I was wondering if anyone has an idea or a link to a method for constructing a p/t wooden ramp over a 3.5 x 3.5 ft landing with 3 concrete steps. This is for my in-laws for whom I completed a 16' x 24' deck last summer, this stoop is right up against the deck. Grandma is wheelchair bound and needs access to the deck/house via this ramp. Any help would be appreciated, thanks!
Posts: 4 | Location: NY | Registered: Sep 22, 2008
Building a wood ramp and landing over existing concrete steps etc works well. It is a cut and fit job though. You will need to figure out what slope ramp you want to build. One in fifteen rise is about right although the first ramp standards said that a one in ten rise was OK. You can support the ramp from the steps and from the sidewalk below them. Use enough Tapcons to hold everything in place. I think that if I was doing the job I'd start by trying out different slopes and ramp lengths and then just start making the wood do what I wanted for an outcome.
JdN
Posts: 7439 | Location: Elkader, IA, USA | Registered: Mar 07, 2004
The ramp needs flat area (adding to the stoops size) and to be made over the stairs and a not the stoop. The stoop is where she can swing open the door not be over the ramp. There's also going to need to be hand rails. http://www.access-board.gov/adaag/html/adaag.htm
This message has been edited. Last edited by: joecaption,
joecaption
Posts: 10965 | Location: Halieford VA | Registered: Jan 31, 2004
We, too, faced this challenge when my mother came to live with us a few years ago. Her health became so bad so quickly, however, that we had to move her to a nursing facility before we built the ramp.
In our area there are certain codes, etc., for handicap ramps. Had we gone ahead and built it as we felt it should have been done, we'd have been in violation and would have been made to remove the ramp and start over according to code.
As we were advised, PLEASE call your local 'Office on Aging' for some direction with this. Also, Grandma's doctor or one of the staff should be able to point you in the right direction, as should a reputable, licensed contractor.
