Expert Stairlift Installation in South Lyon, MI

Most straight stairlift installs in South Lyon take about 3 hours from arrival to cleanup. Curved rails take a full day because the rail is custom-fabricated after measurement. The laser measurement visit is separate and takes about an hour. We schedule installs Monday through Friday, with Saturday slots available for families who want to be home during the work.

No. The rail bolts into the stair treads — not the wall — so your drywall and trim stay untouched. On carpeted stairs, common in subdivisions like Carriage Trace and Maple Creek, we cut small access holes through the carpet at each bolt point and trim neatly. When the lift is eventually removed, the holes are easy to patch and the treads can be filled. No structural changes to the home.

Yes. We've installed lifts in 1880s Victorians on East Lake Street and century homes throughout the Downtown Historic District. Older homes often have narrower stairs — as tight as 28 inches — which calls for a slim-rail model. The bolt-to-tread method works on hardwood, pine, and the original oak treads common in pre-1900 builds. No structural changes needed, and the rail color can match period wood tones.

Stairlifts are classified as temporary medical equipment under Michigan building code, not a structural modification, so no permit is required in South Lyon or Oakland County. If you're in an HOA — Trotters Pointe, Carriage Trace, and several other subdivisions have active associations — we recommend checking your covenants. The tread-bolt method almost always satisfies HOA rules since it doesn't alter common walls.

Yes, through the HISA grant. The Home Improvements and Structural Alterations grant covers up to $6,800 for service-connected veterans and $2,000 for non-service-connected veterans. It's a one-time benefit, tax-free, and never repaid. South Lyon veterans are served by the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System at 2215 Fuller Road in Ann Arbor (about 19 miles away) and the Major General Oliver W. Dillard VA Clinic at 5900 North Lotz Road in Canton (about 19 miles). Both facilities can process HISA applications.

Yes, through the MI Choice Waiver Program. This Medicaid waiver covers home modifications — including stairlifts — for Michigan residents 65 and older or adults 18-64 with disabilities who qualify for nursing-home level care. The stairlift must be written into the participant's individual care plan. The Area Agency on Aging 1-B, located at 29100 Northwestern Highway in Southfield, serves Oakland County and can help with the MI Choice application. Call them at (800) 852-7795. Start early — the waitlist can be long.

Beyond VA and Medicaid, Oakland County's Older Adult Services office runs a home improvement resource line at (248) 858-5401 that connects seniors with HUD-certified housing counselors. Some homeowners use a reverse mortgage for home modifications. The Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) occasionally runs accessibility grant cycles, though those are competitive and not always open. We walk every customer through funding options at the free in-home assessment.

Start by calling the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System at (734) 769-7100 and asking for the HISA office, or visit the Dillard VA Clinic in Canton. You'll need a medical-necessity statement from your VA primary care provider and a cost estimate — which we provide at no charge during the assessment. Processing typically takes 4 to 6 weeks. Luis has helped South Lyon veterans with HISA paperwork for years and knows exactly what documentation the VA requires on the quote.