Going up north is a Michigan tradition, and the family cottage is often the place where four generations gather. Today’s lake houses are a long way from the cabins of the past. Built on narrow, sloping lots, they rise three levels from the lakeside walkout to the bedrooms, with the garage at road level on top or the boathouse at the bottom.
The problem with all those stairs
- Grandparents, the people who built the place, struggle to get around it
- Coolers, luggage and groceries go up and down all weekend
- The walkout level by the water is the hardest to reach from the road
What an elevator does
It connects road level, main level and lake level, so everyone can reach the kitchen, the bedrooms and the water.
Good choices for a lake house
- Pneumatic. Its clear tube keeps the lake view open, and it needs no pit, which helps where the water table is high.
- Traditional. Best designed into a new build, with a larger cab for carrying things.
Things to plan for
- Seasonal use. Follow a routine when opening and closing the house, and keep up the servicing.
- Humidity. Lakeside air is damp. Regular maintenance matters.
- Power. Outages are common in summer storms. Know how the emergency lowering works.
- Heat. If the house is winterized and left unheated, ask what the elevator requires.
Other equipment
- A dumbwaiter from garage to kitchen
- An outdoor stair lift on the steps to the dock
- A platform lift at the entry
Building or rebuilding?
Many old cottages are being replaced. Include the elevator in the plans from the start.
Let us look at your place
See our home elevators. Call Nationwide Lifts of Michigan on (810) 346-1037 or contact us.