How to Build a Ramp From the Stairs to the Ground

Measure the height for the ramp by measuring from the top of the doorsill to the ground. To ensure the proper slope of the ramp, multiple the height by 12 inches. The resulting number is the length. For example, if the height measurement is 18 inches, the length is 216 inches.

Dig a 6-inch-wide hole on either side of the top step using a post hole digger. Position the holes next to the front of your home 36 inches apart and 24 inches deep. Place a second set of holes 60 inches beyond the first to allow for a top landing. According to the U.S. Department of Justice ADA, Title III Regulation 28 CFR Part 36, wheelchair ramps for a single wheelchair must be a minumum of 36 inches wide. If you want a larger width and have the room, adjust your measurements accordingly. Place a third pair of holes 1 inch from the second pair of holes. Every 48 inches down the length of the ramp's location, add an additional pair of holes on either side.

Cut 4-by-4-inch posts to match the height of the ramp plus 24 inches. You need two posts per pair of the holes you placed in step 2. Determine the height of the posts based on the holes' placement. For example, if you have a 52-inch-long ramp, the first two sets of posts measure 76 inches each. The next set of posts measures 28 inches. Cut one end of each post at an 8-degree angle. (Leave the first four posts uncut to support the landing.) To determine the angle, use a protractor to mark the posts, then cut with a circular saw. Place the posts in the holes with the angled ends up. Position the angled ends so that they angle away from the doorsill on a downward slope.

Prepare a bag of quickset concrete, following the manufacturer’s directions. Add enough water to create a puddinglike consistency. The amount needed depends on the number of holes. A 5-pound bag is sufficient for six holes.

Center the posts in the holes. Fill the remainder of each hole with concrete. Let the concrete dry according to manufacturer’s instructions.

Cut three pieces of 3/4-inch-thick plywood to match the width from the outer edge of one of a pair of concrete-set posts to the outer edge of the other. Make the length the measurement determined in step 1. Apply wood glue to the top of one of the plywood sheets 1 inch in from the outer edge. Place a second sheet on top of the first. Line up the edges, making sure the corners are squared. Apply wood glue to the top of the second sheet and add the third on top. Square the corners, and line up the edges with the first two sheets.

Secure the three pieces of plywood together using a nail gun with 2-inch nails, spacing the nails every 6 inches along the edges of the plywood. Position each nail 1 inch in from the edge of the sheets.

Cut three pieces of 36-by-60-by-3/4-inch-thick plywood. If the ramp is larger than 36 inches wide, adjust the width of the plywood. Use wood glue and 2-inch nails to attach the three pieces of plywood together the same way you did the three pieces in step 6, creating a landing.

Place the 36-by-60-inch triple-thick plywood sheet on top of the first four posts. Place one end flush against the house. Use a nail gun with 4-inch nails to place one nail through the top of the plywood sheet into the top of each post.

Place the other triple-thick plywood sheet on top of the remaining angled posts. Place one end flush against the plywood sheet you set in step 9. Rest the other end of the sheet on the ground. Line the edges of the plywood with the edges of the posts, angling it toward the ground. Secure it in place using 4-inch nails through the plywood into the posts.