How to Choose the Right Location for Your Residential Elevator

So you’ve decided to purchase and install a residential elevator. Congratulations!

Deciding to install a residential elevator is a big deal, one that will make your home feel much more luxurious, increase your property’s value and make it much more convenient to go to different levels of your home.

There’s only one problem: how do you decide where you’re going to put it? Choosing the right location is essential for getting the most out of your home elevator.

Here are some things to think about when you’re picking a place to install your elevator.

Choosing a Functional Location

The physical location of your residential elevator says a lot about its functional purpose.

For example, some people pick an elevator that looks very chic and sophisticated — like an all-glass cab design — and makes a stylish statement. In that case, they want their residential elevator to be front-and-center for visitors; they want it to be the very first thing people see when they walk in, and it’s meant to be used by visitors as well.

On the other hand, some people don’t intend for everyone to use their residential elevator, and it’s meant more for functionality. For example, personal elevators can be fitted into closets, giving people the privacy they want and still letting them go from level to level with relative ease.

Choosing a location is as much about function as aesthetics.

Size Really Does Matter

When it comes to picking the right location for your residential elevator, size really does matter.

You have to consider the size of the elevator cab and shaft you’re going to purchase as well as the physical size of the space where you want to install the unit. Remember that you have to consider the size of the elevator shaft as well as the cab when you’re thinking about where to place your lift.

Some elevators are small enough to tuck away neatly into a closet, but others will require more space. Consider the size of your family, how often you’ll use the elevator and what you’re going to use it for primarily.

Shaft-Less Options Available

If you’re tight on space and have an open layout in your house, you might consider going with a shaft-less elevator option. Shaft-less elevators are great for residential use because it doesn’t require a long elevator shaft — in fact, it can fit almost anywhere in your home!

When you ride it upstairs, you simply leave the elevator upstairs until you’re ready to come back down. In the meantime, the area where the elevator was is empty — leaving your space looking open and clean.

Choosing a place for your residential elevator isn’t an easy decision, but it will make a major difference for your home and the functionality you and your family will get out of the lift.

If you’ve decided to purchase and install a residential elevator and you live in the central Arizona area, Celtic Elevator is your premier residential elevator and installation company. Give them a call today to have all your questions answered about best practices for choosing a location for your residential elevator installation.

Personal Elevators are Safer Than You Think

Getting stuck on an elevator is a classic theme in movies and TV shows, but in reality, people don’t actually get stuck on elevators that often, and if they do, the situation is usually resolved fairly quickly. In truth, elevators are often safer than stairs!

When you walk into an office building, you don’t think twice about stepping into one of the lifts at the elevator bank. In fact, it’s something that many of us do every single day without giving it a single conscious thought.

We don’t worry about the safety of the elevator — we’re just thinking about getting to our destination as quickly and conveniently as possible. But when it comes to residential elevators, hopping on one makes some people feel nervous.

The truth is, personal elevators in homes are just as safe — if not safer — than commercial elevators.

Less Wear and Tear

If you have a private elevator in your home, chances are you use it a few times a day. Compare that number of uses with that of a commercial elevator at any typical office building.

If you sit in the lobby of an office building, you’ll notice that some of the elevators seem to never stop moving. As soon as bell rings, the doors slide open and passengers start stepping off, a new group of people is waiting to get on. All this traffic causes more wear and tear for commercial elevators than residential elevators.

That wear and tear not only affects the performance of the elevator, but it also takes a toll on the carpet, the railings, and wall panels. Because you’re using it less and carrying less weight than commercial elevators, your private lift will resist some of the normal, everyday wear that happens to commercial elevators.

Regular Maintenance Agreements

Whether commercial or residential, National Safety Standards recommends that all elevators go through regular maintenance.

Elevators that go through routine maintenance will continue to be safe for you to use, whether they’re in your office or in your home. Regular maintenance includes cleaning, lubrication, and routine adjustments.

With the proper regular maintenance, your residential elevator can be even safer to use than walking down your stairs!

Backup Power

Just the thought of losing power while you’re riding up or down in your elevator is enough to scare even the most courageous among us, but backup power systems ensure that you’re never stuck in an elevator cab.

Large office buildings typically have a backup generator to keep essential electrical operations running smoothly until the power comes back on, but most people don’t have a similar backup system for their home. Residential elevators, however, are available with their own battery backup options, so you’re always able to maintain your mobility.

For those in the central Phoenix area who are thinking about installing a residential elevator or just have questions about home elevators, contact Celtic Elevator! Celtic Elevator has the experience and technological know-how to answer all your questions about residential elevator safety and what’s involved in regular maintenance. Call Celtic Elevator today!

