At some point in our lives, many of us will use a wheelchair. Mobility struggles are a common problem as we age or become disabled due to sickness or injury. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which was championed by a disabled person, changed the way we look at a disability. In today’s modern construction industry wheelchair ramps are common, so today we will discuss how to install and build a wheelchair ramp.
What Is a Wheelchair Ramp?
In an outdoor environment, wheelchair ramps are specially designed paths that often double as a sidewalk. Wheelchair paths usually include a wheelchair ramp and are typically marked with a blue sign in a public setting, meaning the path is accessible by wheelchair. Generally, a wheelchair ramp will duplicate a set of stairs in both rise and fall but will be in the form of a slope, allowing a wheelchair to travel smoothly.
Wheelchair ramps should be designed using a standard so that most ramps, regardless of location will be similar in slope and grade. This means a formula will be used to establish a ratio of rise to run, which is typically the standard established by the ADA. For example, if the ratio is 1:12, the slope of the ramp will rise (or fall) 1 unit for every 12 units in distance. If we measure this in feet, we find that if a ramp rises 1 foot for every 12 feet in distance, we describe it as having a 1:12 ratio.
In a residential setting, like a wheelchair ramp leading from a driveway to a front porch landing, the ratio is normally 1:12 or shallower. In most situations, the longer the ramp, the less steep it will be. However, if space limitations arise you may have to add a landing(s) as well to maintain the slope.
Where Can I Put a Wheelchair Ramp?
Wheelchair ramps are never out of place because able-bodied people can use them as well. Generally, you can install a wheelchair ramp anywhere you can install stairs, but you’ll need more space. For example, most building codes require that stairs cannot exceed a certain height from each other. This prevents them from becoming too steep to safely climb if the space is too small.
Wheelchair ramps should generally not exceed 9 degrees in slope as this has been determined to be comfortable for those in the wheelchair. Other considerations can be included as well if the specific situation requires it, but only in non-public spaces. For example, if a private residence needs to be modified for a specific person’s use, the ADA standards need not apply. However, if the standards are not followed, you cannot consider the home ADA compliant.
Does Disabled Access Make a Home More or Less Valuable?
Whether disabled access modifications add or subtract from a home’s value often depends on several factors. The first factor is the demand for the unique features the home offers. Young families will likely prefer other features, like two-story homes with a nursery, while seniors may seek out one-level homes with disabled access.
Another factor is the design of the home itself. If the home is large with wide doorways and large rooms, adding a wheelchair ramp or lift may go unnoticed. However, if a small home is greatly modified to make it wheelchair friendly, the modifications may affect the curb appeal. Homes on sloping lots may have extra long wheelchair ramps to maintain the slope and prevent the ramp from becoming too steep.
The experts suggest marketing a home with disabled access specifically to that market. Even in 2022, most homes are not designed with future mobility in mind, so homes designed for mobility tend to sell quickly. These homes will sometimes be more expensive, however, due to the modifications.
Can I Build a Wheelchair Ramp Myself?
Wheelchair ramps are not complicated, but you will need to be comfortable working with angles. Wheelchair ramps can be built indoors or outdoors and made from concrete, wood, or synthetic materials. Many DIYers will have common tools like a hammer, saw, and tape measure. So, if you are an experienced do-it-yourselfer, you can probably build and install your own wheelchair ramp.
If you plan to build your wheelchair ramp from concrete, you’ll probably want to recruit some help with the heavy lifting. Wheelchair ramps built from masonry, like concrete or bricks, often employ machinery as well, like a trencher or skid steer. Wheelchair ramps also commonly involve some amount of grading, so consider renting a Bobcat or mini-excavator when appropriate.
How To Build a Wheelchair Ramp
The most important part of building a wheelchair ramp is that it remains stable. The effectiveness of a wheelchair ramp is measured by how easy and safe it is to use. Generally speaking, you’ll want to maintain a slope no greater than 8.3%, which is essentially a 1:12 ratio. If you have to change the rise or length of the ramp, always build the ramp to this slope or less. In other words, never increase the rise without extending the corresponding length to maintain a constant slope.
Here we will describe the steps to layout and build a wheelchair ramp indoors and outdoors:
Step 1: Layout
To determine the layout of a wheelchair ramp, you’ll need to know how long it will be and how far it will rise. To illustrate, let’s say our ramp needs to be 12 feet long and will rise 1 foot from beginning to end. If we do the math we determine that the ramp will need a slope of 4.8 degrees. Put another way, the ramp will rise one inch for every 12 inches in length.
If we’re building an indoor ramp, the easiest method is to use 2” x 12” lumber for the risers of the ramp. These boards are 11 ¼” wide (not exactly 12”), so when we add a ¾” subfloor to the frame, our final measurement is 12”.
Step 2: Measure and Cut the Angle
This step is easiest to accomplish with a carpenter’s square. Since we know the ratio (1:12) and the slope (4.8 degrees) we can use a carpenter’s square to mark the angle. The easiest way is to place the riser flat on the floor (2” x 12”), end to end, and mark the bottom left corner, then measure out 12 feet and make another mark on the top right corner.
Next, use a chalk line to strike a line between the two marks. This line represents the slope of the ramp. If your lumber is 12 feet or longer the process is even easier because it can be built from a single board. But finding straight lumber that long may be difficult. In most situations, the ramp will be made from several boards installed end to end. Now you can cut the boards along this line.
Always build a wheelchair ramp at least 36” wide, not including a handrail, if there is one. In other words, if you plan to install a handrail with a 2 ½” wide rail, you’ll need to add 5” to the 36” width for a total of 41” wide ramp. As such, you will need three 2” x 12” risers; one on each side and one in the middle. Lastly, install blocking between the risers every 24” the ramp extends forward. This will prevent the ramp from flexing as the wheelchair travels along.
Step 3: Install the Subfloor
The subfloor (the flat floor the wheelchair rides along) is often built from ¾” sheet materials, like subflooring, oriented strand board (OSB), or plywood. If the ramp is built outdoors, composite decking boards are common as a subfloor because they repel water.
When cutting the subfloor materials, the pros will often add an extra 1” to the width so that the subfloor will overhang the risers by 1” on both sides. This not only adds a finishing visual touch to the ramp but also helps it shed water if it is located outdoors.
Step 4: Install a Handrail (if required)
If the wheelchair will rise more than 6” (like this one), you will also need a handrail. The handrail needs to extend between 34” and 38” as measured from the floor.
Building the handrail from wood is done by assembling the handrail in sections, usually 4 ft.- 6 ft. lengths, and bolting it to the side of the riser with threaded bolts, washers, and nuts.
However, for most DIY projects, the best option is to install a handrail like one of these, as they install easily and meet the ADA specifications.
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