Planning a home for the future doesn't mean giving up the features or design you love. Whether you're building a new home or making improvements to your current one, accessibility can be incorporated into your space without compromising its appearance.
For homeowners with multiple floors, one of the most practical additions to consider is a residential elevator.
Today's home elevators offer a variety of sizes, styles, and installation options, making it possible to improve accessibility while maintaining the character of your home.
So, how do you plan for a residential elevator without letting it take over your design?
Why Residential Elevators Are Becoming Part of Aging-in-Place Home Design
When homeowners think about aging in place, they often focus on making everyday tasks easier. But one important consideration is how they'll continue accessing every level of their home.
Stairs may not be a concern today, but planning ahead can help homeowners avoid difficult decisions or major renovations in the future.
A residential elevator provides a convenient way to travel between floors while allowing homeowners to continue enjoying the spaces they've already created.
And with modern elevator designs, accessibility doesn't have to come at the expense of appearance.
1. Start With the Location, Not the Elevator
When homeowners begin researching residential elevators, they often start by comparing models, finishes, and prices.
While those details matter, the first question should be: Where would an elevator make the most sense in your home?
An elevator's location affects much more than the space it occupies. It determines how you'll access it on each floor, what construction may be necessary, and how naturally it fits into your home's layout.
Think About How the Elevator Will Open
Imagine installing an elevator that connects your main living area to the second floor, only to discover that the upstairs entrance opens into an inconvenient corner or requires navigating a narrow hallway.
The elevator may fit, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's in the best location.
Ideally, the elevator should provide convenient access to frequently used spaces, such as bedrooms, living areas, garages, or laundry rooms, without interrupting the natural flow of the home.
A few important considerations include:
Landing space: Is there enough room to comfortably approach and exit the elevator?
Door placement: Can the entrances align with the surrounding floor plan?
Privacy: Would the elevator open directly into a bedroom or another area where privacy matters?
Future mobility needs: Could someone using a walker or wheelchair approach the elevator and maneuver at the landing?
These details are much easier to address during the planning stage than after construction is complete.
Elevator Entrances Don't Always Have to Face the Same Direction
Depending on the elevator model, different entrance configurations may be available.
Some traditional residential elevators can accommodate entrances on opposite sides or adjacent sides of the cab. Other models have more limited configurations.
This becomes particularly important when the best entrance location on the first floor doesn't align with the most convenient entrance on the second.
ROC Tip: Before choosing an elevator location, review the floor plans for every level it will serve. A location that seems perfect downstairs may create challenges upstairs.
2. Choose an Elevator That Complements Your Home
Residential elevators generally fall into two design approaches: those that blend into the architecture and those that become a visible feature.
Neither approach is necessarily better. The right choice depends on your home's layout, available space, and personal preferences.
Traditional Residential Elevators: Designed to Blend In
Traditional residential elevators are an excellent option for homeowners who want a customized elevator that complements their home's architecture.
These elevators operate inside a dedicated hoistway, allowing the equipment to remain largely out of sight when not in use.
The landing entrance can be coordinated with nearby doors, trim, and wall finishes, helping the elevator feel like a natural part of the home.
Inside the cab, homeowners may have options for wood finishes, decorative gates, lighting, and fixtures.
For example, a traditional elevator in a mountain home could feature warm wood finishes, while one in a contemporary home might incorporate darker fixtures and a more streamlined appearance.
Traditional elevators can also offer larger cab configurations, depending on the available hoistway and equipment selected.
However, they require planning for the hoistway, structural support, pit, overhead clearance, and associated equipment.
Shaftless Elevators: A Different Approach to Space and Design
For homeowners who don't have room for a traditional elevator shaft or prefer a different appearance, shaftless elevators may offer another solution.
These elevators come in several configurations, each with its own installation requirements and design possibilities.
Through-floor elevators typically travel between two levels through an opening in the floor. Certain models feature compact, enclosed cabs that can be incorporated into a corner or another suitable area without constructing a traditional full-height hoistway.
Pneumatic vacuum elevators feature a self-supporting cylindrical structure. Their transparent design can make them an architectural feature, particularly in open-concept homes.
Other shaftless models offer different footprints, entrance arrangements, and travel capabilities.
One important detail to understand is that shaftless doesn't mean construction-free.
