How to Add Concrete Handicapped Ramps to Concrete Sidewalks
In the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards, the United States Access Board states that public facilities must be built as handicap wheelchair accessible. Buildings constructed before the mandate must modify their construction to allow wheelchair users access to their facilities. Unfortunately, wheelchair-bound individuals who need access to private residences with no ramp must solve the problem themselves. Making a wheelchair ramp for your home for use by friends or family in a wheelchair requires little more than planning and simple construction. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Measuring tape
- Post hole digger
- 6-by-6-inch fence posts
- Quickset concrete
- 1/2-by-36-inch pressure treated wood
- Sandpaper
- Wood glue
- Nail gun
- Outdoor deck stain
- Outdoor deck sealant
- Hammer
- 3-inch galvanized nails
Instructions
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1
Measure the height in inches where the ramp will be. Multiple the height measurement by 12 inches to determine the minimum length of the ramp.
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2
Dig two 3-foot-deep holes on either side of the concrete sidewalk, using a post hole digger. Make each hole 8 inches wide. Position the holes next to the top landing for the ramp. For example, if the ramp's top landing is a set of front porch steps, place the holes on either side of the step. Place another set of 3-foot holes every 4 feet down the length of where the ramp will sit.
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3
Insert a 6-by-6-inch fence post into each hole. The height of the posts is the height of the ramp at that given point. For example, if the landing is 15 inches tall, make the posts 51 inches long. If you have a second set of holes down the length, make the length of the pole match the height of the ramp at that point plus 3 feet for the hole's depth.
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4
Mix a batch of quickset concrete according to package directions. Pour the concrete into the holes around the fence posts. Let the concrete dry overnight or according to manufacturer's recommended drying time.
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5
Cut four 1/2-by-36-inch pieces of pressure treated plywood. Make the length of the board match the measurement from Step 1. For example, if the measurement from Step 1 is 15 inches, make the treated wood board 1/2-by-36-by-15-inches. Sand the edges using sandpaper to remove splinters. Stack the four boards on top of one another, applying a layer of wood glue between each layer. Secure the four plywood sheets together, making sure the edges are flush, using a nail gun, to create a 2-inch-thick sheet for the ramp.
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Treat the wood using an outdoor deck stain and sealant to protect it from rot and weather damage.
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Place the wood piece on top of the posts, angling it down to the ground. Hammer 3-inch galvanized nails through the wood into the fence posts. Use one nail for each post.
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Tips & Warnings
Ideally, the ramp should be 36 inches wide. The plans for this ramp assumes the width of the sidewalk in question matches this measurement. However, if the sidewalk is wider, adjust your measurements accordingly.
The ADA states that wheelchair ramps should not exceed a 12-to-1 rise ratio. In other words, for every 12 inches of length for the ramp, it should not stand more than 1 inch tall. For example, if the stairs it will cover are 24 inches from the top of the first step to the bottom of the last step, then the ramp would need to be 288 inches long.
If the space you want to install the ramp does not allow for a 12-to-1 ratio, consider building the ramp in an L or U shape to allow for the length.
Some local governments require building permits before building a ramp.
If the ramp has multiple sets of fence posts under it, stretch a piece of string from the top of the first post to the ground where the ramp will end. Mark the angle of the string on the posts and cut the posts at that angle. This allows for the rise of the ramp against the posts.
To cut down on slips and falls on the ramp, attach sand grit strips or rolled roofing material.
References
Resources
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