Expert Stairlift Installation in Millbrae, CA

A straight stairlift install in Millbrae takes about 3 hours. Curved lifts take 4 to 6 hours because the pre-bent rail has more sections to align. We schedule morning or early-afternoon slots, and you can use the stairs during the install. There's no mess — the rail bolts to the treads, never the wall, so your drywall stays intact. We test the lift, walk you through the controls, and leave the workspace clean.

No. The rail brackets bolt into the treads, not the risers or the wall. When the lift is eventually removed, the bolt holes are small — about the size of a pencil — and can be filled with wood putty. On carpeted stairs, the brackets mount through the carpet into the tread beneath, and the carpet fibers close around the bracket when removed.

No permit is required in Millbrae or anywhere in San Mateo County for a stairlift installation. It's classified as a temporary home modification, not a structural change. The lift can be removed without altering the staircase, which is why building departments do not require permits.

We've installed lifts on staircases as narrow as 29 inches in older Capuchino and Millbrae Meadows homes. The seat folds up when not in use, leaving about 18 to 20 inches of passable width. The rail itself is slim — about 5 inches wide — and hugs the wall side. At the assessment, Luis will measure your exact clearance and tell you whether a standard or slim-rail model fits.

Yes. The VA's Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) grant covers stairlifts. Veterans with a service-connected disability can receive up to $6,800 — which covers a straight lift in full. Non-service-connected veterans can receive up to $2,000. The application goes through your VA primary care provider and is processed by the prosthetics department at the San Bruno VA Clinic at 1001 Sneath Lane. Luis can help you start the paperwork at the assessment.

Medi-Cal covers stairlifts through two pathways. The HCBA (Home and Community-Based Alternatives) Waiver funds home modifications for people who would otherwise need nursing-home-level care. And under CalAIM, the Environmental Accessibility Adaptations (EAA) benefit covers stairlifts when a doctor documents medical necessity — typically for a chronic condition that makes stairs unsafe. Your Medi-Cal managed care plan must authorize it, and the process usually takes 4 to 8 weeks.

San Mateo County does not run a dedicated stairlift grant, but the County Veterans Services Office — located in Belmont — helps Millbrae veterans file HISA applications and can connect residents to the Medi-Cal HCBA Waiver. They also maintain a list of licensed contractors for home modifications. Some Millbrae residents have also used reverse mortgage proceeds or low-interest home improvement loans from local credit unions like San Mateo Credit Union.

We offer financing starting at $79/month through a third-party lender, with terms from 12 to 60 months. There is no prepayment penalty. The application is a soft credit pull that does not affect your credit score. Many Millbrae families combine financing with a partial HISA grant or Medi-Cal reimbursement — paying the gap with monthly installments while waiting for funding to process. We help you coordinate the timing at the assessment.