Expert Stairlift Installation in Manitowoc, WI

A straight-rail install takes about three hours from arrival to final walk-through. Curved-rail installs take about four to five hours because the rail comes in sections that need precise alignment at the bends. The rail bolts directly to the stair treads — no wall drilling, no drywall work, no electrical changes. The lift plugs into a standard outlet and the battery backup charges automatically.

No. The rail bolts to the stair treads, not the wall or the balusters. If your treads are original hardwood — common in Eighth Street Historic District and Lincoln Boulevard homes — we use fasteners that go into the tread surface without splitting the wood. When the lift is eventually removed, the bolt holes are small enough to fill and stain-match. Nothing attaches to the handrail, newel post, or wall.

Yes. We've installed in staircases as narrow as 28 inches wide. The seat and footrest fold up when not in use, leaving about 16 inches of clearance for others to use the stairs. The rail itself sits about 5 inches from the wall. If your staircase is particularly tight — common in the early-1900s homes around Lincoln Park — we measure everything during the free in-home assessment and tell you exactly how much clearance you'll have before you commit.

Outdoor stairlifts in Manitowoc need to handle lake-effect snow off Lake Michigan, subzero wind chills, and freeze-thaw cycles that can ice over rail tracks. Our outdoor units are IP55-rated with galvanized hardware, sealed bearings, heated rail joints to prevent ice buildup, and a weatherproof cover for the seat when parked. They run on a DC motor with battery backup, so a power outage during a winter storm doesn't strand anyone. We've had outdoor units running on South Lake Street porches through seven full winters.

Yes. The VA Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) grant covers stairlifts as a medically necessary home modification. Service-connected veterans can receive up to $6,800 — which covers a straight stairlift in full. Non-service-connected veterans can receive up to $2,000. The grant is a one-time, tax-free benefit that never has to be repaid. You'll need a prescription from a VA physician stating the stairlift is medically necessary.

The closest VA facility is the Cleveland VA Clinic at 1205 North Avenue, Cleveland, WI 53015 (about 15 miles south of Manitowoc, phone 920-693-5600). The clinic handles primary care and can provide the medical-necessity prescription needed for the HISA application. The regional VA medical center overseeing the HISA benefit is the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center at 5000 West National Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53295 (phone 414-384-2000). We help you coordinate the paperwork between both facilities.

Yes, both programs can cover stairlifts. Wisconsin Family Care — the state's Medicaid long-term-care managed care program — covers home modifications including stairlifts when they are deemed medically necessary for safe access. IRIS (Include, Respect, I Self-Direct) gives participants a budget they self-manage, and home modifications like stairlifts can be included. You'll need an assessment through the ADRC of the Lakeshore (Manitowoc County Aging and Disability Resource Center), which is the entry point for both programs.

Yes. The City of Manitowoc runs a Housing Rehabilitation Program funded through Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) that offers 0% interest deferred-payment loans for home repairs and accessibility upgrades — including stairlifts — to income-eligible homeowners. Manitowoc County Habitat for Humanity also runs a Home Repair for Veterans Program. For broader Wisconsin options, the WisTech assistive technology program can sometimes help fund stairlifts as durable medical equipment. We walk through all eligible programs at the free in-home assessment.