Even without a traditional hoistway, installation may require floor openings, structural modifications, electrical preparation, and manufacturer-specific clearances.
3. Residential Elevator Space Requirements: What Homeowners Need to Know
When planning for a residential elevator, it's important to understand that each elevator has different space requirements. The amount of room needed depends on the type of elevator, its size, and how it will be installed.
Traditional residential elevators require a dedicated hoistway, while certain shaftless models offer more flexibility for homes with limited space.
Choosing the right elevator starts with understanding what your home can accommodate and what construction may be necessary.
How Much Space Does a Residential Elevator Need?
At ROC Elevators, we generally recommend planning for approximately a 60-inch by 60-inch hoistway when the home's layout allows.
This provides a useful starting point, but it is not a universal requirement or a guarantee of a particular cab size.
The actual space required depends on several factors:
Accessibility needs: Whether the elevator needs to accommodate a wheelchair, walker, or other mobility equipment.
Elevator system: The type of elevator selected, such as traditional hydraulic, winding drum, or shaftless.
Entrance configuration: Whether the elevator has a single entrance, opposite entrances, or adjacent entrances.
Number of floors: How many levels the elevator will travel between.
Available space: The home's existing layout and any structural limitations that may affect installation.
Some residential elevators can fit into smaller spaces, while larger or wheelchair-oriented configurations may require additional room.
Why Interior Cab Dimensions Matter
Not every residential elevator is designed to accommodate a wheelchair.
An elevator intended primarily for a standing passenger may have a smaller interior than one designed for wheelchair access.
Even when a wheelchair fits inside the cab, the entrance width and available maneuvering space at each landing must also be considered.
If wheelchair accessibility is part of your long-term plan, it's important to discuss those needs before finalizing the elevator location and dimensions.
Planning ahead can make a significant difference in the equipment options available later.
The Elevator Pit
Many traditional residential elevators require a recessed area beneath the lowest landing.
This space, called the elevator pit, provides necessary clearance for the elevator's components and operation.
For certain residential elevator configurations, an approximately 8-inch pit may be appropriate, although the required depth varies by manufacturer and model.
In new construction, the pit can often be incorporated into the foundation plans.
In an existing home, creating a pit may require modifying a concrete slab or other structural elements.
Overhead Clearance
Overhead clearance refers to the vertical space required above the elevator's uppermost landing.
This is especially important when considering an elevator near an attic, beneath a sloped roof, or in a home with limited ceiling height.
For some traditional residential elevators, approximately 108 inches of overhead clearance may be a useful planning reference, depending on the selected cab height and equipment.
However, actual requirements vary by manufacturer and model.
A location that appears suitable based on its floor dimensions may not work if the overhead clearance is insufficient.
Does a Residential Elevator Need a Machine Room?
Not all residential elevators require a separate machine room.
Some traditional hydraulic elevators require space for a pump, controller, and associated equipment. Depending on the selected system and applicable requirements, this equipment may be located in a dedicated machine room or an approved machine-room-less arrangement.
Other elevator technologies have different equipment requirements.
ROC Tip: When reviewing architectural plans, consider the hoistway, pit, overhead clearance, and equipment location together rather than focusing only on the elevator footprint.
A beautifully integrated residential elevator in a finished home, ideally a real ROC installation that demonstrates how the elevator complements the surrounding architecture.
A look at the historic home of Helen Keller’s sister, where ROC Elevators installed a residential elevator to improve accessibility while preserving the home’s original character.
4. Adding an Elevator to an Existing Home
Homeowners sometimes assume that installing an elevator in an existing home means sacrificing a large portion of their living space.
However, there may be more possibilities than they initially realize.
Stacked Closets
Closets located directly above one another can sometimes provide a potential location for a traditional residential elevator.
However, two closets that appear aligned on a floor plan aren't automatically suitable.
The available dimensions, floor framing, structural support, pit location, overhead clearance, and entrance arrangements all need to be evaluated.
Near an Existing Staircase
Areas adjacent to staircases can sometimes provide a practical elevator location because the home already has circulation space connecting the floors.
However, stair framing, structural walls, and available landing space may affect whether the location is feasible.
Through an Open Floor Area
Certain shaftless elevators can travel through an appropriately prepared floor opening.
This option may be worth considering when constructing a traditional hoistway would significantly change the home's layout.
The floor structure must still be evaluated and modified as required for the selected equipment.
