If you want to make sure that your multi-level business is open to all visitors, installing an elevator is the most logical solution. However, if you are like a lot of business owners, this will be one of those remodeling updates that get pushed aside. Installing an elevator does sound like it would be a major undertaking that would not only interrupt business for a while but cost a lot of money as well. Yet elevator installation is not usually as bad as business owners expect. Here are a few of the most common questions about installing an elevator in your business and the answers you should know before making any definite decisions. 

How much does it really cost to have a basic elevator installed?

The costs associated with installing an elevator will depend on several factors, including how many stories your building is and even its age. On average, the installation of a standard hydraulic two-stop elevator, which is most common, will be between $65,000 and $75,000. 

Will the installation process interrupt daily routines for long periods?

Elevator installation is much less complex than it once was and the longest part of the process will be the initial planning phase. The architectural contractor in charge of the job will spend a great deal of time narrowing down the best possible location for the elevator, using your current blueprints and by assessing the building. The actual construction work to create a pathway for the elevator will usually take only a few days and the elevator and its casing can be installed in just a few hours in most cases. 

Is it true that elevator installation could involve sawing into the concrete foundation?

Foundation sawing is actually an important part of most elevator installations, even at a residential level. However, concrete sawing is not as bad as it sounds. It only involves using a heavy-grade saw with a sharp diamond blade to cut out pieces of the concrete foundation where the resting base of the elevator will need to be situated. In most cases, the whole process of removing a portion of the foundation only takes a few hours and the change will not affect the stability of your existing concrete at all. 

The bottom line is, installing an elevator in your business can be one of the biggest and most beneficial changes you make. If you have been contemplating an elevator but putting it off, be sure to talk to a contractor with any questions you have about the process.