Replies

1. 
   UncleDunc | Dec 24, 2003 11:38pm | #1

   There are at least two, maybe more, that advertise regularly in FHB. Even if you don't subscribe, you ought to buy one every now and then just to keep up on how fast it's going down hill. :)

   Have you tried Google? Be sure to search for it as two words, "dumb waiter", as well as one word. You might want to add -restaurant to your search string to filter out postings about dumb waiters.

2. 
   butcher | Dec 24, 2003 11:51pm | #2

   try the vertical valet search

1. 
   scottyb | Dec 25, 2003 05:19am | #3

   You might want to make sure in your search, that you specify residential or commercial.

   Commercial is phased different,won't work in your house.

3. 
   Luka | Dec 25, 2003 06:37am | #4

   Ermm...

   Same place you would get a Polish maid ?

   Live, Love, Forgive and Forget

   quittintime

4. 
   RalphWicklund | Dec 25, 2003 07:54am | #5

   This is the product I've installed.

   Piece o' cake.

   http://www.silentservant.com/choosing.html

1. 
   gdavis62 | Dec 25, 2003 06:58pm | #6

   Looks easy to me.  Would you recommend the small residential one about 24" wide x 50 pound capacity for a garage-to-kitchen grocery dumbwaiter?  That seems to be the size that will fit my plan.

   What should I budget for this?

1. 
   RalphWicklund | Dec 25, 2003 07:28pm | #7

   Now you start asking the hard questions.

   I don't remember the price of the unit. We installed it so the homeowner could bring groceries or laundry up or down. 50 pounds should do it. Anything larger would be overkill unless there are children in the family who would be tempted to ride.

   A call to the company should get you the current price. They stand behind the product.

   Don't forget the fire code installation from garage to house.

1. 
   mitch | Dec 25, 2003 08:04pm | #8

   ask cloudhidden where he got the one for the curvaceous castle.

   m

2. 
   gdavis62 | Dec 25, 2003 08:04pm | #9

   I forgot about the fire separation.  In your jurisdiction, did a little fire-rated door, in the garage, as the access to the dumbwaiter car, do it for you?

   Seems to me that would be the answer.  I know that in many jurisdictions, the frame as well as the door, needs to be rated, thus the need for a split-jamb steel frame.

   Fire frame not required in my location, though.  But, thinking about the access door to the dumbwaiter, it will probably be cheaper to get a 2/6 steel fire door, and either block off the part of the opening unused by the lift car unit, or convert the space below the car at its bottom stop position to storage. 

   I was in the steel door biz for a while (Therma-Tru, Benchmark), and I know that the cost of a special-sized little door would be prohibitive.

1. 
   RalphWicklund | Dec 25, 2003 09:25pm | #10

   Got around the need for special door considerations by having the shaft open into the main house. Florida doesn't have the air lock type mudrooms as a rule but this house had a pantry just off the back door entry so that is where the lower terminus was placed. Folks just brought their stuff in the door, turned right and either put it away there in the pantry or loaded the dumbwaiter with the stuff that went upstairs.

2. 
   LeeLamb | Dec 25, 2003 10:14pm | #11

   I live in a one-story ranch so I have no use for a dumbwaiter. But if I needed to make one for my own use I would modify a garage door opener for the drive mechanism.  I would not install one for anyone else because of liability issues.

   Good luck.