Exterior Elevator Additions
When interior space is limited, adding an elevator outside the existing footprint may be another possibility.
An exterior addition can help preserve interior living areas, although it introduces additional considerations such as foundations, weather protection, exterior finishes, and access points on each floor.
The takeaway: An existing home's layout doesn't necessarily eliminate the possibility of an elevator. It simply makes choosing the right equipment and location more important.
5. Building a New Home? Plan for the Elevator Before the Floor Plan Is Final
One of the most common misconceptions about residential elevator planning is that the elevator company doesn't need to be involved until construction is nearly complete.
In reality, early coordination can help prevent unnecessary changes.
When an elevator is included in the initial plans, the architect and builder can account for the correct hoistway dimensions, entrance locations, pit, overhead clearance, and equipment requirements.
This helps avoid situations where a finished space is too narrow, an entrance conflicts with another feature, or additional structural work is needed.
What If You're Not Ready to Install an Elevator Yet?
Some homeowners choose to prepare their new home for a future elevator rather than install one immediately.
Vertically aligned closets are one possible approach.
These closets can serve as storage until the homeowner decides to move forward with installation.
However, this approach works best when the future elevator's requirements are considered during the original design.
It's important to evaluate the proposed hoistway dimensions, floor framing, foundation or pit provisions, overhead space, and future entrance locations.
Simply labeling two closets as "future elevator" on a drawing doesn't guarantee that an elevator will fit.
A manufacturer-specific planning guide can help the design team establish suitable dimensions before construction begins.
6. Understanding the Construction and Installation Process
A residential elevator installation typically involves coordination between the elevator company and the homeowner's builder or contractor.
Understanding each party's responsibilities can help prevent delays and unexpected construction changes.
What the Builder or Contractor Typically Handles
Depending on the elevator type and project scope, the general contractor may be responsible for:
Constructing the hoistway or preparing the floor opening.
Completing necessary framing and structural modifications.
Constructing the elevator pit, when required.
Providing the required electrical service.
Preparing equipment spaces and access.
Completing surrounding drywall, flooring, trim, and other finishes.
These responsibilities should be confirmed before work begins.
What ROC Elevators Handles
ROC Elevators works with homeowners and construction teams to coordinate the elevator portion of the project.
Our process includes reviewing the proposed installation, providing applicable manufacturer planning guides, coordinating elevator equipment and installation, and handling the applicable elevator permitting and inspection process.
Before installation, we also verify that the required construction preparations are complete.
This coordination is important because an elevator cannot simply be installed into a space that hasn't been properly prepared for the selected equipment.
A successful elevator installation starts long before the equipment arrives on-site.
7. Think About How You'll Use the Elevator, Not Just How It Will Look
A residential elevator can be an attractive addition to a home, but everyday usability should be part of the design conversation.
Consider what you'll regularly transport between floors.
Will you use the elevator for laundry baskets, groceries, luggage, or household items? Are you planning for a family member who may eventually need a walker or wheelchair?
These considerations can influence the cab size, entrance arrangement, and equipment selection.
Questions Worth Asking Before Choosing an Elevator
How many floors will it serve? Some elevator types are intended for two levels, while others can accommodate additional stops.
Who will be using it? A compact single-passenger elevator may meet one homeowner's needs but may not be appropriate for someone requiring wheelchair access.
Where should the doors open? The most convenient entrance arrangement can vary between floors.
What will it look like when it's not in use? Some elevators are largely concealed within a hoistway, while others remain visible.
How much construction are you comfortable undertaking? The answer may influence whether a traditional or shaftless system is more practical.
These details help determine whether an elevator will work for your home over time.
A Home That Works for You, Now and in the Future
A residential elevator shouldn't feel like something that was added as an afterthought.
The right location, equipment selection, and construction planning can make an elevator a natural part of your home while providing convenient access to every level.
Whether you're building a new home or exploring ways to make your current one more accessible, understanding your options early can help you make decisions that fit both your home's design and your long-term needs.
At ROC Elevators, we work with homeowners, architects, and builders to identify the right elevator solution and coordinate the details needed for installation.
Considering a Residential Elevator? Let's Talk About Your Plans.
Do you have a floor plan or an existing space in mind for an elevator? Send us your plans or schedule an on-site consultation. Our team can help you explore the possibilities before construction begins.