How to Build a Wooden Ramp for the Disabled

Measure the distance between the front porch and the area that you want the ramp to slope to. Ramp sizes and steepness will vary depending on the terrain. The slope should be no more than a 45 degree angle to ensure that it is not too steep. Be very thorough in measuring the length of the ramp. Go to your local hardware store and purchase two 2 x 4 boards to the length of your measurements. If the distance is especially long, you can purchase four of equal lengths and cut them to the desired length. Also purchase several 5-foot-wide flat boards, 1 inch thick, to serve as the base of the ramp.

Set the two boards up about 5 feet apart, sloping from the spot where the ramp will start, ending at the front porch. Nail the ends of the boards to the porch or attach in some other way. If the porch is wooden, then the tops of the boards should be flush with the top of the porch when nailed in. If the porch is concrete or metal, you may need a higher caliber drill to attach the boards.

Nail the flat boards into the 2 x 4 boards side by side all the way up the ramp, creating a slope. The number of these boards that you will need will depend on the size of the ramp. Once these boards are nailed in, a standard 1 to 3 foot high ramp for the disabled will be ready for use.