Expert Stairlift Installation in Smithfield, NC

A straight stairlift install takes 3 hours from arrival to test-run. Curved lifts take 3–4 hours on install day — but note the curved rail requires a separate 1-hour laser measurement visit about two weeks prior. The rail bolts to the stair treads, not the wall, so there is no drywall work, no repainting, and no mess. Most Smithfield customers schedule in the morning and have the lift running by lunch.

No wall damage. The rail mounts to the stair treads with threaded bolts — not to the drywall or plaster. For Smithfield's historic homes in the Brooklyn District or North Smithfield Historic District, this matters: the original banisters, plaster walls, and woodwork stay untouched. When the lift is eventually removed, the bolt holes in the treads are easily filled and refinished.

Yes. Outdoor straight stairlifts start at $4,000 and are built with marine-grade aluminum rails, UV-resistant upholstery, and IP55-rated weather sealing. We have installed them on porches in East River, on stone entry steps near the Neuse River bluff, and on decks throughout Johnston County. They handle North Carolina humidity, summer heat, and the occasional winter ice without issue.

Most of the time, yes. The narrowest staircase we have fitted in Smithfield was 28 inches wide — in a Brooklyn District bungalow from 1915. Standard straight lifts need about 28 inches of clear width. The seat and armrests fold up when not in use, leaving roughly 18 inches of passable stair for other family members. For stairs tighter than that, Luis evaluates during the free assessment — he has done over 200 Johnston County installs and rarely finds a stair he cannot fit.

Yes. The VA Home Improvements and Structural Alterations (HISA) grant provides up to $6,800 for veterans with service-connected disabilities and up to $2,000 for non-service-connected conditions. Stairlifts are explicitly covered. The application requires a prescription from a VA primary care provider and a home assessment. The Durham VA Medical Center (508 Fulton Street, Durham, NC 27705) processes HISA applications for Johnston County veterans.

North Carolina's CAP/DA (Community Alternatives Program for Disabled Adults) Medicaid waiver can cover stairlifts as a home modification. Eligible applicants must be 65+ or an adult with disabilities, enrolled in NC Medicaid, and assessed as at risk for nursing home placement. The waiver provides up to $14,000 in one-time lifetime home modification benefits. Application goes through your local Department of Social Services — Johnston County DSS is at 714 North Street in Smithfield.

Johnston County veterans are served by the Durham VA Health Care System. The Durham VA Medical Center at 508 Fulton Street, Durham, NC 27705 (919-286-0411) is the main campus. For closer primary care, the Clayton-East Raleigh VA Clinic at 11618 US-70 Business Hwy W in Clayton (about 12 miles from Smithfield) can write the medical-necessity prescription. The Goldsboro VA Clinic at 2610 Hospital Road is a secondary option, about 25 miles east.

Beyond the CAP/DA waiver, the North Carolina Assistive Technology Program (NCATP) provides device demonstration and lending — they will not fund the lift directly but can help you try equipment before buying. Some Johnston County seniors also qualify for the USDA Rural Development home repair grant (Section 504) if they meet the very-low-income threshold and are 62+. That grant maxes at $10,000 and can cover accessibility modifications including stairlifts for rural-eligible properties outside the Smithfield town center.