Most people assume that adding an elevator to a finished house means tearing it apart. With a traditional elevator there is some truth in that. A pneumatic elevator is different, and it is the reason many North Carolina homeowners now have an elevator in a house that was never designed for one.
What makes it different
- It is a self-supporting tube that stands on your existing floor
- It needs no pit
- It needs no machine room
- The only building work is a round opening at each upper floor
How it moves
Fans at the top of the tube reduce the air pressure above the cab. The normal pressure below pushes the cab up. Letting air back in lowers it. The cab locks in place at each floor.
Installation
Once the openings are cut, the tube is assembled in sections on site. The whole installation typically takes days.
Where it fits in an existing home
- A two-story foyer
- Beside or within the curve of the stairs
- A corner of the family room below an upstairs hall
- A townhome stairwell
What to check first
- A clear vertical path with no beams, ducts or plumbing in the way
- Enough ceiling height above the top stop
- A floor able to carry the load
Sizes
From a single-person cab to one that takes a wheelchair.
Honest limitations
- The round cab is smaller than a traditional elevator’s
- You will hear the fans as it rises
- It is a visible feature
If the power fails
The cab descends slowly to the lowest level.
When a traditional elevator is better
In new construction, in a townhome with a ready-made closet stack, or where the largest possible cab is needed.
See where one could go
The Vision range is on our home elevators page. Call Nationwide Lifts of North Carolina on (910) 377-7643 or request a free home visit.