Expert Stairlift Installation in Shawangunk, NY

A straight stairlift install takes about 3 hours from arrival to cleanup — Luis typically finishes before lunch. Curved rail installs take 4 to 5 hours because the custom-fabricated rail sections need precise alignment. Outdoor and heavy-duty lifts fall in the 3-to-4-hour range. We do not need to modify your walls; the rail bolts directly to the stair treads.

No building permit is required for a stairlift installation in the Town of Shawangunk. A stairlift is classified as a temporary home modification, not a structural alteration, so it does not trigger the town's building code review process. If you're in a historic district or an HOA, we can provide specification sheets for board review, but we've never had one rejected.

Yes. Many of the older homes in Wallkill and Bruynswick — especially the 19th-century frame houses and stone dwellings — have staircases under 36 inches wide. Our standard rail fits stairs as narrow as 30 inches. The seat, armrests, and footrest all fold up when not in use, leaving about 20 inches of walkway clearance for other family members.

We remove old stairlifts at no charge when you're replacing one of ours. If you're moving to a new home in the Shawangunk area — say from a split-level in Ulster Heights to a ranch in Gardiner — we can relocate a straight lift for a flat $600 fee, provided the new staircase is similar in length and pitch. Curved rails cannot be relocated because they're custom-bent to a specific staircase.

The HISA (Home Improvements and Structural Alterations) grant provides up to $6,800 for service-connected veterans and up to $2,000 for non-service-connected veterans. Application starts at the Castle Point VA Medical Center — 41 Castle Point Road, Wappingers Falls, about a 25-minute drive from Wallkill. You'll need a prescription from a VA physician and the completed VA Form 10-0103. Luis can help coordinate the measurement and quote for the VA submission.

Yes, through the NHTD (Nursing Home Transition and Diversion) Waiver. This is a 1915(c) HCBS Medicaid waiver that covers environmental modifications including stairlifts for enrollees who meet nursing-home level of care criteria. The TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury) Waiver also covers home modifications. You must be enrolled in the waiver before the modification is approved. Contact your Medicaid care manager or the Ulster County Office for the Aging at (845) 340-3456 to start.

The NYS Access to Home Program, administered through Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), provides financial assistance for accessibility modifications to low- and moderate-income residents with disabilities. Funding is distributed through local nonprofit organizations and municipalities. Ulster County also periodically runs housing rehabilitation programs. We keep a current list of grant-eligible organizations serving the Wallkill and Walker Valley area and can point you to the right contact.

Generally no — HISA and state programs cannot be combined for the same modification. But you can use HISA for the stairlift and, separately, apply through the NHTD Waiver or Access to Home for other modifications like a ramp or bathroom grab bars. We'll help you figure out which program makes the most financial sense for your specific situation during the in-home assessment.