DIY Wheelchair Ramps
- 1). Measure the height of the porch or surface that a person in a wheelchair is trying to get to. Multiply this number by 12. This is the minimum length of the ramp. ADA rules require that a ramp have a slope no more than 1 inch per linear foot.
- 2). Measure and mark the outline of the ramp with spray paint.
- 3). Mark an "X" every four feet from the beginning of the ramp. Do the same on the opposite side of the ramp, 36 inches away. This will represent where a post needs to be placed. There should be two posts opposite each other at the beginning and the end of the ramp.
- 4). Dig a hole two feet deep to install each post. Set the 4-by-4-inch 8-foot lumber post in the hole, and have a friend hold the post level while you fill the hole with concrete. Be exact when placing the posts on the opposite side. They need to be no less than 36 inches apart. This provides enough room for a standard wheelchair to use the ramp.
- 5). Mark the first post at the beginning of the ramp to the same height as the porch. Mark each one after that 4 inches shorter than the previous. The post opposite each other should have the same mark.
- 6). Measure and cut all the 1-by-4 inch boards to 4-feet long.
- 7). Nail one end of the board to the first post with one nail. This will allow you to move the board enough to line it up with the mark on the next post. Continue down the row until you reach the last post. Repeat with the other side of the post, and again with both sides of the opposite posts. This is creating a surface to attach the floorboards. You will be laying a 1-by-6 board over the top of the 1-by-4 boards.
- 8). Measure and cut all 1-by-6-inch boards to measure 4-feet wide. Some of these boards will have to be cut to fit between posts. Measure and cut those out of the 4-foot boards as you come to them.
- 9). Attach the 1-by-6-inch boards to the 1-by-4 support boards with two nails in each support board. Place each board flush to each other.
- 10
Mark each post at 36 inches above the ramp floor. - 11
Attach a 1-by-4 to the upper side portion of the post in the same manner that the support boards were attached in step 7. Do the same with the other side to create a railing on either side of the ramp. - 12
Cut the top of the post with a jigsaw, so it is flush with the railing. - 13
Stain the wood, with sealant to prevent rotting.