How to Dig out for a Residential Elevator

New Home Construction

• 1

  Evaluate the blueprints of the residence. The best time to plan an elevator is while the building is still on paper. Before any construction begins, determine the elevator's structural and mechanical requirements.

• 2

  Determine the location for the elevator. Dependent on the layout, elevators are typically installed either in a central location or at the very end of the home.

• 3

  Calculate from the manufacturer's specifications what kind of excavation is needed for the elevator. Some elevators install on the slab with minimal or no excavation beneath them. Other types of elevators install the mechanical equipment in a basement directly below an elevator which operates between the first and second floors; in this case, the hole is dug for the elevator when the home's foundation is excavated.

Remodeling Construction

• 4

  Hire a civil engineer or master building contractor to evaluate the home's existing structure. Unless an open area is available in the center of the home that extends between multiple floors and doesn't affect any load-bearing walls, the simplest place for an elevator installation is on an exterior wall. The elevator shaft is built out from the existing exterior, like a small, square silo added onto the building.

• 5

  Dig a foundation under the elevator shaft; make sure it meetslocal building codes for residential foundations. The specifics of these codes vary by geographic location; in general, however, the built-on elevator requires the same foundation as the rest of the house. A concrete wall is built below grade which doesn't shift under the weight of the structure, and which supports the weight of the elevator shaft and equipment.

• 6

  Frame in and pour the concrete foundation walls according to manufacturer's specifications and local building codes. Builders should follow the codes which are more stringent if there are any differences between the two. After the foundation cures, remove the forms and back fill the foundation excavation.