Home Accessibility: How And Where To Install A Wheelchair Ramp

Now, you must find the proper location for your ramp. It seems logical that the ramp (or ramps) should be located wherever there is a raised threshold or small flight of steps that cannot be otherwise surmounted. In new homes, the front door is often lifted a few inches off of the outside pavement, so it follows that you will probably need a small ramp here to ensure easy access of your home to anyone in a wheelchair.

The Americans with Disabilities Act sets rigid guidelines as to what is and isn't acceptable for a wheelchair ramp, so if you are intending for anyone besides a family member to use the ramp (and even if you aren't, you might want to) consult the guidelines before beginning construction. Even if there were never legal implications for a poorly made ramp, the idea of building one in the first place is to increase the comfort level of those in your life who use wheelchairs. Another legal issue you may need to settle involves building permits in your area of residence. Believe it or not, a wheelchair ramp often counts as a construction worthy of a permit.

The ramp itself should be constructed of pressure-treated wood to prevent rotting. You can consult an employee of any hardware & lumber store, but unless they've worked there for considerable time, they are unlikely to be knowledgeable in the art of ramp construction. When planning the dimensions of the ramp, use this rule of thumb: for every inch of lift, the ramp should have a foot of run. If the ramp rises two inches off the ground, allow for two feet of ramp horizontally.

The ramp should be well anchored in the surrounding environment to prevent slippage or instability. For this, you'll need posts that are treated for burial in the ground. Excavate a few inches of soil before positioning the lower end of the ramp in the ground. The posts will need to be at the bottom corners of the ramp, positioning it against the surface to which the ramp rises. Use masking tape to mark the site where the post would be ideally positioned before you use a post digger (recommended) or shovel to excavate more soil for the posts. The ramp itself can be as simple as a few of the aforementioned pressure-treated boards positioned in a row. If you would like to close the sides of the ramp (this is best for added stability) use the 3-4-5-triangle principle. Galvanized nails are recommended for securing the side panel to the top surface of the ramp. Finally, consider smoothing the transition at the top of the ramp to the new surface with a "flap" or additional panel that lies over the ground to which the ramp rises.

Constructing a wheelchair ramp for yourself or a loved one is a worthy project, but it's better to not be done at all than attempted halfheartedly. Therefore, do your research beforehand and ensure that everything- from the products used to the measurements- is the best possible. You may even decide that hiring someone to help is worthwhile. The ultimate aim- ensuring an easier home life for someone wheelchair bound- should never be forgotten.