Expert Stairlift Installation in Berkley, MI

Straight rails are 2-4 hours on-site. We arrive, confirm measurements, bolt the rail into the stair treads, mount the chair, test every safety sensor, and walk you through the remotes and charging station. Curved rails for Burton split-levels take 1-2 weeks for digital scanning and rail fabrication, but install day is still under 4 hours. No overnight workers.

Yes — and this is our most common Berkley install scenario. The 1920s and 1930s bungalows along Catalpa, Wiltshire, and Dorothea typically have staircases between 30 and 34 inches wide with walls on both sides. Our slim-profile rail folds to 11 inches total width, leaving at least 19 inches of clear passage. We've installed in dozens of these Berkley bungalows and the folded unit clears the walls with room to spare.

No building permit for the stairlift itself — Michigan classifies stairlifts as accessibility equipment, not structural modification. If we need to pull a new dedicated electrical circuit to an older stairwell (common in pre-1950 homes with original 60-amp panels), our licensed electrician handles the electrical permit through the City of Berkley building department at 3338 Coolidge Highway. We take care of all paperwork.

Every outdoor model we install in Oakland County ships with freeze-rated lubricant, a marine-style weather cover, and an IP55-sealed motor housing rated for sub-zero operation. Berkley's freeze-thaw cycles and road-salt exposure off Coolidge Highway are hard on unprotected equipment — our outdoor spec handles temperatures from -20°F to 120°F. Every exterior bolt and bracket carries corrosion-resistant coating. The rail drains by design so ice doesn't build up on the track.

The HISA grant covers up to $6,800 for service-connected disabilities and $2,000 for non-service-connected, paid directly to us as the installer. Berkley veterans typically start the process at the John D. Dingell VA Medical Center at 4646 John R Street in Detroit, or at the Pontiac VA Outpatient Clinic at 44200 Woodward Avenue. We prefill VA Form 10-0103 and walk it through the system. The Oakland County Veterans Services Division at 1200 N. Telegraph Road in Pontiac can also help you start the claim.

Yes, through the MI Choice Waiver program. MI Choice covers home modifications — stairlifts qualify as environmental accessibility equipment. You must be a Michigan resident, Medicaid-eligible, and assessed at nursing-facility level of care. A supports coordinator is assigned to your case and identifies the right modifications. We're an enrolled provider and handle the authorization paperwork with your supports coordinator at no charge.

Michigan has a flat 4.25% state income tax and conforms to the federal treatment of medical expenses. If a licensed physician recommends the stairlift in writing (we provide the letter template), the IRS classifies it as a qualified medical expense under Schedule A. For households that itemize, the full install cost reduces both federal and Michigan taxable income. Michigan seniors 65+ may also qualify for the Homestead Property Tax Credit, which frees annual cash that can offset stairlift costs.

Yes — three lending partners, 0% APR for qualified buyers, and low fixed-rate plans starting at $79/month. Application is a soft credit pull (no hit to your score), takes about 4 minutes, and approval is usually instant. Many Oakland County families combine financing with the IRS medical deduction or a partial HISA grant to bring the monthly cost down further. We walk you through the math during the free assessment.