Expert Stairlift Installation in Murraysville, NC

A straight-rail install takes about three hours from the time Luis arrives to the time he tests the lift with you on it. The rail bolts directly to the stair treads — seven or eight bolts total — so there's no drywall work, no rewiring, and no structural changes to your home. A curved-rail install takes four to five hours because the custom-bent rail has more mounting points at each turn.

The rail mounts to the treads with lag bolts — each bolt hole is about the diameter of a pencil. On hardwood, the bolt heads sit nearly flush and can be stained to match. On carpeted stairs, the carpet fibers close back around the bolt head once it's torqued down, so the mounting point is barely visible. If you ever remove the lift, the bolt holes can be filled with wood putty or carpet-patched — a five-minute fix per tread.

The seat and footrest fold up to take about 12 inches of rail depth when not in use. When deployed, the lift needs about 26 inches of clearance from the rail to the opposite wall. Almost every Murraysville home built since the 1970s has a minimum 32-inch staircase width, which gives us enough room. For tighter staircases in older split-levels, we can install an offset hinge that parks the seat farther from the rail, freeing up walkway space when the lift is folded.

Luis can usually be at your home within 48 hours for the measurement. If you need a straight rail, he often carries the most common rail lengths on the truck and can install same-day after measuring — meaning you could have a working stairlift within two days of your first call. Curved rails require a 1-hour laser measurement followed by about 7 to 10 business days for the rail to be custom-bent and powder-coated. Outdoor and heavy-duty units are typically available within 5 to 7 business days.

Yes — through the HISA (Home Improvements and Structural Alterations) grant. Veterans with a service-connected disability can receive up to $6,800; those with a non-service-connected disability rated at 50% or higher can receive up to $2,000. The grant is tax-free, one-time, and never repaid. Start at the Wilmington VA Clinic at 1705 Gardner Drive — tell your primary-care provider the stairs are unsafe and ask for a HISA referral. The form is VA Form 10-0103. Luis has helped more than a dozen Murraysville veterans through this process.

Yes, through the CAP/DA (Community Alternatives Program for Disabled Adults) Medicaid waiver. This is a 1915(c) Home and Community-Based Services waiver for NC adults and seniors who meet nursing-facility level of care but want to remain at home. Home modifications — including stairlifts — are an authorized service under CAP/DA. To apply, contact the New Hanover County Department of Social Services or call the NC Medicaid CAP/DA program office. A needs assessment and a physician's statement of medical necessity are required.

Two programs are worth checking. The NC Housing Finance Agency runs the Urgent Repair Program, which provides funds for emergency home repairs and accessibility modifications for low-income homeowners who are elderly or have a disability — administered through local community partners in New Hanover County. Separately, the NC Independent Living Rehabilitation Program (through NCDHHS) can fund home and vehicle modifications for people with disabilities who meet income and functional-need criteria. Both programs have application windows and waitlists, so apply early.

No. Medicare Parts A and B do not cover stairlifts — they classify stairlifts as home modifications, not durable medical equipment. Medicare Advantage plans sometimes offer a home-modification benefit, but it varies by plan and rarely covers more than $500–$1,000. The two reliable funding paths for Murraysville residents are the HISA grant for veterans and the CAP/DA Medicaid waiver for those who qualify by income and medical need.