Ramp up your home
According to the Journal of Internal Medicine, 10.1% of noninstitutionalized U.S. residents have at least some type of mobility impairment. However, the 2019 American Housing Survey found that less than 5% of the U.S. housing supply is adequately accessible to such individuals.
If you live with elders or are likely to age in your current home, building a wheelchair ramp now would help you prepare for the future.
Building a wheelchair ramp is a great way to prepare for the future. While most people associate mobility problems with aging, in reality, there are many other reasons why a wheelchair ramp could come in handy.
A wheelchair ramp is a core aging in place improvement, if your current home is likely to be your last. It also provides peace of mind in the case of illness and accident. Even when you don’t struggle with mobility, you can still use the ramp to lift heavy items using a dolly or a cart instead of lifting everything up the stairs. Usually, adding a wheelchair ramp can also improve your property’s value.
Most wheelchair ramps cost $50 and $250 per linear foot. The longer the ramp, the higher the cost. Ramp material, type, landing, and weight specifications also affect the cost. Most permanent wheelchair ramps also require a permit, which would yield additional costs if you want a contractor to take care of everything.
Placement is key to building your wheelchair ramp. Before you start the project, you must evaluate a few critical factors, including:
Point of entry: Most wheelchair ramps connect to stairs, decks, or porches. Check the entryway’s width and height and how accessible the rest of the home is from the entry point.
Space limitations: Space limitations affect your ramp’s design. Look for trees and other obstacles you may need to build around. For smaller spaces, a U-shaped ramp would work most efficiently.
Slope, length, and rise: The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) recommends a 1:12 slope ratio where each inch off the ground requires one foot in ramp length to compensate. A sharper slope means you may need to construct ramps in multiple sections to stay compliant with the ADA standards.
Width: The minimum distance between handrails is 36 inches, and the rails must be at least 1.5 inches from the wall. Therefore, your ramp needs to be at least 42 inches wide.
Handrails and spindles: Handrails are mandatory on ramps that rise more than 6 inches and or are longer than 72 inches. Ramps rising more than 30 inches must have spindles and a curb or crutch stop along both sides of the ramp.
Once everything is mapped out, apply for necessary permits and submit your building plan for review. You should never start building your wheelchair ramp before receiving approval.
The steps below outline the general process of building a permanent wheelchair ramp from scratch. Be sure to wear proper protective gear throughout the project and call your local utility providers before digging into the ground. Note that it’s easiest to construct your ramp in smaller modules instead of working with long spans for flexibility and accuracy.
Batter boards are temporary frames outlining your building area and are later used to hold the ramp. They ensure your ramp is level and well-aligned. Place batter boards 2 feet outside of the existing layout lines you made during layout planning. Tie a mason cord across each set of batter boards and make sure the last cord barely touches the top of the edge cords. This tells you the shape and area of your future ramp.
Locate the footings at mason cord crossings and mark the ground with stakes or spray paint. Dig until the footing reaches below the frost line. Refer to your local building code on the required footing dimensions. Once dug, pour the concrete, flatten out the surface, and set J-bolts in the center of each concrete slab. Leave about 3/4 inches of the threaded top for post attachment. Wait for the concrete to set.
Once the footings are hardened, you can connect the posts with the anchors to the J-bolt. They can be secured easily with a nut and washer. Then, brace the post and fasten it to the anchor. Make sure the posts are tight and straight.
Next, cut the decking to shape and place it on the frame you just built. The decking boards need to be screwed into the joists so they don’t lift over time. Regardless of your material, follow the manufacturer’s instructions regarding drainage gaps between boards.
Next, install handrails into the corner posts. Follow ADA requirements for handrail height and grapple width. Since handrails should not exceed 8 inches, you will need to install an intermediary post to the outer joist for longer ramps to ensure handrail stability.
Repeat steps 1 through 5 until your ramp is fully constructed. You can also construct the entire frame. Then, place the decking and railing section by section. As long as you break the decking into shorter spans, you will be able to build a smooth and seamless ramp.
The last step is to install a landing at the end of your wheelchair ramp. The landing should be made with concrete or the same material as the ramp decking. Door landings need to be wide enough for a wheelchair to open the door and roll onto it without touching the sloped ramp, plus any elbow room needed if entering through an out-swinging door. Most landings are at least 58 by 60 inches.
Proper maintenance goes a long way when it comes to keeping your wheelchair ramp functioning. Regular cleaning is crucial to keeping debris off the ramp. Clean your ramp once or twice a month by sweeping off any debris and scrubbing off any grime buildup. If you live where winters are harsh, be sure to shovel snow and ice off the ramp as soon as possible. Finally, check for loose joints and connections and tighten them up promptly so they don’t become safety hazards.
Wheelchair ramp construction is a highly challenging project, and it’s best to leave the job to a professional unless you’re experienced in the construction industry. A wheelchair ramp builder can save you the hassle of figuring out ADA regulations and local building codes.
However, if you’re not looking to build a permanent ramp, you can find prefabricated ramp kits available for those who’d rather tackle the project themselves. There are also portable ramps you can easily set up and break down. The project would be more manageable since non-permanent ramps typically do not require building permits. However, we still recommend you hire a professional unless you’re confident in your skills.
A vertical stair lift, also known as a wheelchair elevator, works better for higher rises. Compared to wheelchair ramps, stair lifts cost much more, ranging from $2,300 to $24,000 and averaging at $7,050. Therefore, most people only consider installing a stair lift if a wheelchair ramp is not an option due to space limitations.
If you plan to grow old in your current home, a wheelchair ramp will be a wise investment. You cannot predict your health ten or twenty years later, and it’s better to be prepared than to get caught off-guard. If any family member struggles with mobility, it is best to add a wheelchair ramp even if they are not fully in a wheelchair because a wheelchair ramp also alleviates the stress of climbing stairs on someone’s muscles and bones.
While it is possible to build a wheelchair ramp yourself, we recommend you hire a professional ramp builder or accessibility expert to make your home wheelchair accessible. Building a wheelchair ramp is challenging, and permanent ones often require building permits. Leaving everything to a licensed pro will save you a lot of stress and hassle.
