by Shaun Leary | Jan 23, 2018 | Blog
An elevator is a platform, either enclosed or open, designed to lift freight to higher floors inside a building. Elevators tend to be a uniform element of any tall residential or commercial building, and have even made their way into homes.
But since elevators are a vehicle of the masses, they are automatically prone to accidents, some of which can be gruesome. This raises the question: How dangerous are they? The answer might surprise you. As it turns out, elevators are actually safer than stairs!
Stairs vs. Elevators – Risk Statistics
In the US, elevators make 18 billion passenger-filled trips every year, as per ConsumerWatch.com. The Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Consumer Product Safety Commission projects that all those yearly elevator malfunctions lead to around 27 deaths on average. Not surprisingly, a majority of people at risk are the mechanics whose job is to fix those faulty elevators. As calculated by the LA Times, elevator fatality rate rounds of to 0.00000015% per trip in general. This percentage is even lower when it comes to the general public.
On the other hand, approximately 1,600 people succumb to death or debilitating injuries after falling down the stairs, as per data collected from the Center for Disease Control’s National Center for Health Statistics!
What About Home Elevators?
Home elevator installations are no longer exclusive to luxurious residences owing to the availability of much more cost-friendly options. As per the National Association of Home Builders, around 12% of current or potential homebuyers considered residential elevators an essential or desirable feature, up from 8% in 2004. Despite its growing popularity, there are certain myths and misconceptions about a home elevator installation that prevents a lot of homeowners to avail this facility. Here we will be looking at 5 of those myths.
1. Home Elevators Aren’t Safe Enough
A lot of people are under the impression that home elevators, and even elevators in general, are only held up by a single rope or cable that can snap anytime and leave passengers badly injured or worse! This is not true. Home elevators are actually supported by multiple strong steel cables, where each cable has the capacity to support a fully-loaded car. There has only been a single documented elevator free-fall incident that happened in the 1940s when a plane collided with the Empire State Building, thus damaging the cables of one of the elevators.
2. Over-Trafficking the Home Elevator Can Lead to Brake Failure
While overcrowding the elevator is not recommended, there is no real harm involved. That’s because an elevator that is weighed down too much will stay stationary in place until the excess weight has been lifted off. A majority of home elevators use intelligent technology that enables it to sense when it is overloaded, thereby preventing movement until some of the passengers have stepped out.
3. You are In Danger if The Power Goes Out
Elevators nowadays come with a built-in “Emergency Lowering” feature, where the elevator descends to the lowest floor possible in case the power goes out. Once the vehicle lands on the ground, the doors unlock, allowing passengers to step out safely.
Why Home Elevators are Safer Than Taking the Stairs?
As we learned from the aforementioned statistics, taking the stairs can actually be more dangerous than riding in the elevator. Not only are more prone to missing a step and falling, you also have a higher chance of twisting your ankle or pinching a nerve in case you take a wrong step at the wrong time.
Furthermore, if you tend to get up late at night to grab a glass of water or enjoy an occasional drink then taking the stairs may not be the best idea. Having a home elevator is also beneficial for small children and less mobile individuals, to help minimize accidents that might take place by going up and down the stairs. Some homes may also be able to control access to an elevator.
All in all, home elevators not only offer functionality, but also reduce the risk of unfortunate mishaps that could befall you if you’d rather take the stairs. With all the advances in elevator technology that are continuously being made today, the experience of a home elevator has become a very safe and comfortable one.
by Shaun Leary | Jan 17, 2018 | Blog
If you’re someone who likes aesthetic but also loves the value and convenience that a residential elevator brings to your home, we’re excited to introduce you to the Savaria Vuelift, which flawlessly combines both functionality and design.
Unlike other lifts, the Vuelift elevator does not need a hoist way, so it can be installed into your existing home or added easily into an active renovation. The elevator itself can also fit through hallways, doorways, and up staircases with no extra equipment required. It’s truly the mark of convenience. While a 4″ pit is recommended, Vuelift can be installed without a pit and with a small ramp or short step into the elevator at the lower level – and can be configured for travel up to 42.5 feet with as many as six stops.
Key features
- Automatic operation
- Illuminated push-button hall call stations
- Bifold cab gate
- Balcony attachment or through-the-floor setup
- Integrated touch-pad phone
- Automatic on/off LED cab light
- Textured semi gloss black powder-coat frame
Optional features
- Panoramic cab ceiling
- White, silver, or custom powder-coat frame color
- Straight through or 90 degree entry/exit configurations
- Pitless with short ground floor ramp (acrylic only)
- Up to 6 stops
The Vuelift has beautiful visual appeal that would make it an excellent design feature in your home
The Vuelift boasts 360-degree-views with clear acrylic (840 lb capacity) or low-iron silica glass (up to 950 lb capacity). The octogonal prism design is reminiscent of a multi-faceted crystal – a sleek, modern centerpiece for your home.
