Expert Stairlift Installation in Marquette, MI

A straight-rail install takes about 3 hours. A curved install takes 4 to 5 hours because the rail was already fabricated at the factory and just needs mounting and calibration. Outdoor installs take about the same. We show up with the rail prepped, bolt it to the stair treads (never the wall), mount the seat, plug in the charger, and test the full travel. You can use the lift same day. We don't cut into drywall, and we don't leave a mess behind.

No state permit is required. Under Michigan law — MCL 408.814a — a residential stairway chairlift or platform lift does not require an Elevator Safety Board permit; the state elevator code exempts these units from the rules that apply to full elevators. Our installers are manufacturer-certified and licensed as elevator contractors, and we obtain any municipal permit Marquette requires before we start. We handle all compliance, and the install meets Michigan building code.

Yes — and Marquette has a lot of those. The Victorian homes in the Arch and Ridge Historic District often have stairwells under 32 inches wide with steep risers. We've installed curved rails into 30-inch stairwells with a 90-degree turn at the landing. The seat folds up to 12 inches deep when not in use, so other household members can still use the stairs. If the stairwell is extra tight, we spec a perch seat — smaller footprint, same function. We measure on site and tell you what fits before you commit.

No. Renters can get a stairlift with landlord approval — we handle the conversation if needed. The install is non-destructive: the rail bolts to the stair treads with five bolts per connection point, and if you move, we remove the rail and fill the bolt holes with wood putty that matches the tread. The staircase looks like it did before. We've done this for NMU faculty rentals, seniors in senior apartments, and adult children installing lifts in their parents' rented homes.

Yes, through the HISA (Home Improvements and Structural Alterations) grant. The VA provides up to $6,800 for veterans with service-connected disabilities and up to $2,000 for non-service-connected conditions. It's a one-time, tax-free grant — never repaid. Marquette veterans can apply through the Marquette VA Clinic at 1414 West Fair Avenue, Suite 285, or the Oscar G. Johnson VA Medical Center at 325 East H Street in Iron Mountain (about 60 miles south). We help with the medical-necessity statement and the grant application at no charge.

Yes. The MI Choice Waiver — Michigan's HCBS Medicaid waiver program — covers home modifications including stairlifts, ramps, grab bars, and widened doorways when written into the participant's care plan. To qualify, you must be a Michigan resident, need nursing-home level of care, and meet the financial eligibility thresholds. The waiver is administered through UPCAP — the Upper Peninsula Commission for Area Progress, based in Escanaba — which serves Marquette County. Waitlists can apply, so start the application early.

No. Original Medicare (Part A and Part B) does not cover stairlifts — they're classified as home modifications, not durable medical equipment. Some Medicare Advantage plans (Part C) offer supplemental home-modification benefits, but it varies by plan and county. We recommend checking your specific Advantage plan's evidence-of-coverage document or calling the member-services number on your card. For most Marquette seniors, the MI Choice Waiver or VA HISA grant are the more reliable funding paths.

Yes. Beyond MI Choice and the VA HISA grant, UPCAP runs the Upper Peninsula Area Agency on Aging, which can connect seniors to home-modification resources. The USDA Section 504 Home Repair program provides grants to very-low-income elderly homeowners in rural areas for health and safety modifications, which includes parts of Marquette County outside the city core. The Michigan Assistive Technology Program also provides low-interest loans for accessibility equipment. We can walk you through which programs fit your situation during the assessment.