How to Create a Handicap Ramp for Home

Tie two pieces of string to two stakes each. Drive one stake from each pair into the ground near where the ramp will conclude, and the second stake in each where the ramp will begin. The strings will denote the outer edges of the ramp.

Dig a hole 1 foot wide and 2 feet deep on the outside of each string near the spots where the ramp will conclude and begin, with additional holes spaced evenly along the length, and no more than 6 feet between holes.

Place a post into each hole so that the pole extends 34 inches above the string at the point where the post is located. Then fill in the holes.

Screw a 2-by-6 beam along the inside of each set of posts so the top of the plank is 1 inch below the string.

Cut one piece of 2-by-6 more than the number of pairs of posts for the ramp. It should be wide as the ramp.

Screw the planks between the two side planks, with one at the start, one at the end, and one plank centered across the distance between each pair of posts and its adjacent pair of posts. The crossbeams extra support.

Cut pieces of 2-by-6, with a plank long enough to fit between each pair of crossbeams. Then secure with screws in the center of the crossbeams.

Cut plywood pieces as wide as the ramp. Secure them atop the ramp frame with screws.

Cut two wood 2-by-4s as long as the ramp. Secure one to the inside edge of each row of posts so that the beam extends slightly above the posts. This will be a handrail.

Cut two wood 2-by-4s as long as the ramp. Secure one to the inside edge of both rows of posts, with the top edge of the beams 6 inches above the plywood surface.

Cut two wood 2-by-4s as long as the ramp. Secure one to the inside edge of both rows of posts, centered between the prior beams on each side.