Options for a Home Wheelchair Ramp

Ramp Design

• Once someone needs to rely on a wheelchair for mobility, it is important to renovate and modify at least one entryway. Your initial issue is the degree of incline from the doorway to the landing (closest flat, level section of the entryway). For ranch-style homes with three to five steps up to the porch or stoop, it may not be necessary to remove the existing steps. A home that has a steeper incline with 10 to 12 steps needs a ramp with a landing at or near the halfway point. Without the landing, it would be difficult for someone in a wheelchair to control the speed, even when assisted by another person.

  The guidelines from the Americans with Disabilities Act recommend a slope ratio between 1:16 and 1:20, for a distance of less than 30 feet. The maximum rise, according to Mobility-Advisor.com is 30 inches. The minimum recommended width of the ramp is three feet. The landing(s) should be a minimum of five feet long and at least as wide as the ramp. The ADA specifications for wheelchair ramp handrails require that you install them on both sides of the any ramp that rises more than six inches. If the ramp has a drop-off, you must install curbs at least two inches high on the ramp and the landing(s).

Ramp Construction

• The Minnesota Ramp Project has published a free manual for people who need to use or build wheelchair ramps. The manual provides several inexpensive designs that meet the ADA recommendations. It also has instructions for grading options for the ramp location. The materials that you need build a safe 58-inch by 42-inch ramp will include lumber for joists, decking and end pieces, deck screws, nails and joist hangers. For this project they purchased four 2 by 6 by 10 planks, one 2 by 6 by 8 and three 14-foot decking strips. You can have the retailer cut your lumber and decking sizes shown in the plan or use your own tools.

  Lay the joists on a flat surface 14 inches apart and assemble the ramp base by attaching the end pieces with nails. Attach the joist hangers and bend the flange to secure them to the end pieces. The Ramp Project suggests that due to the total finished ramp weight, you should move the ramp base to its permanent location before you attach the decking strips with screws. Consult other manual sections to find material lists and illustrated directions for handrails, curbs and ramps with landings.