Elevators future-proof home accessibility for multi-level timber frame floor plans.
Check out this fully custom, luxurious Woodhouse timber frame home in Georgia that seamlessly integrates an elevator into the design. The owners and their visitors are able to travel from floor to floor via a discreet elevator, seen here, tucked into a hallway by the stairs.
Timber frame homes are known for their high-performance functionality and a style flexibility that cannot be beat. Empty nesters, retirees, and multi-generational homeowners want elegant timber frame floor plans that also safeguard home accessibility and personal mobility. Achieving this in a multi-level home can be tricky. Home elevators provide a solution, melding aging-in-place mobility with luxury. Across the U.S. more and more homeowners are adding one to their home. If you’re considering integrating one into your timber frame floor plans, one question is sure to arise: do you install it now or wait until later?
The WhisperingPines V1 (shown above) and V2 (see it here) have elevator shafts integrated into the home’s interior.
The Case for Now
There are many reasons people want more than one level in their home, but the moment a second floor is part of the plan, the question of home accessibility from one level to another must be addressed. Stairs are an obvious choice but as a person grows older, stairs become hazardous. Instead of waiting for that moment, there are a several benefits to adding a home elevator to your timber frame floor plans up front.
Home accessibility is the primary motivator for adding a home elevator and is ideal for multi-generational living. Even if an upper or lower level is designated for guests, adult children, or grandkids, you should be able to access that part of your home. Conversely, if you build an in-law suite or a living area for your aging parents, a home elevator gives them privacy and easy accessibility to the main parts of the house. Aging pets will also be grateful for a lift that bypasses the stairs.
Convenience is another consideration. By building an elevator into your timber frame home now, it’s done, and it’s not another decision you’ll have to make down the road.
Another take on convenience is that of practical application and ease. When the elevator is part of your home’s original build, you gain its usefulness in many scenarios. Moving furniture, suitcases, loads of laundry — an elevator simplifies transporting heavy, bulky items from one floor to another.
Then there’s the financial value. Including one in the original build can increase your home’s value, plus you’ll get to lock in the cost of the elevator at today’s rates. With ongoing increases in labor, materials, and inflation, that same elevator may be more expensive in the future.
The first floor of the OceanView, which has a dedicated tower that can be used for an elevator. Click here to see the rest of the floor plan.
The Case for Later
If you’re questioning if you will want or need a home elevator in your later years or if it doesn’t fit your current budget, planning now for installing later is a sound option. With Woodhouse, our 100+ timber frame floor plans are fully customizable, making it easy to future-proof your home for vertical flexibility.
Stacked closets or storage spaces align to become a future elevator shaft. A carefully placed tower houses a second set of stairs waiting for an elevator conversion. A spacious corner off the great room is a spot for a future lift. In all these scenarios, a homeowner enjoys beneficial home features and additional square footage while budgeting for their future elevator. However, be sure to consider structural requirements in the original design to avoid the need for retrofitting the home to meet engineering and safety codes.
Going Up in Style
Take ideas for your home elevator ideas to the next level with our online gallery and timber frame home plans. Contact us for an introduction and conversation.
