How to Build a Wheelchair Ramp: 12 Steps with Pictures

Table Of Content

• Concrete Wheelchair Ramps*
• Wood Ramp Design
• A Wheelchair Ramp Built to Last
• Part 1: Planning for your Wheelchair Ramp

In addition to wheelchair ramps, Lifeway Mobility offers stair lifts, home elevators, patient lifts, and other home and bath safety solutions. The accessibility solutions that we offer are manufactured by some of the top manufacturers in the industry such as EZ-Access, Bruno, Savaria, and Handicare. Wood, like metal, is a natural resource that is also increasing in cost each year. One can expect to pay from about $2,000 to above $10,000+ for a wooden wheelchair ramp.

Concrete Wheelchair Ramps*

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Wood Ramp Design

By insetting it you’ve got a nailing surface on both sides of each hanger. It just works out perfectly, and you get a nice, smooth-looking edge. I do recommend a piece of pressure-treated wood along the bottom of the ramp framework to tie everything together. But leave the very tapered end unsupported by anything but the ground so that those deck screws can extend down through.

A Wheelchair Ramp Built to Last

A few options have been included so that you can customize the ramp to perfectly fit your needs. Wooden ramps are a popular option for homeowners who want a ramp that blends in with their home’s exterior. They are typically made of pressure-treated lumber, which is weather-resistant and durable. Wooden ramps come in different styles and designs, and they are suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.

Part 1: Planning for your Wheelchair Ramp

For steps with a 7-inch rise, the distance from the ground to the top of the third step would be 21 inches high, so the length of the ramp would be a minimum of 21 feet. The vertical posts will support the rest of the ramp’s framing, and they must be vertically level, or plumb Insert the end of a post into an anchor, and use bolts to secure it in place at the bottom. It helps to have one worker hold the post straight while another inserts the bolts. The braces can be removed later after the rim joists have been installed. Unless you’re constructing a temporary ramp that will sit on the surface of the ground, you’ll need to dig to install the concrete footings that will support the ramp’s vertical posts.

Choosing the Right Ramp Materials

Discover innovative building techniques and materials available, worldwide. You also need to consider the weight of the wheelchair user, as some ramps may not be able to support heavier weights. Note that this guide is for a straight ramp, which is the simplest to build and use. Cross slopes are slopes provided sideways that are perpendicular to the ramp’s length.

For an indoor ramp, plywood might work, but when building a wheelchair ramp outdoors, use pressure-treated lumber. For each footing, dig a hole 12 inches in diameter and below the frost line. They’re the boards along the side that define the side of the wheelchair ramp. If you look at the top view, you can see that the fascia boards extend in a continuous line. In this case, that’s the side of the ramp, and it meshes nicely with the fascia board on the landing.

Americans with Disabilities Act suit challenges DC bike lane designs - The Washington Post

Americans with Disabilities Act suit challenges DC bike lane designs.

Posted: Tue, 22 Nov 2022 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Toward the end of the school tours, I asked both representatives how many of their students are wheelchair users and both responded “None.” I wasn’t surprised by their response. Consumers trust Amramp for accessibility solutions and services since 1998. Groups and Organizations, both local and national, that can help with the cost of a wheelchair ramp. A wheelchair ramp, as shown in Figure 1, can be an important part of a home's accessibility. It is probably one of the first things that goes through someone's mind when home accessibility is under discussion. Also, consider pre-built accessibility ramps to determine if these alternatives will suit your temporary needs.

This proactive approach ensures that your wheelchair ramp not only meets safety standards but also provides a reliable and lasting solution for accessibility. By carefully following these construction steps, you're well on your way to creating a sturdy and SEO-friendly wheelchair ramp tailored to your needs. Wheelchair ramps help people with disabilities access public and private facilities. In the United States, as part of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), all new public buildings must include wheelchair access. Ramps are often used for wheelchairs but they have other uses as well. For example, you can use one to create a stairway that's much safer than a set of stairs.

The lack of accessibility in our communities makes daily life extremely challenging for people with disabilities. Although the Americans with Disabilities Act has been the law for over 30 years, far too many businesses are still inaccessible to people who use wheelchairs, scooters, and other mobility devices. I find what I call the one-step problem to be especially galling — businesses that have just one step at the entrance.

Gather all the information you can from building authorities and your local building code because the requirements will influence your design and material choices. Homeowner associations will likely also have specific requirements and prohibitions. Despite laws in place to protect disabled students, like my son, public schools fail to meet some of the most basic accessibility requirements. For students who are wheelchair users that means making school playgrounds and buildings wheelchair accessible.