Expert Stairlift Installation in Trenton, MI

A straight stairlift install in a Trenton home takes three to four hours from arrival to final test. Curved rail installs take five to seven hours because the custom rail must be precisely fitted to the measured arc. Outdoor installs on porch or deck stairs run about four hours. Platform lifts take five to six hours. We arrive with the rail pre-cut (or pre-bent for curved jobs), so there is no fabrication on site. You will have a working lift the same day.

No. Stairlift installations in Trenton do not require a building permit because the rail bolts to the stair treads, not to the wall structure, and the unit plugs into a standard 120V outlet — there is no hardwiring or structural modification. This applies across Wayne County. The install does not trigger inspection requirements.

Yes. Many Trenton homes — especially the 1940s Kennedy Park ranches and older Cape Cods — have staircases under 36 inches wide. Our straight rail seats fold up to a 12-inch profile when not in use, leaving 24 inches of passable stair width. That meets Michigan building code for egress and still lets family members walk the stairs normally. We have installed lifts on stairs as narrow as 28 inches by using a perch-seat configuration.

No. The rail bolts into the stair treads themselves — not into the wall, not into the drywall, not into the studs. The bolts are recessed and capped. When the lift is eventually removed, the bolt holes can be filled with wood putty or epoxy and sanded flat. There is no damage to wall surfaces, no repainting required, and no drywall work. For tile or stone treads, we use a specialized masonry bit that drills cleanly without cracking the tread.

Yes. The HISA (Home Improvements and Structural Alterations) grant covers up to $6,800 for service-connected veterans and $2,000 for non-service-connected. It is a one-time, tax-free benefit that never has to be repaid. Trenton veterans can start the process at the Downriver VA Clinic at 1640 West Fort Street — the primary care provider writes the medical-necessity prescription. The prosthetics department at the John D. Dingell VA Medical Center in Detroit (4646 John R Street) processes the application. We help with the paperwork at the assessment.

Yes, through the MI Choice Waiver Program. Administered in Wayne County by the Detroit Area Agency on Aging (Region 1-A), the waiver covers environmental modifications — including stairlifts, ramps, and grab bars — when included in the participant's individual care plan. Eligibility requires nursing-home level of care, Michigan Medicaid enrollment, and income within waiver limits. The waiver pays for the unit, installation, and any electrical work. Call (313) 446-4444 to begin the MI Choice application.

Beyond the MI Choice Waiver, Michigan's MI Health Link program (available in Wayne County for dual-eligible Medicare/Medicaid enrollees) also covers environmental modifications including stairlifts. The Michigan Assistive Technology Program (MATP) can provide low-interest loans for accessibility equipment. Some Trenton homeowners have also used the HUD Older Adult Home Modification Program when administered locally — contact the Detroit Area Agency on Aging for current availability. None of these programs require repayment when used as a grant.

Yes. A common scenario in Trenton: a veteran uses the HISA grant for the first $6,800 of a curved stairlift, then finances the remaining $2,200 at $79/month. A Medicaid-eligible senior might use the MI Choice Waiver for the full amount. We also see families splitting costs — one sibling covers the unit while another handles installation through financing. At the free assessment, we review which programs you qualify for and calculate the exact out-of-pocket number before you sign anything.