Also, if you are already AT the point where you need an elevator to get upstairs and your doctor will sign an order that it is a medical necessity, you may be able to write off a portion of the cost as a medical expense.

Below is a link that outlines the requirements.

Unfortunately DH and I are still in our fifties and our doctors are still pushing us to climb stairs as often as possible for exercise. So, tho we both have knee issues, neither of our doctors would sign the letter. I'm thinking of switching to a new doctor. LOL!

Before I selected the Lev, I researched it in depth including driving over 100 miles to our "local" supplier where they had one installed on the premises that I could listen to and ride in. It didn't seem too noise to me there but then DH says I could sleep through a tornado. LOL.

Plus, except for when we have overnight company, it is just DH and me and we tend to keep pretty much the same hours most of the time. I don't think one of us will be too likely to be running the elevator while the other is sleeping. I did position the elevator though so that it is not right up against any of the bedrooms.

MACHINE ROOM (drive in space adjacent to shaft at any level)
1. Elect. winding drum & cable (gearless) - counterbalanced
2. Hydraulic piston

NO MACHINE ROOM (drive mounted at top of lift frame)
1. Elect. winding drum & cable (gearless) - counterbalanced
2. Elect. gear & chain - counterbalanced

They all have different advantages and disadvantage and are offered by the major manufacturers so it is best to talk to a company representative or a local installer.

I have had good luck with Inclimator, a company that specializes in residential elevators. Their machine roomless gearless elevator is called the Inclinator LX and the other types are called the Elevette 100, 200, 300, and 400 depending on the cab quality. The Elevette 500 has no shaft.

All of the mechanicals are above the second floor and are reasonably quiet, in my opinion. I can hear it operating from the master bedroom, but it's not jarring. It's a little louder, for example, than our Panasonic WhisperWarm exhaust fan above the shower, but not half as noisy as the kitchen vent hood or SubZero 'frig noises, so it tends to blend in with other household background sounds. We did require one service call in the first year for a relatively minor problem. The company responded promptly.

Hope this helps.

As I recall, there is a model called the Windsor that doesn't require any pit at all. Sorry I don't remember who makes it.

Here is a link to a site that provides some basic information about different styles of home elevators. You can then look up each one on the web to get more info. My experience tho is that you can't get cost info without contacting a dealer in your area.

There WAS a death in our area....a 10 yr old girl somehow opened the door of a broken system while visiting a house....and was somehow killed. I personally will not have an elevator in my new house (only 2 levels) partly because this tall shaft in the 4-level house really freaks me out. When we very first bought the house, the elevator had a malfunction and stopped between floors. I had to open the door to get us out (I over-rode the safety latch) and when I opened it, the open tall shaft was exposed. I knew that, and was expecting it, but a visiting 1st grade child was standing there when I opened the door, and I nearly had heart failure. He was near the opening to the shaft. Of course I screamed at him to back up, and he did.....I am just not comfortable with that tall shaft in my house. (I'm trying to sell the house.)

But still, the elevator is great. I've never had a problem with it again, and I do have it inspected each year. I don't know who installed the elevator, but have a local electrician company service it, and they are very reasonable. (They are qualified or certified or something for these elevators.)

We are building a 2 story home on pilings on the coast (so essentially 3 floors/3 stops). Looking for more opinions on elevators please. Distance between stops will be approx. 10-12 feet each (9' ceilings plus trusses between floors, exact ground floor pilings height currently unknown), a pit of 6-12" or even more is no problem, need an elevator with NO separate mechanical room. I was told that the chain drive is one of the best options for a coastal application because hydraulics are supposed to have a tendancy to breakdown after a few years.

So far, I have had 2 quotes ...
$16,500 - LEV elevator from ThyssenKrupp, counterweighted geared chain drive, standard 36x48 (interior dimensions) car with no upgrades or options, standard interior finish melamine or unfinished wood (birch/oak/cherry) panels, standard wall mounted phone, Type 1 - Left Hand Car with Standard Pocket Gate Stack - Rail Side, 950 lb capacity, includes 5yr parts 2yr labor warranty

$17,295 - LLT-950 elevator from REI (Residential Elevators Inc), counterweighted geared traction/cable?/chain? drive, their standard car is custom measured and fit to your hoistway and will be more or less the same size as the LEV, standard 'Classic series' car with no upgrades or options, standard interior finish white laminate or factory finished wood (oak/birch) panels, standard built in phone, type HP-2 - Left Hand Car with Standard Pocket Gate Stack - Rail Side, 950 lb capacity, includes 1yr parts & labor warranty

One thing I do really like about REI is this from their brochure ... ALUMINUM & STAINLESS STEEL Because our factory and headquarters are located less than 10 miles from the Gulf of Mexico in Florida’s Panhandle, everything we engineer and build is designed to withstand the harsh and humid environment of the South’s coastal communities. The Difference - Built to last in the most extreme environments - even if you are not located in one.

REI may be doing it right, but I would be very careful to check them out thoroughly. Improper use of the best materials for the job can be worse than correct use of inferior but acceptable materials.

Something to think about

Thanks for the heads up creekside ... this is good to know and now I will be sure to check thoroughly about aluminum and stainless throughout the home, not just in the elevator. Of course, I am not set on it being one of those 2 manufacturers - these were just the only 2 I have contacted so far. I got some other names from up-post that I will be contacting as well.

Thank you both for your posts. I appreciate any kind of responses for opinions on elevators. Whether it be thoughts on manufacturers, first-hand experience, suggestions, or safety things to consider, or whatever !

I have a good size house with lots of closets. Unfortunately none line up and no 2nd story closet is in spot that allows for an elevator on the first floor.

I have had 3 companies in. ThyssenKrupp and Inclinator had no viable recommendations. The last company was an independent dealer was very helpful. He said the only viable option was to install it on the outside. He had a list of builders that had experience in elevator shafts. I am checking out the cost now. I have a perfect spot for it. He recommended the Waupaca dual cable system – 16K installed. He said ThyssenKrupp has a similar model but is 5K more. The hydraulic system is 4K more and provides no benefit. It can handle 800 lbs. This will be plenty for a power chair and 2 adults. A cable system only has to be inspected every 5 years. A hydraulic system needs to be inspected annually. The cable system needs a 6" pit. It also needs a 2 x 4 machine room. You can mount the cable system above the elevator but it costs 2K more. Also, it is hard to service. His comment is the noise is about a third of a vacuum cleaner. After a few days you will not notice it. From what I could tell all the models are reliable after any initial problems are fixed. They do need to make the elevator ready to have a land-line phone (federal requirement). There is no requirement to actually have a phone unless it is a local code. I may leave a cell phone in there just in case.

He commented that it could add 20K to the value of a home. I am not sure about 20K. I plan to check this out. I can deduct some of the expense due to medical necessity.