A mountain home in Colorado is rarely on one floor. Steep lots and the pull of the view produce houses with a garage at the bottom, a great room in the middle and bedrooms above or below. They are spectacular, and they involve a great many stairs at an altitude where stairs are harder work.
Why owners add an elevator
- Ski boots, luggage and groceries ride up with you
- Visiting parents and grandparents can stay comfortably
- Guests who have just arrived from sea level are spared the climb
- The home stays usable into retirement
- It adds appeal for future buyers and for rental guests
Elevator types that suit mountain homes
- Traditional elevators are a good match for new construction, with a large cab and doors that blend with timber and stone interiors.
- Pneumatic elevators have clear walls that keep the view open and need no pit, which helps on rocky sites.
- Custom elevators can be finished in reclaimed wood, steel or glass to suit the architecture.
Planning points specific to the mountains
- Access. Delivery on steep, narrow or seasonal roads needs scheduling, ideally outside deep winter.
- Power. Outages are more common. Ask about emergency lowering and consider a generator.
- Seasonal occupancy. If the house sits empty for stretches, follow a start-up routine and service schedule.
- Timber-frame structure. Openings need to be engineered around the frame.
- Local permitting. Mountain counties and resort towns each have their own process.
Complementary equipment
A dumbwaiter from the garage to the kitchen handles supplies. An outdoor stair lift or platform lift covers the stairs from the driveway.
Start early
If you are building, bring the elevator company in at the design stage. If the house is finished, a site visit will show what is feasible.
Talk to us
See our home elevators. Call Nationwide Lifts of Colorado on (303) 942-0810 or request a free in-home assessment.