How do you build a wheelchair ramp?

Question

How do you build a wheelchair ramp?

Answer 1

Check out the following: The Home Wheel Chair Ramp Project

Answer 2

I've built a few of them........You need in our state 1' for every 1" of rise.......so that means.....if you have from the ground to your door......48"............that you would have to have 48 feet of ramp. I build one out of concrete with plywood for the form and 2x5's for the sides so the concrete was about 41/2 inches think with rebar in it. I used sonar tupe cardboard forms under for legs and built support beams about every 8 feet , Just cut the holes for your beams and support legs right through the plywood and poor everything at once.That's called a "MONolithic Pour. Put lots of steel in it. This particular one the lady was running a big power chair up and down.....so I build a big landing halfway up so she could turn and rest and also I get her along the side of the house and turn and go up to the back door.....it started at her garage so she could get out of her van and exit with her chair and start up the ramp. Also build her 3' high steel handrail in case something went wrong with her chair she could try to make a safe stop. Really was quite easy........took about a week for the ramp and a week for the handrail. The bottom forms are all temporary and can be stripped out from under after about a week. I'm glad I had a chance to do it for her........her husband was a marine colonel retired and one year later he started loosing his eyesight.....so I know he's now blind and would guess that he can find his way up and down also because of the steel handrails on both sides. I thought it might be hard put actually it worked out very nice. And I know he was happy about it ..........he used to tease me about painting it red white and blue.......wish I would have.....but it wouldn't have looked good with his home.  I have build them out of wood also and the same rule follows....just used cross beams and posts and handrails.....be sure to make them wide enough.....for problems.  Good luck........you will be doing something special for someone...so I know someone will be watching over your shoulder to help you. He's quite a helper......he was a carpenter too.....God Bless!!!