Vertical Platform Lift And Concrete

[jyl]

More fun with the commercial conversion project.

For ADA, I have to install a vertical platform lift (VPL, aka wheelchair lift) to bring people from the sidewalk up to the porch. So I have to pour concrete for the pad and path, level the porch and extend the end of the porch out a short distance (2’?) to meet the VPL, and buy and install the VPL.

First, the concrete. I am concreting the currently-dirt parking area behind the building, as well as the dirt/grass side yard between building and sidewalk to the porch, that’s about 1,000 sf total of 4” concrete. Also getting about 40’ of uneven sidewalk repoured, that’s not absolutely necessary but will eventually have to be done (by me, in Portland the property owner must maintain the right-of-way) and preferably before someone (claims to) has a trip and fall on the sidewalk. And removing half of my driveway and building about 14’ of curb and wing (city says the basement garage is too small to be a legal garage, so I can’t have the original driveway there). Total quote from the concrete guy is about $17,000.

Next, the porch. The original porch was sloped away from the house, for drainage I guess, maybe a century of settling has added to that. Anyway, it exceeds the 1:48 slope that is the limit of what a wheelchair is capable of handling as a side slope. Never mind that most wheelchairs I see are powered units that can probably outrun me up the Alpe d’Huez. So I’m required to pull off the floorboards and level the porch surface. At the same time, I’m required to reinforce the porch to 100 psf load. Because our cafe will be packed shoulder-to-shoulder, I suppose. So the engineer has specified a 2x6 pony wall under the porch on precast concrete piers. Then build the porch extension. I may hire a carpenter for this - I am having him do some smaller things first to see how I like his work. Cost unknown yet, if high then I’ll DIY it.

Third, buying the VPL. So it turns out that VPLs can cost as little as $6,000 for a residential indoor straight-through (enter and exit in a straight line) model lifting up to 5’, or as much as $30,000 for a commercial outdoor 90-degree (enter then turn 90 degrees to exit on the side) lifting up to 7’. Why the range - commercial and outdoor rated costs more, higher lift costs more, above 5’ requires a hoistway, 90 degree requires a larger platform and auto-operated doors, etc. I’m figuring out the design in hopes of coming in on the lower end of price. (Interestingly, Alibaba has VPLs starting at $3,000 direct from China . . . I won’t go that route but just saying).

Fourth, installing the VPL. It’s not hard - 120v outlet, anchor into concrete, lift comes on a pallet pre-assembled, forklift or pallet jack to unload and position, some wiring and configuration. I got a quote from a local company who came out and looked at the situation (they came in at $20K for a straight-ahead VPL) but they will refer me to others for the installation. “We don’t install them”. “Who will do the install?” “An elevator company.” “How much will that cost?” “About $50,000.” I started yelling at the guy. “I’m not paying your fkin elevator company fifty thousand dollars to install a fkin lift, etc.” He (quickly) said you can install it yourself, you don’t have to hire an elevator company (I have a call into the city to check that). Then he said “hey, if you can install a VPL, you can install them for us, we’ll charge $25,000 and split it, $12,500 for me and $12,500 for you “. I’m not tempted, I can just imagine calling my E&O insurer to add VPL installation to my RIA coverage, but my electrician kinda is . . . The new outlet and other electrician work will be free (for me, sweetheart arrangement with my electrician).

Anyway, I foresee lots of fun ahead.

The “sort of good” thing is I’ll have no problem meeting my required 25% of project cost spent on ADA access. The “actually good” thing is that I’ll have a future way to easily move heavy things in and out of the building (think commercial cooking equipment, supplies, etc). I might spring for the larger platform just for that future use.

There certainly won’t be actual wheelchair-bound patrons using the VPL. Living here 26 years, I have seen a wheelchair on this street or in the local businesses . . . I actually cannot recall ever seeing one? So maybe a handful of times. I do notice, one of my close friends (RIP Paul) was in a wheelchair and we used to talk alot about the obstacles to him getting around.