WASTE of SPACE or old fashioned charm--the Dumb Waiter Controversy
Have a great Ol brownstone with a dumb waiter column going from the basement to the top floor. The dumb waiter cage itself has gone missing and I am trying to figure out whether there are is any practical reason to go hunt for a substitute (and where I would start on such a search)…
Have a great Ol brownstone with a dumb waiter column going from the basement to the top floor. The dumb waiter cage itself has gone missing and I am trying to figure out whether there are is any practical reason to go hunt for a substitute (and where I would start on such a search) or if I should just do away with it altogether and reclaim the space for a closet or some shelves. What do ya think? Its a 4 floor brownstone with tenants on the upper 2 floors (I know they would love the extra closit space.
6:29pm on 6/23 points out a very important advantage of not permanently doing away with the dumbwaiter. And with the way global warming is going, a few years from now you may want to consider Central AC. I’ve also dreamed of having a vertical airshaft topped by a skylight to let light into the middle of the house.
it is definitely a fire hazard, and in a multiple dwelling would be best sealed as suggested above.
We have a dumb waiter, and it has proved to be a godsend as a chase – for running cables and plumbing.
Where’s your laundry? In the basement? Then I’d love a dumb waiter, especially if you’ve got kids and lots of laundry.
By all means, seal that shaft with fireproof materials (two layers of wallboard will do fine) at each floor. In case of a fire it works like a burning flue and carries the flames up fast. Closets are the way to go.
I like closits, but I also like dumb waiters.