Dumbwaiter Conversion

Presuming your building management permits it -- you'll probably spend more on construction of whatever the "usable space" part means to you than on sealing off the shaftway. Sealing the shaft means fire-resistant construction (concrete, or possibly just multiple layers of drywall) at the floor and ceiling so the area becomes part of your unit rather than part of the shaft. Figure $5000 or so depending on what you want to do with the space?

I would convert the dumbwaiter into a big multi-story fish tank.

I remember living in an old building years back where people converted the dumbwaiter into a pantry or closet for a refrigerator. The dumbwaiter was behind the kitchen door. The main problem was sealing off the shaft with both a ceiling and floor. I don't remember the details, but people on the same line got together to get the work done. That may have reduced expenses.

You can also turn a dumbwaiter into a shower stall!

Great Ideas... would love to see some photos, if anybody has seen any online or done this conversion. Trying to find any pro I can talk to about this...

See: http://www.seroy.com/dumbwaiters.html

They did this in my old building on West 85th. I seem to remember that they needed to have the top unit (fifth floor) seal first, then go down to the next to seal until they got to the first floor. It makes a big difference when that thing is gone.

Bill7284 - Thanks! this is good to know. I spoke to my neighbor in a different line, and it turns out she's started a sort of campaign, trying to get everybody in her line to agree to have this work done. She's dreaming of adding a powder room (the dumbwaiters are always close plumbing in this building since they are all in the kitchen) If you happen to recall the name of the firm who did the work in your old building, please do let me know!

Jelj13 - thank you! I spoke with the pricipal at seroy.com. They are great... but they also seem to be the only ones on the entire internet who are willing to talk about this kind of project! Unbelievable considering that most people who have a dumbwaiter (decommissioned) use the space. Hush, hush...