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How To Build A Wheelchair Ramp

Build a wheelchair ramp easily, or at least a lot easier than you might have thought. If you have a need for a wheelchair ramp then you have some choices about which direction to go. You can build a wheelchair ramp, you can purchase an expensive wheelchair lift, or you can build a wheelchair ramp.

If you want to save some money and build a wheelchair ramp yourself you can do so rather inexpensively. Now it may look like you can just put a wide piece of plywood down and use it as a ramp, but doing this will not work for long. There are many things that you need to consider when you get ready to build a wheelchair ramp.

One of the things that you need to plan for is to make sure that you build the ramp wide enough to accommodate various sized wheelchairs. The ADA has rules in place for businesses regarding the dimensions of a wheelchair ramp. These are good guidelines to go by even if you are building the ramp for your own home.

Width Of Ramp

According to these guidelines a wheelchair ramp should have a minimum inside clear width of 36". This will provide users of wheelchairs to have plenty of room to travel up and down the wheelchair ramp.

Slope

Another consideration when building a wheelchair ramp is the slope of the ramp. If a ramp is too steep, then a wheelchair bound person will have great difficulty getting up and down the ramp, especially if he or she is using a manual wheelchair. The maximum slope of a wheelchair ramp should be 1" of rise for each 12" of run.

One way to keep the slope of the wheelchair ramp to a minimum is to create a crossing ramp if needed. A crossing ramp is one where the ramp starts rising in one direction and then has a turn, back to a different direction. This will keep the slope angle at a more reasonable angle.

Landing Size

It is also important to have a landing at both the top and bottom of the ramp. A landing should be at least as wide as the ramp and should be a minimum of 60" long. If a person needs to turn the wheelchair once he or she reaches the landing, then the landing needs to be 74". This is enough space for someone in a wheelchair to be able to make a smooth U-turn.

When you build a wheelchair ramp you need to take into account that it needs to have handrails on both sides. These handrails can be quite helpful for someone attempting to go up or down the ramp. Handrails should be 30-34" above the ramp surface. The handrails need to run the entire length of the ramp and should be continuous. This means that the handrails will rise at the same degree that the ramp does.

The ramp needs to have a smooth transition from the landing, on both the top and the bottom, to the ramp. Even a small bump can create problems for wheelchair users.

Traction Concerns

It is recommended to use 2" x 4"s that are installed width wise. In other words you want the boards to be going across the width of the ramp. This will help the wheelchair user gain traction along the minimal spaces between the boards. It is also a good idea to install non-slip surfaces once the ramp is built to aid in traction.

Before you begin building a wheelchair ramp you will need to have a good plan of attack. One thing to consider in the planning stage is which direction the door to the home opens. It would not do much good if the door opened toward the exit of the ramp and got in the way of the wheelchair user getting into the home.

Hopefully this information will help you with the planning and building of a wheelchair ramp. Again, there are alternatives to building a wheelchair ramp, but a ramp is one of the most inexpensive ways to go, even if you have to pay someone to build it for you.

Related Resources: ADA Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities