Expert Stairlift Installation in Rifle, CO

A straight stairlift goes in about 3 hours from the time Luis pulls up. A curved lift takes 4 to 5 hours because the custom rail needs more precise mounting. Outdoor installs run about 3 to 4 hours, though Luis may schedule around weather if there's snow or ice on the porch. Either way, you're using the lift the same day.

No. The rail bolts directly to the stair treads, not the wall, so drywall stays untouched. For Rifle's older homes on Railroad Avenue with original 1910s hardwood treads, the bolt holes are small and can be filled if the lift is ever removed. No structural changes and no rewiring.

We install year-round. For outdoor lifts, Luis schedules around snow or ice — the porch needs to be dry and clear for safe mounting. Indoor installs aren't affected by weather; Rifle's January lows around 9°F don't stop a job inside your heated home. Outdoor installs just need a clear forecast window of about 4 hours.

Yes. Most of Rifle's pre-1940 homes on Whiteriver Avenue and in the historic district have stairways around 30 to 34 inches wide. Our slimline rail fits 28-inch and wider stairs, and the seat folds to about 12 inches when parked. Luis measures during the free assessment — if it fits, he'll tell you; if it doesn't, he'll say so.

Yes, through the HISA grant (Home Improvements and Structural Alterations). Service-connected veterans can receive up to $6,800 — one-time, tax-free, never repaid. Non-service-connected veterans can get up to $2,000. The nearest clinic is the Glenwood Springs VA Clinic at 2425 South Grand Avenue, Suite 101 (about 27 miles east on I-70), and the Grand Junction VA Medical Center at 2121 North Avenue handles HISA approvals for the Western Slope. We help with the paperwork.

Yes, through Health First Colorado under the Elderly, Blind, and Disabled (EBD) Waiver. The home-modification benefit has a $14,000 lifetime cap. You need a case manager to add the waiver and an in-home occupational-therapy assessment to document medical necessity. Approval can take 30-plus days, so start early. Garfield County Health and Human Services at 195 West 14th Street in Rifle can help you begin.

Beyond the EBD Waiver's $14,000 lifetime benefit, Colorado's Division of Housing runs a home-modification benefit for Health First Colorado members. There's no separate state-only grant with additional funds — the EBD Waiver is the primary path. Some Rifle families combine EBD Waiver funds with a VA HISA grant if the veteran qualifies for both.

Start with your VA primary care provider — at the Glenwood Springs VA Clinic or the Grand Junction VA Medical Center. They complete a medical-necessity form stating the stairlift is required for your condition. Once filed, the HISA office reviews and approves (typically 2 to 6 weeks). We help with the quote and spec sheet the VA requires, and don't bill anything until the grant is approved.