If you are thinking about a residential elevator in Southern California, plan on three separate budgets. People who account for only the first are the ones who get surprised.
Budget 1, the elevator
What you pay the elevator company for equipment and installation. It depends on:
- Type: vacuum, traditional or custom glass
- Number of stops, including a garage or roof deck
- Cab size and capacity
- Finishes and fixtures
Vacuum elevators are generally the most economical to buy and install. Custom glass elevators sit at the top of the range.
Budget 2, the construction
What you pay a contractor to prepare the house.
- A traditional elevator needs a hoistway, a pit and doors at each floor
- A vacuum elevator needs floor openings and little more
- Hillside homes may need extra structural work
- Labor rates in coastal Los Angeles and San Diego are high
Budget 3, design and approvals
- Architectural and structural drawings
- City or county plan check and permit fees
- State elevator permitting and inspection, where applicable
- Coastal or hillside review in some areas
How to reduce the total
- Add the elevator during a remodel you are doing anyway
- Choose a vacuum elevator for a finished home
- Use existing stacked closets
- Decide on finishes early to avoid change orders
After installation
Allow for annual maintenance.
The comparison that matters
The realistic alternative to an elevator is usually selling and buying a single-level home, with all the transaction costs and tax consequences that brings. Against that, an elevator often looks modest.
A smaller step
If one staircase is the only problem, a stair lift costs a fraction as much.
Ask for a proposal
See our home elevators, then call Nationwide Lifts of Southern California on (714) 228-9982, or (858) 257-0403 in San Diego. You can also request a quote online.