Expert Stairlift Installation in Stillwater, MN

A straight stairlift install takes about three hours from arrival to final test. That's typical for newer subdivisions like Oak Glen and Liberty on the Lake, and for mid-century ramblers near Lily Lake. A curved install takes most of the day — the rail was already custom-bent off-site from the laser measurement, so on install day we're mounting brackets, seating the rail, and calibrating the carriage. An outdoor lift takes about four hours, plus sealing the penetrations against Minnesota freeze-thaw cycling.

No. The rail brackets bolt directly to the stair treads — not the wall, not the baseboards, not the original newel posts. For Victorians on South Hill and North Hill with 140-year-old oak treads, we use a rail-mounted bracket system that distributes weight across multiple treads. When the lift is eventually removed, you'd need to look closely to tell anything was there. The motor plugs into a standard wall outlet — no rewiring.

Luis comes out with a laser measurement rig that maps every tread, riser, and turn in three dimensions. For the Victorians on North Hill where stairs often wrap 90 degrees at the upper landing, the rig captures the exact radius of the turn, the rise of each step, and any variation in tread depth. That data goes to the fabricator, who bends the rail to match. The whole measurement takes about an hour. No guesswork — if the stairs have settled unevenly since 1873, the rail follows the actual contour.

Yes. For staircases under 30 inches wide — common in 1850s–1900s South Hill homes — we use a slim-rail model with a folding seat that tucks to 14 inches when stowed. The rail mounts to the treads, not the wall, so the narrow width doesn't prevent installation. If the staircase is steeper than standard (over a 42-degree pitch), the carriage motor is specced with a higher-torque drive. We've done lifts on staircases in Stillwater where the rise is nearly 8 inches per step.

The VA Home Improvements and Structural Alterations grant covers up to $6,800 for veterans with service-connected disabilities, or $2,000 for those with non-service-connected conditions. It's a one-time grant, tax-free, and never repaid. You apply through the VA facility where you receive care — for Stillwater veterans, that's typically the Minneapolis VA Medical Center at One Veterans Drive, Minneapolis, or the Maplewood VA Clinic at 3100 Kennard Street, Suite 100. Washington County's Veterans Service Office at 14949 62nd Street North can walk you through the paperwork.

Yes — through the Minnesota Elderly Waiver (EW) program, specifically the Environmental Accessibility Adaptations (EAA) service. EAA covers home modifications including stairlifts for people 65 and older who qualify for Medical Assistance and meet a nursing-home level of care. The annual EAA limit is approximately $21,722, CPI-indexed — it's not a lifetime cap. There can be a waitlist. Washington County Human Services handles eligibility determinations. A medical-necessity statement from your doctor is required.

Beyond the Elderly Waiver EAA program, Minnesota's Alternative Care (AC) program also covers home modifications including stairlifts for lower-income seniors who don't yet qualify for the full Elderly Waiver. The Minnesota Board on Aging funds Area Agencies on Aging that can direct you to local home-modification assistance programs. For disabled adults under 65, Minnesota's disability waivers (BI, CAC, CADI, DD) also cover EAA services. The Washington County Veterans Service Office can also advise on state veterans-home modification benefits for those who qualify.

We offer financing from $79/month with no prepayment penalty. Most families in Washington County combine financing with one or more funding sources: the VA HISA grant ($6,800 for service-connected), Minnesota Elderly Waiver EAA (up to ~$21,722/year), or long-term care insurance benefits. If you're working through the Elderly Waiver, we can coordinate directly with your Washington County case manager on the EAA authorization. The quote we give you at the assessment breaks out every line item for grant applications.