Expert Stairlift Installation in Lake Stevens, WA

A straight stairlift installs in about 3 hours. We bolt the rail to the treads — not the wall — so there's no drywall repair, no painting, no mess. Curved lifts take about 4–5 hours on install day because the rail comes in sections that need to be joined. The real time-saver is that we do a laser measurement visit beforehand, so the curved rail arrives ready to fit.

No. The rail bolts directly to the stair treads, not the wall. When the lift is eventually removed — if you sell the house, for example — the bolt holes in the treads can be filled with wood putty and stained to match. The wall stays untouched. We don't need to run new electrical either; the lift plugs into a standard outlet and runs on DC power with a battery backup.

Yes. Older homes in Old Town and around the lake sometimes have staircases as narrow as 28–30 inches. Standard stairlifts need about 26–28 inches of clear width. If that's tight, the seat and armrests fold up when not in use, leaving about 16–18 inches of walking space. We'll measure during the free assessment and tell you if it fits before you commit to anything.

No. A residential stairlift is considered an accessibility device, not a structural modification. No building permit is required in Lake Stevens or anywhere in Snohomish County. The installation is non-invasive — nothing structural changes about the staircase.

The VA Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) grant provides up to $6,800 for service-connected veterans and up to $2,000 for non-service-connected veterans rated 50% or higher. It's a one-time, tax-free grant — never repaid. You need a prescription from a VA physician stating the stairlift is medically necessary. The closest facility is the Everett VA Clinic at 220 Olympic Boulevard in Everett, part of VA Puget Sound Health Care. You can also use the Seattle VA Medical Center at 1660 S. Columbian Way.

Yes — through the COPES (Community Options Program Entry System) Waiver, Washington's 1915(c) HCBS Medicaid Waiver. COPES covers home modifications including stairlifts for seniors and adults with disabilities who meet nursing-facility-level-of-care requirements but want to stay in their own home. There is often a waitlist. You can also receive COPES benefits alongside Washington's Community First Choice (CFC) program. Contact the Snohomish County Aging and Disability Services office to start the assessment.

The Snohomish County Older Adult Home Modification Program (OAHMP), administered by Homage Senior Services, provides free home safety upgrades for residents 62 and older who meet low-to-moderate income guidelines. The program serves both homeowners and renters with landlord approval. Call Homage Senior Services at 425-740-3787 to start an application and confirm current eligibility and availability.

Washington doesn't have a dedicated statewide stairlift grant, but several programs can cover the cost. The COPES Medicaid Waiver is the primary route for Medicaid-eligible seniors. The USDA Single Family Housing Repair Loans and Grants program offers grants up to $10,000 for very-low-income elderly homeowners in rural areas — parts of Bunk Foss and Lake Cassidy may qualify. Also, some Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs programs can supplement the federal HISA grant. We can help you sort through which programs apply during the free assessment.