Expert Stairlift Installation in McCandless, PA

A straight-rail install takes about three hours from arrival to final test. A curved-rail install is a two-visit job: the first visit is the laser measurement (about an hour), then we fabricate the rail off-site, and the second visit is the install (about four hours). Outdoor installs take a little longer — we seal every bolt point against Allegheny County winter moisture and run a dedicated weatherproofed power line. Luis handles every install personally with one assistant.

No. The rail bolts directly to the stair treads — not the wall, not the drywall, not the banister. We drill into the tread and secure each bracket with heavy lag bolts. When the lift is eventually removed, the bolt holes in the treads can be filled and stained to match. Your walls and railings stay untouched. This is especially important in McCandless's older homes where the original hardwood treads run the full staircase.

All our stairlifts run on DC power from a battery that charges continuously from a standard wall outlet. We plug the charger into the nearest outlet — usually at the top or bottom of the stairs — and run a thin power cable along the baseboard. The battery keeps the lift running for about six hours if the power goes out. No dedicated circuit or electrical work needed, which matters in McCandless homes where the panel may already be near capacity.

Yes — this is the most common install we do in McCandless. Split-levels built in the 1960s and 1970s — all over the Peebles Road and McKnight corridors — typically have a half-flight of stairs with a 90-degree or 180-degree turn at a landing. We use a curved rail for these. The laser measurement captures every angle, and the fabricated rail follows the turn exactly. The seat rides smoothly around the corner without any manual transfer or second lift at the landing.

The VA's Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) grant provides up to $6,800 for veterans with a service-connected disability and up to $2,000 for non-service-connected veterans enrolled in VA health care. The grant is tax-free, one-time, and never has to be repaid. A VA primary care provider must prescribe the stairlift as medically necessary. The closest VA facilities to McCandless are the Pittsburgh VA Medical Center at University Drive C, Pittsburgh, PA 15240, and the Cranberry Township VA Clinic at 900 Commonwealth Drive, Suite 900, Cranberry Township, PA 16066.

Yes — through the Community HealthChoices (CHC) Waiver, a managed-care HCBS program run by Pennsylvania's Office of Long-Term Living (OLTL). CHC covers home modifications including stairlifts for individuals who require long-term services and supports and meet the nursing-facility level of care threshold. The program applies to both dual-eligible (Medicare and Medicaid) and Medicaid-only participants. Contact the Allegheny County Area Agency on Aging's SeniorLine to start the eligibility assessment.

Yes. Pennsylvania's OPTIONS program, funded by the PA Lottery and administered through the Allegheny County Area Agency on Aging, provides in-home services and home modifications for residents age 60 and older who want to remain in their own homes. A care manager assesses your needs and develops an individualized service plan — a stairlift can be included if it is deemed necessary for safety. Call Allegheny County's SeniorLine to request an assessment.

The simplest first step is to schedule a free in-home assessment with Luis. He will measure your stairs, confirm which model fits, and write up a quote with the exact model and price. That quote serves as the basis for most funding applications — the VA, CHC waiver case managers, and the Area Agency on Aging all need a specific proposal with measurements and medical-necessity justification. Luis has walked McCandless families through each of these programs and knows which paperwork each one requires. Call or email to set up the assessment.