What Are the Best Solutions for Installing Elevators in Existing Homes?

The leading option for installing elevators in pre-existing homes is Nibav’s compact vacuum-driven lifts. With zero pit, zero machine room, only ~1000 mm of existing home space needed, and installation in 24–48 working hours, they seamlessly retrofit into nearly every home.

Introduction: 

For most families, the decision to install an elevator is not necessarily during new construction but later—when either mobility, comfort, or accessibility evolves. Parents want to age in place, or multi-generational families want to improve their grandparents’ mobility or mobility for their children.

Most homeowners think that to add an elevator to an existing house is going to take weeks of construction work, structural changes to their home, and major disruption to their lives.

This is true for conventional lifts that require pits, machine rooms, and support structures. These older systems are untenable in existing homes, in particular Canadian suburban neighbourhoods with homes already built and sold in 2010.

Technology has improved. Now Nibav home elevators provide a retrofitting method that requires minimal space, zero pit, zero machine room, and installation in 24–48 working hours.

This makes them a natural home requirement for an existing home in Canada or any country in the world that wants the convenience, safety, and luxury of an elevator in their home without turning their house into a construction site.

The Problem of Installing Elevators in Existing Homes

Heavy Civil Work

Traditional methods require the installation of a pit for the elevator, a reinforced shaft, and additional support structures. In an existing home, this typically means tearing up floors, cutting into walls, and spending a long time reconstructing all of that afterwards—something most homeowners are not going to pursue.

Machine Room Requirements

Conventional home elevators typically require a dedicated machine room to accommodate motors and controllers. This is both expensive and impractical in smaller or denser urban homes. Adding a retrofitted machine room also often comes with the loss of otherwise usable living space.

Large Space Requirements

Older elevator designs need to occupy a larger footprint, making these concepts incompatible with duplexes, townhouses, and compact suburban homes that already have limited open space assigned down to a space plan.

Longer Duration

Traditional installation can take anywhere from weeks to months (from excavation to finish), which is certainly not convenient for families that have immediate accessibility requirements—i.e., seniors that have limited mobility and have to be able to access a level above, for example.

Why Nibav Elevators Are The Best Retrofit

1. No Pit Requirement
   Nibav lifts do not require digging a pit or deep foundation, which is the most time-consuming and disruptive part of an elevator project. Thus, Nibav lifts work well in heritage homes, bungalows, or modern homes where digging cannot occur.
2. No Machine Room
   The system is compact, with all of the machinery inside of the shaft. Therefore, there is no add-on to the home, there is no wasted living space, and there are no extensive renovations required. Homeowners do not have to give up storage or build a frame of some enclosure.
3. 1000 mm Requirement
   With as little as 1000 mm (39.3 in) clear at the location, Nibav elevators can fit into stairwells, corners, or open-concept living areas. Even in homes with very little usable floor space, Nibav’s smaller footprint supports installation in confined spaces.
4. Quick Installation in 24 to 48 Hours of Work
   Unlike traditional elevators that require weeks of construction, the installation process of the Nibav lift can only take 2 to 3 working days, allowing the family to resume full access to their home in almost no time, and the elevators are ready for full use within a week of installation.
5. Self-Supporting Structure
   The Nibav elevators are manufactured with a self-supporting shaft, which means they don’t measure the strength of the existing walls at all. This allows for great freedom of placement, where placement would typically be challenged by other structural necessities.
6. Clean and Modern Aesthetic
   Even beyond the functionality, the Nibav elevators will complement the aesthetic of any home. The transparent cabins, tailored finish options, and contemporary lighting make them more of a design feature than an addition.

Space Requirements for Nibav’s Models

The following is the required space for Nibav’s Series III and Series IV elevators:

Model	Type	Minimum Space Requirement
Series III Standard	Compact, Classic	1010 mm / 40 in
Series IV Standard	Smart, Compact	1000 mm / 39.3 in
Series III Max	Wheelchair-Friendly	1430 mm / 56 in
Series IV Max	Smart, Accessible	1430 mm / 56 in

Because of their compact requirements, Nibav elevators are one of the only home elevators that can easily be installed in an existing home, without tearing down walls or recreating entire sections of a home.

Benefits for Existing Homes in Canada

1. Retrofitting Older Homes

For retrofitting older homes, especially heritage homes or family bungalows, digging pits or constructing shafts is single-handedly impractical. Nibav offers a retrofit-ready solution with negligible civil work.

2. Urban Townhouses

In cities with limited spaces, such as Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver, space requirements of 1000 mm – 1430 mm make Nibav elevators possible without changing the footprint of the home.

3. Cold Climate Advantage

The cold Canadian winters can prolong construction projects and cause delays. With a 24–48 hour installation timeframe, Nibav elevators ensure that families will experience minimal or no prolonged interruptions due to the weather.

4. Future-Proofing Homes

Installing a Nibav elevator improves accessibility on multiple levels, but it also adds value to any home. It is easy for buyers to see the value of an attractively finished, certified elevator, installed quickly, in any modern home.

5. Lifestyle Upgrade

Nibav elevates the residential elevator experience with its silent operation, modern aesthetic, and customizable finish. It is not only a means of mobility but also an elevation of lifestyle—a modern, safe, proven elevator with looks, function, and process.

FAQs

1. How long does it take to install an elevator in an existing home?
   Nibav elevators can be installed in just 24–48 working hours. While conventional elevators take weeks of construction, Nibav’s design allows for quick placement, no pit, no machine room, with minimal civil work required. Families may use their elevator almost immediately.
2. How much space does it require to install a Nibav elevator?
   Depending on the model, Nibav requires a space between 1000 mm (39.3 in) and 1430 mm (56 in) for installation. This duality allows for smaller homes, duplexes, or larger residences to install a wheelchair-accessible elevator.
3. Do existing homes need to be modified structurally for installation of Nibav elevators?
   No. The self-supported shaft means that Nibav elevators do not require walls to be reinforced or nearby machine rooms. Nibav will fit into a corner of the house, a stairwell, or an open space in the home. As a result, it does not require any extensive reconstructions or alterations to install.
4. How is Nibav better than traditional elevators for retrofits?
   Nibav satisfies space requirements, requires no pit or machine room, and the completion time is 24–48 hours. A vertical lift is not practical for use in existing houses because it requires large pits, long installation periods, and heavy construction. This leaves homeowners the alternative of a modern, practical, and certified option.

Conclusion: Outfitting Existing Homes with Style

So, what are the best solutions for outfitting elevators in existing homes? The best solution is easy: Nibav Home Elevators.

With no pit, no machine room, space requirements of 1000 mm–1430 mm, and a 24–48 working hour installation, Nibav allows world-class accessibility to the home without weeks of interruption.

For Canadian homes, Nibav is the go-to solution if there is a desire to fit a home accessibility option, offering a quick, stylish, and reputable home elevator.

Nibav’s home elevators will elevate a backdrop and not just be a lift—this is a balance of safety, comfort, and design.