Once considered a luxury for wealthy people who were too lazy to take the stairs, home elevators are becoming more commonplace and an Okanagan business is reaping the benefits.
Hybrid Elevator of Kelowna is benefiting from a rapidly growing demand for residential elevators from aging baby boomers and people with disabilities.
Lance Davidson needed to install an elevator in his home because his wife suffers multiple sclerosis and can no longer handle stairs.
He found a Kelowna company that designed and manufactured commercial-grade elevators for private residences.
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Davidson thought the company wasn’t living up to its potential, so he bought it.
At that time, it made about five elevators a year. This year, he hopes to manufacture and install between 80 and 100.
Until recently most Okanagan contractors were rarely asked to install private elevators, unless the client was wealthy.
Don Campbell of Edgecombe Builders says most requests now come from the owners of medium level homes.
The cost has come down considerably in recent years and they start at around $29,000.
Randy LeBlanc is typical of the many customers who have disabilities. He is confined to a wheelchair because of a motor vehicle accident.
LeBlanc recently moved to Kelowna and purchased a two-storey house. At this time he can’t access his basement, but that is going to change.
An elevator will soon be installed and LeBlanc can hardly wait.
“Every day I roll by those stairs (in the wheelchair) and count the days until I can get down there,” he said.
Baby boomers, fed up with stairs but unwilling to move, are also buying residential elevators in increasing numbers.
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