Expert Stairlift Installation in St. Michael, MN

A straight stairlift install takes about 3 hours. Curved rails take 4-5 hours on install day, but the rail itself takes 7-10 business days to fabricate after the laser measurement. Outdoor installs run about the same as straight — 3 hours, assuming the concrete or stone surface is in good condition. Platform lifts take about 4 hours. We schedule morning or afternoon slots so you're not waiting around all day.

No. The rail bolts directly to the stair treads, not the wall. Your drywall, banister, and trim stay intact. For St. Michael homes with older lath-and-plaster walls near the historic church area, this is especially important — we never anchor into wall surfaces. If you're in a rental or an HOA community like Riverview Preserve, we can provide documentation showing the install is non-invasive and fully removable.

Yes. Every lift we install in St. Michael comes with a DC motor and a 4Ah sealed lead-acid battery backup. During a power outage — and Wright County gets plenty of those during winter storms — the battery runs the lift for roughly 6 hours of normal use, or about 30-40 round trips. The battery recharges automatically when power returns. No generator needed.

Yes. The rail unbolts from the treads in about 90 minutes and leaves only small bolt holes that are easy to fill and touch up. We remove lifts from homes going on the market regularly — especially in St. Michael where the housing stock turns over frequently with young families moving in. We can also transfer the lift to a new home if the stairs are compatible.

Yes — through the HISA grant (Home Improvements and Structural Alterations). Service-connected veterans can receive up to $6,800, and non-service-connected veterans up to $2,000. The grant is one-time, tax-free, and never repaid. The nearest VA facility for St. Michael residents is the Minneapolis VA Medical Center at One Veterans Drive, Minneapolis, MN 55417, about 30 miles southeast. The St. Cloud VA Medical Center at 4801 Veterans Drive, St. Cloud, MN 56303 is also about 30 miles northwest — both process HISA applications.

Minnesota's Elderly Waiver (EW) covers stairlifts under the Environmental Accessibility Adaptation (EAA) benefit. As of January 2025, the cap is $21,199 per waiver year — more than enough to cover any stairlift configuration. You must be Medicaid-enrolled and qualify for the waiver through a county case manager. Wright County Health & Human Services at 3650 Braddock Ave NE, Suite 2100, Buffalo, MN 55313 handles St. Michael applications. The assessment process takes 30-60 days, and the stairlift must be deemed medically necessary.

There's no St. Michael-specific grant program, but Wright County residents may access funds through the Central Minnesota Council on Aging, which serves Wright County through the Older Americans Act. These are typically smaller grants for safety modifications. Additionally, the Minnesota STAR Program offers low-interest loans for home accessibility equipment. The Wright County Community Action Aging Services program can also connect you with local resources — call 763-682-7400.

First, your VA primary care provider must write a medical-necessity statement. Then you submit the HISA application (VA Form 10-0103) to the Prosthetics Department at either the Minneapolis VA (612-725-2000) or St. Cloud VA (320-255-6339). Approval typically takes 4-6 weeks. Once approved, we coordinate directly with the VA to schedule the install. The grant pays us directly — you never float the cash. Luis has walked St. Michael veterans through this process dozens of times and can help with the paperwork.