Alright, let’s talk about them home elevators, you know, the ones them rich folks put in their houses. I heard some things about how big they gotta be, so let me tell ya what I know, or what I kinda figured out.
First off, how big should a home elevator be? Well, that depends, don’t it? Like, how big is your house? And how many folks you plannin’ on squishin’ in there at once? If it’s just you and the old man, maybe you don’t need a big one. But if you got all them grandkids comin’ over, well, you might need somethin’ bigger.
I heard tell there’s some rules about it, somethin’ called “ADA.” Sounds fancy, but it just means they gotta be big enough for wheelchairs and such. They say the door gotta be at least 36 inches wide. That’s, uh, about this much, I reckon.
(Gestures with hands)
. And the inside, the little room where you stand, that gotta be at least 51 inches deep and maybe 68 inches wide if the door’s on the side or 80 inches if it’s in the middle. That’s a lot of inches, ain’t it?
- Door Width: Gotta be at least 36 inches.
- Inside Space (Depth): Gotta be at least 51 inches.
- Inside Space (Width): At least 68 inches for side doors, 80 inches for center doors.
But see, most folks ain’t got that much space, I guess. So, they make ’em a bit smaller. I heard some common sizes are like 40 inches by 54 inches or 36 inches by 60 inches. Sounds about right for a couple of people, maybe three if you squeeze real tight. And the door, they say it usually gotta be at least 32 inches wide. Still pretty big, if you ask me.
Now, you might be thinkin’, “Why all this fuss about size?” Well, I figure it’s so everyone can use it, you know? Old folks, folks in wheelchairs, even them big delivery guys with their heavy boxes. And I guess it’s safer too, if there’s enough room to move around. Don’t want nobody gettin’ stuck in there, that’s for sure.
Space requirements is a big deal, they say. You gotta have enough room not just for the elevator itself, but for all the machinery that makes it go up and down. I seen pictures, it’s a whole mess of wires and pulleys and stuff. Takes up a lot of space, I bet.
And then there’s the cab dimensions. That’s just a fancy word for the inside of the elevator, where you stand. Like I said, gotta be big enough to move around, but not so big that it takes up your whole house. It’s a balance, you know? Gotta find what works for you.
I also heard tell that sometimes the size ain’t just about how many people fit, but about what you wanna put in there. Maybe you got a big ol’ suitcase you wanna take upstairs. Or maybe you just want enough room to stretch your legs. Whatever the reason, it’s good to think about it before you go gettin’ one of them elevators installed.
So, if you’re thinkin’ ’bout gettin’ one of them home elevators, make sure you do your homework. Figure out how big it needs to be, how much space you got, and what you’re gonna use it for. Don’t just go buyin’ the first one you see, ’cause you might end up with somethin’ that’s too small, too big, or just plain wrong. And that’d be a waste of good money, wouldn’t it?
Anyways, that’s all I know about them home elevator sizes. It ain’t rocket science, but it’s somethin’ to think about. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I gotta go make some supper.
Tags: Home Elevator, Elevator Sizes, Residential Elevator, Space Requirements, Cab Dimensions, ADA Compliance, Home Improvement, Accessibility
