Expert Stairlift Installation in Marfa, TX

We bolt the rail directly to the stair treads, not the wall. That matters for Marfa's adobe homes, because the mud-brick walls stay completely intact. The rail mounts to the steps themselves using steel brackets that anchor into each tread, so there is no drilling into adobe, no drywall repair, and no structural change. A straight install takes about three hours and the staircase is usable right away.

No. Stairlifts are classified as non-permanent accessibility equipment under Texas law, not structural modifications, because the rail bolts to the treads and can be removed without damage. Neither the City of Marfa nor Presidio County requires a building permit. In the Central Marfa Historic District, the bolt-to-tread method also satisfies preservation rules since it does not alter the building envelope.

Our outdoor units are IP55-rated and handle Marfa's full range, from freezing winter nights to hot summer afternoons. The rail and carriage are sealed against dust, which is the bigger day-to-day issue in the high desert, and the carriage cover keeps grit out of the gear rack. We suggest wiping the rail down once a week, which takes about two minutes, and the battery backup keeps the lift running through an occasional West Texas ice storm.

Yes. We install on hardwood, carpet, tile, stone, and concrete treads. Many Marfa homes mix materials, with polished concrete downstairs and wood upstairs, or Saltillo tile on a porch entry. The mounting brackets are the same regardless of tread material. If the carpet is thick, we trim a small section under each bracket so the bolt sits flush on the sub-tread, and you won't see the trimmed spots once the rail is in place.

The VA Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) grant covers up to $6,800 for service-connected veterans and $2,000 for non-service-connected veterans. It is a one-time, tax-free grant that never needs to be repaid. To qualify, your VA primary care provider writes a prescription stating the stairlift is medically necessary. The nearest VA facilities are the Fort Stockton VA Clinic at 1205 North Sycamore Street (about 100 miles east) and the Wilson and Young Medal of Honor VA Clinic at 8050 East Highway 191 in Odessa (about 170 miles northeast).

Yes, through the Texas STAR+PLUS Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver. STAR+PLUS covers minor home modifications, including stairlifts, for adults 21 and older who qualify for nursing-facility level of care but choose to stay at home. There is a $7,500 lifetime cap on minor home modifications, plus a small annual amount for repairs after that. The modification must be medically necessary and prescribed, and income and asset limits apply.

The Amy Young Barrier Removal Program is a Texas state grant that provides up to $22,500 for home accessibility modifications, including stairlifts, for low-income households that include a person with a disability. Household income must not exceed the program's limit for Presidio County, and the grant covers both the equipment and the installation. Applications go through the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs, and we can connect you with a local housing counselor who helps with the paperwork.

Start with the Presidio County Veterans Service Office in Marfa, located at the County Courthouse on North Highland Avenue. The county Veterans Service Officer helps veterans prepare and submit HISA applications, service-connection claims, and other VA benefits paperwork. You can also visit the Fort Stockton VA Clinic or the Wilson and Young Medal of Honor VA Clinic in Odessa to get the required medical-necessity prescription from a VA provider. We handle the contractor-quote portion of the HISA application at no charge.