Upper St Clair Residential Elevator

Before we cut, we plan. This Pittsburgh colonial gets a three-floor elevator — and we chose the corner that keeps the interior spaces breathing. Pre-construction clarity eliminates surprises.

The scope of work is: excavate a basement addition and build an elevator-specification foundation. On the foundation construct new exterior walls creating an enclosure reaching the roof baseline. Then create a roof over the new enclosure and tie the new roof into the existing roof. The challenges are many: The finished elevation must match the existing structure exactly. The new shaft structural specs must adhere or exceed elevator manufacturer's strict requirements.

Exterior selective demolition underway, removal includes windows, brick facade, exterior cladding, roof trim materials. An A/C unit needed to be relocated, foundation excavation has begun and excess earth is piled up waiting for backfilling and eventual hauling. Scaffolding along side of building for installation of a new window.

Overhead view of foundation excavation. Careful meticulous brick removal and salvage shown. It's important to reclaim every brick for later installation which guarantees a perfect match. Underground utilities, French drains, are usual uncoverings during excavation. In the case of a small addition (10' X 10') the excavated cavity must be 2X oversize and 12' deep.

Once excavation depth is reached, it's time to break into the basement as shown here. Strategic care and experience is a must when creating openings in load bearing walls such as this one. Much of the work includes a vital removal and disposal of debris. Ladder access into the excavation pit is the only way in and out.

Critical foundation phase underway: formwork set, rebar grid installed, and groundwater management active. Pittsburgh elevation demands continuous sump evacuation—we don't skip the unsexy details that keep structures sound.

Foundation formwork continues with wooden bracing and cross-bracing installed across the rebar grid to maintain structural integrity during the concrete pour. The red sump bucket positioned in the center of the excavation pit remains essential for managing ground water accumulation at this depth, a critical consideration for foundation stability and elevator shaft specifications. A typical foundation pour involves a perimeter footing, but in this case we chose to pour a full 12" thick monolithic footing slab.

Not all concrete pours are equal. This basement stem wall shows the kind of detail work that separates careful construction from rushed work—vertical rebar transfer, elevation matching to the millimeter, and a precision-cut 9-inch recess so the elevator car sits flush at full stop. The specs that most contractors gloss over.

Basement stem walls under construction. Note the bond beam concrete blocks. These special blocks allow for double #4 horizontal rebars at every block course. Once the blocks are grouted with 4000 psi concrete it forms an incredible laterally force resistant wall. We are able to build stem walls with solid reinforced stem walls as well. Each method has it's unique use case applications.

Bond beam concrete blocks continue course after course until reaching the required height, Note the vertical rebar rods inside the blocks. These are essentials for tying the stem wall to the footing.

The details that hold it together. Bond beam blocks tied with vertical rebar create the backbone of a properly engineered stem wall. Every course matters — this is where foundation integrity is built, not guessed at.

This is what proper foundation assembly looks like. Every vertical rebar rod ties directly to the footing—no shortcuts, no guessing. This is how Pittsburgh homes stay standing.

Vertical rebar runs through every course of bond beam blocks, tying the stem wall directly to the footing. That continuity is why older Pittsburgh foundations fail predictably when this connection is ignored — and why we don't.

Stem wall blocking and ledge preparation — the intermediate step most contractors skip. Custom-formed framing ensures stepped brick ledges and sill plate seats are perfectly aligned before the monolithic concrete and grouting pour. This is the kind of sequencing detail that keeps old houses square.

Proper foundation formwork isn't just about getting concrete in the ground—it's about getting the load bearing right, the drainage sorted, and the code compliance locked in before the pour. This is the kind of meticulous sequencing our crew handles as standard.

View of the concrete pour. Keep in mind that the concrete fills the block cavities all the way down to the footing making this an incredibly strong wall.

After concrete forms are stripped, the stem wall is waterproofed, insulated and backfilled. A powerful compactor is a must to avoid settling.

The intricate shape of the step brick ledges can be seen here.

This is what separates a crew that understands old Pittsburgh homes from one that cuts corners. Building a full-height addition on a row home with no intermediate floor platform requires precision sequencing, structural competency, and code knowledge that most contractors won't touch. We build it right.

Load-bearing framing set for elevator guide track mounting—the kind of structural sequencing most contractors never think about until it's too late. Built to code, built to last.

The elevator shaft enclosure framing is taking shape with LVL engineered beams providing the structural support. The green Zip sheathing is visible on the exterior walls, which will protect the shaft from water infiltration as construction continues. The brick facade is being installed from reclaimed bricks salvaged from the demolition phase.

Early-stage mechanical installation at basement level. The opening through the original foundation required precise structural planning and code-compliant framing to handle the load. This is where the detailed work begins — before the finishes go in, we verify every structural decision is sound.

Flawless window execution isn't luck. It's what happens when you integrate new openings into an older home without cutting corners—proper brickwork, roofline details, and gutter relocation done right the first time. This is character preservation with current building standards.

The results speak for themselves. Perfectly match on the brick, siding, roofing. Everything reads as though it was part of the original home.

Finish details matter as much as structure. This elevator addition demonstrates how thoughtful material transitions, proper cornicing, and code-compliant integration preserve the home's character while meeting modern building standards. The kind of work other contractors overlook.

ADA-compliant commercial-grade elevator installed seamlessly into a historic Pittsburgh home. The trim carpentry matches the original millwork—no shortcuts, no compromises. This is what happens when you have a crew that understands how to integrate modern systems without erasing the character that makes these homes worth saving.

Commercial-grade elevator, finished in custom wood paneling to match your home's existing character. ADA compliant, fully integrated, and built to last—because installing it right the first time means no surprises later.

This isn't the typical renovation detail most contractors document—but it's exactly the kind of precision craftsmanship that separates finished work from genuinely built projects. When you're retrofitting a residential elevator into a period home, every detail matters: the cab veneer, the control panel integration, the trim work around the opening. Done right, it disappears into the architecture.

Flawless functionality. Performs to the needs and standards of any disability or comfort imaginable.

We are very proud and grateful for the opportunity to create this space for our wonderful clients. We hope they enjoy many years of use.

Our partners at Sunbelt Rentals are always ready with our specialty equipment needs. Their equipment performs as expected with advanced maintenance programs which means the equipment is far less likely to fail on the project causing delays.