Expert Stairlift Installation in Greendale, WI

A straight rail in a Crestview Acres ranch installs in 3-4 hours from drop-cloth to cleanup. A 1938 Original along Broadway or Northway takes 4-5 hours because the historic stairwell requires hand pilot-drilling and careful plaster protection — we never use a power drill against an 87-year-old plaster wall. A curved rail in a mid-century colonial with an upper-landing 90-degree turn takes 5-6 hours over a single visit.

No. The rail mounts to the tread structure only — every anchor bolt goes into the stair joists and tread surface. We pilot-drill stainless lag screws by hand in the Originals to avoid vibration damage to the 1938 plaster. The wall is never touched. If you sell the home, the rail removes cleanly, leaving only small bolt holes in the tread face that fill with wood putty.

Yes — it's our most common Greendale job type. The slim-profile rail and 10.5-inch folding footrest fit 30-inch stairwells along Broadway and Northway without blocking the adjacent walking lane. A second person can still walk up alongside the parked seat. We have installed in every Original floor plan, including the narrowest duplex stairwells in the southern Broadway block.

Every lift we install includes a sealed battery backup rated for 8-12 full round trips under load. After a lake-effect snowstorm knocks out WE Energies power in Greendale, the lift keeps running for the trips that matter — bedroom to kitchen and back. The battery recharges automatically when grid power returns. We recommend a charged backup as standard on every Milwaukee County install given winter outage frequency.

Yes. Wisconsin's IRIS Waiver (Include, Respect, I Self-Direct — 1915(c) waiver, renewed by CMS through December 2030) covers Environmental Accessibility Adaptations including stairlifts via HCPCS code S5165. Family Care is the alternative managed-care path for Milwaukee County residents enrolled through an MCO. Both programs require a documented functional assessment and medical-necessity letter. We provide the contractor documentation and quote format the programs require.

Yes. The HISA grant pays $6,800 for a service-connected veteran and $2,000 for a non-service-connected veteran — one-time, tax-free, never repaid. The Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center at 5000 W National Avenue, Milwaukee (about 8 miles north of Greendale) processes all Milwaukee County HISA applications. We deliver the contractor estimate and spec sheet directly to the VA; most Greendale approvals clear within 3-4 weeks of submission.

Yes, if a physician prescribes the lift for a documented medical condition. Under IRS Publication 502, the cost minus any increase in the home's appraised value is deductible as a qualified medical expense. For a $9,000 curved rail in a mid-century Greendale colonial where the home's value does not materially increase, the full $9,000 is typically deductible. Keep the physician letter and our itemized invoice for your tax records.

Wisconsin's Homestead Credit and WHEDA accessibility programs are separate funding streams from IRIS and Family Care. Milwaukee County's Department of Health and Human Services Aging and Disability Resource Center connects income-qualified seniors to home-modification matching funds. Greendale Senior Services at Village Hall has a coordinator on staff who can triage which program fits your household income and disability status — we can make the referral during the in-home survey.