Taking it to the
Next Level

A home ramp primer

by Jan Blaustone

You’re one of the lucky few if your home’s entrance accommodates a wheelchair without any modifications. But before you throw down a metal ramp purchased on eBay, consider all your options and make an entrance of which you can be proud.

First things first

You want the ramp to be safe. Be familiar with ADA
requirements prior to buying. Basic ADA ramp require-
ments are:
n Maximum ramp slope of 1 inch of rise for every 12
inches of length.
n Maximum rise of 30 inches for any length.
n Level landings every 30 feet and at the top and bot-
tom of the ramp. Landings should be a minimum
of 60 inches and at least as wide as the ramp. Turns

Ramps from Prairie View Industries, top photo, are made of aluminum, while fiberglass is used in ramps from Add-a-Ramp, above.

should be at least 5-feet-by-5-feet. Note: When a
landing has a doorway, leave enough space to accom-
modate the wheelchair after the door has opened.
n Any ramp higher than 6 inches or longer than 6 feet
must have a handrail on either side.
n Minimum inside width of at least 36 inches.

Ramp plans are available online, from most wheelchair manufacturers and sometimes from the local hardware store. Be sure plans correspond with the entrance you’re ramping. Take careful measurements, including required level landing space between slopes. Before beginning, check local building codes and obtain a building permit if needed.

Your next decision is ramp material. This will be dictated in part by the weather where you live and the location of the ramp. Some choose an area where the ground is the flattest and the rise is least significant. Others determine their wheelchair entryway based on aesthetics or overhead coverage, like inside a garage.

The easiest ramp to construct from a plan for a handy do-it-yourselfer is a modular ramp. Modulars can be built in stages in a garage and assembled later onsite. Whether permanent or temporary, modular ramps typically are just slope sections and landings that fasten together.

When deciding on ramp design, consider these aspects:

n Know the maximum weight the ramp will be required
to support.
n Is the ramp to be temporary or permanent?
n If you’re using a garage entrance, do you want to
leave room for vehicles as well?
n Do you live in an area of extreme heat or one that
receives an abundance of rain, sleet or snow?
n Will your design complement the look of your home?