Save Your Back with a Residential Elevator

There’s nothing worse than buying a great new piece of furniture and then suddenly realizing that you have to haul it up a flight or two of stairs. It’s a pain in the neck, and if you’re not careful, it can become a pricey pain in your back.

You can always hire movers to help you, or you can try to convince a friend to lend a hand, but a residential elevator can save you time and might even save your back!

In addition to making moving furniture a breeze, residential elevators are also great for lifting a variety of other things as well.

Moving Heavy Furniture

Moving heavy furniture in a multi-level house is easy with a residential elevator. Whether you need to lift a chair, sofa or even a new mattress, your home elevator makes the process much easier and safer.

If you’re planning on regularly using your residential elevator for moving heavy furniture, you should consider purchasing protective elevator pads and hardware. The protective pads hang on the interior walls of your elevator’s cab from specially designed hooks, making it easy to put up and remove them. With the protective pads properly hung, you don’t have to worry about scuffing, scratching or denting your cab’s walls. If you accidentally hit one of the walls, the protective pad absorbs the impact and preserves the wall’s finish.

Lifting Houseguests’ Luggage

Could anything be more impressive than taking your houseguests’ luggage and having them waiting in your guests’ rooms? With a home elevator, moving those bags and suitcases up and down the levels of your house is simple, and since you’re not lugging them upstairs, you’ll save your back and you won’t damage them on the steps.

If you’re hosting guests frequently, you might consider picking up a luggage cart that would make it even easier to take your guests’ bags at the door and roll them on the elevator and into their rooms.

Putting away groceries and packing boxes

On a day-to-day basis, a residential elevator can work wonders for doing simple things, like getting groceries from one level to another and moving boxes and holiday decorations from level to level.

With an elevator, you never have to worry about lugging grocery bags upstairs, potentially damaging your fruits and produce. And if you decorate your home for the holidays, taking everything up to the attic can be frustrating, but your residential elevator can make quick work of putting away your decorations. Like moving heavy furniture, though, you might want to consider purchasing some protective pads for your walls.

While having an elevator in your house is an amazing convenience for going between the levels of your home, it can also be used for a number of other things, making it possible for you to move heavy objects up and down the stairs with ease.

Installing a residential elevator isn’t too complicated, but you need to work with a team you trust to do the job correctly. For those in the central Phoenix area, Celtic Elevator is your one-stop for all your residential elevator needs and questions. Give them a call for a free quote today!

Adding a Residential Elevator? Here’s What You Need to Know

Have you been considering adding a residential elevator in your home? If so, congratulations! You’re already one step closer to future-proofing your house and making your home more valuable to potential buyers.

While installing a home elevator isn’t a renovation project to be taken lightly, residential lifts have become much more common than they were previously, and they’re becoming more popular with different kinds of people — not just the extremely wealthy and those solely concerned with mobility.

Before you make a call to set up your free estimate for your residential elevator, here are a few things you’ll need to think about.

Elevators Increase Your Home’s Value

Having a residential elevator properly installed and regularly serviced can add tremendous monetary and practical value to your home. Even though moving people between floors is a home elevator’s primary purpose, it’s also a great option for moving heavy furniture, luggage and more from level to level.

And if you decide to sell your home, your elevator will make it much more attractive to potential buyers because they’ll see it as a true forever home, one that will allow them to remain independent long after they can’t go up and down stairs easily. Additionally, for buyers who aren’t interested in using it as an elevator, your lift can be converted to a dumb waiter or extra storage space.

Regular Home Elevator Maintenance is Essential

Well-maintained residential elevators are extremely safe, but if you neglect routine maintenance, your home elevator can become a liability for you and your family.

When you’re considering a residential elevator, it’s important to work with an established elevator installation company that offers an elevator maintenance contract for your lift. Make sure you do your research before choosing an elevator company; because home elevators are long-term commitments, you want to partner with a company that’s stable, one you can trust will be around tomorrow.

A good elevator maintenance contract typically covers routine cleaning and lubrications as well as hardware inspections and/or adjustments.

Your Installation Might Include Remodeling

Elevator installation and maintenance companies have popped up lately to keep up with the growing demand for residential elevators, and that’s driven down the cost of installing a new elevator in your home, but be aware that there are more costs associated with an elevator installation than just the elevator. Depending on the age and layout of your home, you may have to do some remodeling.

A qualified elevator company will give you a free quote, make sure your new elevator will be up to your location’s specific codes and regulations and walk you through the installation process, including any remodeling that may need to be done to complete the elevator addition.

In short, installing an elevator in your home is a great idea that can change the look and feel of your space, but you have to make sure you’re thinking about your home’s resale value, how you’ll maintain the lift and what company you can trust to install it properly.

For those in central Arizona, Celtic Elevator installs, supports, services and maintains residential elevators. Call Celtic Elevator for your free quote today!