Elevator Cab Questions, Answered Straight
What does a custom elevator cab interior cost?
In the New York market, budget-level cab renovations typically start around $25,000–$50,000 per cab; mid-range custom interiors run $50,000–$150,000; and premium trophy-building cabs with exotic materials, custom lighting, and engineered features can exceed $250,000. The honest answer: the same cab can be quoted at wildly different numbers depending on how many markups sit between you and the fabricator — which is exactly what independent review eliminates.
Why does cab weight matter so much?
Every elevator has a fixed capacity. Interior finishes — stone floors, glass walls, metal panels — consume it. Exceed the allowable cab weight and the elevator fails inspection, requiring redesign or counterweight modification at significant cost. Weight calculation belongs at the start of design, not after fabrication.
Do cab interiors need to meet code?
Yes. ASME A17.1 (adopted with modifications in NY and NJ) governs cab enclosures, including flame-spread ratings for materials, glass requirements, and structural attachment. Many beautiful lobby materials are simply not compliant inside a cab without engineering. This is the most common and most expensive surprise in cab projects.
Should I modernize my cabs or replace them?
Most cab shells are sound; it's the interior that dates the building. A well-scoped interior modernization typically delivers 80% of the visual impact of full replacement at a fraction of the cost — but only if the scope is written by someone who knows where the line between cosmetic and structural sits.
My cab was damaged — water, fire, vandalism. What now?
Document everything immediately, then get an independent evaluation before accepting either the elevator company's repair quote or the insurer's assessment. Cab damage claims are routinely mispriced in both directions because few people can credibly cost custom fabrication.
Do you work outside New York?
Yes — New York, New Jersey, and Florida, with travel available for the right projects.
What does a consultation cost?
The first conversation is free. Fixed-fee engagements are published on our Services page — no hourly meters, no markups.