as long as you need to be confident in your decision. Your contractor and your elevator dealer will make a recommendation for the drive system you need. After you get all these details in place, building the elevator will take four to eight weeks. During this time, we recommend that your contractor start prepping for installation.
• Installing the elevator: At a minimum, installing your elevator will take four days, assuming two technicians are on the job. For each floor above two stops, add another day to the installation schedule.

All Inclinator elevators meet or exceed international codes and have robust safety features, so our in-home elevators are reliable and secure. We have nearly a century of experience, and most of our employees have a 30-year tenure with our company. With such vast expertise in both our manufacturing process and our local dealerships, we offer residential elevators you can trust. If you are ready to fit your home with a stylish and functional Inclinator elevator, find a dealer near you to get the process started. 

If you have questions about our cabs, drive systems, add-on features or anything else, please feel free to contact us. We can put you in touch with your local dealer and guide you through each step of the in-home elevator selection and installation process.

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