The Vuelift is also completely customizable. The metal portions of the Vuelift are powder-coated to virtually any color you’d like, which means that you can choose what best suits your home: a seamless integration or a pop of color for contrast and character.
Are elevators in the home are dangerous, expensive, and impractical?
Absolutely not. In fact, safety is guaranteed & maintenance is minimal. With the Vuelift, there are no corners cut. All the parts go by (or even beyond) the most strenuous safety regulations to ensure you and your family stay safe.
A hidden cost with a home elevator is always maintenance. Every machine in your home will need to be maintained if you want it performing at 100%, but some home elevators definitely require more than others. The Vuelift is energy-efficient, and it just uses two heavy-duty cables to lift you up and down. The minimalism used in both the visual and structural design of the Vuelift means that you need very little maintenance to ensure you a product that will last for years.
Safety features
- Emergency battery back-up for cab lighting and lowering
- Manual lowering
- Emergency alarm and stop switch
- Over-speed governor
- Safety brakes
- Elevator door interlocks
- In-use indicator lights on hall call stations
Where can I get a Vuelift Elevator?
The price of your elevator depends on your home, so contact us at Celtic Elevators to so we can provide you with a thorough consultation and estimate. If you’re looking for an elevator that has both style and substance, check out the Vuelift. It will be the centerpiece of your home for a long time to come.
Check out the full brochure for the Savaria Vuelift here.
by Shaun Leary | Jan 17, 2018 | Blog
If you or a loved one have trouble traveling up and down your home, a residential elevator just might be the solution. When people think of elevators, they tend to think of businesses or other service buildings, or perhaps in a mansion. But an elevator can be in your home, and in this post, we’ll talk about the pricing and the costs of a home elevator.
So lets get down to million dollar question..
Q) How much do home elevators cost?
A) Well, There is real no exact price for a residential elevators. The cost will depend on many factors as I will explain below. But it’s best to get quotes around your area and then go with the best fit to your needs. Having said all that, Here are some factors that go into the cost of a home elevator:
Building Permit
When installing an elevator, you may need to have a building permit. The cost of the permit will vary depending on where you live, or if you need one at all, and can cost anywhere from $100 to over $1,000. Go to your nearest city hall and see what you need to do so you can be in the clear legally.
Size of Your Home
The more floors the elevator will need to stop on, the more it will cost you. If your house is more than two floors, consider that when thinking about if you need a residential elevator. Having an extra floor can cost you an extra 10 grand.
Size of the Elevator
Naturally, a larger elevator will cost you more than a small one will.
Type of Elevator
There are different types of elevators you can choose from, and we will highlight the main two, which are hydraulic and pneumatic. Hydraulic is an elevator that is powered by an arm lifting it up, and it usually runs smoother and quieter. It’s also much more expensive than pneumatic, which is powered by air pressure. Pneumatic elevators are smaller, and tend to be used more in homes, so if you’re getting an elevator, you’ll probably choose pneumatic, which costs around $10,000 on average. A hydraulic can cost you over $30,000, just for a comparison, and is better if you own a business.
Installation
You bought the elevator, so now you have to install it. First, make sure there is space in your home where an elevator can fit. Spare rooms are a good idea. As a last resort, you may have to build more space, which is another post for another time. In this case, we’ll assume you have some space.
Installation costs will depend on what kind of elevator you have, but for an average home, expect around $5,000.
Maintenance
When your home elevator is installed and running, you still need someone to perform maintenance checks on an elevator. The last thing you want is for the elevator to go out while you’re riding it. For an elevator, it will depend on the maintenance services you need, but it can be around $100 a month.
Repairs
If your maintenance team finds a problem with your elevator, they will need to repair it. Costs will vary, but it’s usually around $70 an hour.
The Total
So, how much do residential elevators cost? For an average, two story house, you’re looking at about $15,000 for an elevator after all the expenses are included. Again, this will all depend on size, type, and how many floors you have. You can talk to us and ask for a free estimate and get started!
Elevators Can Pay Off!
Besides helping the disabled, you can use your elevator to save money and even profit in the long run. For example, elevators can be tax write offs if they’re over 7.5% of your total income. We’re no tax experts, so talk to a professional for more information.
Besides that, elevators are also a great way to add value to your house. The value goes up if they are installed as your home is built. When you sell your home, you can get over half the amount you spent on the elevator back in your pocket, and this is just the minimum. Sometimes, you can get more.
Residential elevators can be a bit costly at first, but it’s a small price to pay if you or someone you know is having trouble going between floors, whether they’re elderly or disabled. If you have had questions about home elevators, feel free to contact us.
Recent Comments