How to Build a Wheelchair Access Ramp

Wheelchair ramps require a very specific slope ratio to enable easy wheelchair access. According to the Americans with Disabilities Act, every inch of height requires a foot of slope. That means, to create a ramp that rises over a 4-inch step, you need a 4-foot ramp. The ramp must be at least 36 inches wide, but not more than 40 inches wide. The handrails on either side prevent a wheelchair from slipping off the sides. But they also provide a handhold in an emergency and should be within reach at all times.

Things You'll Need

• 2-by-4 inch lumber, 8 feet long
• 2-by-6 inch lumber, 8 feet long
• Saw
• Drill with 1/4-inch bit
• 1/4- by 3-inch carriage bolts
• 3-by-4-foot plywood, 1 inch thick
• Phillips head screwdriver bit
• 1-inch wood screws, 20
• 40-inch balustrade, 2
• 38-inch balustrade, 2
• 36-inch balustrade, 2
• Handrail, 8 feet
• 24 L-brackets
• 8 non-slip adhesive strips

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Instructions

• 1

  Cut the 2-by-4 lumber in half, leaving two 4-foot sections. Draw a line diagonally from one corner to the other on both pieces. Cut along the lines. You will have four right triangles that are 4 inches tall and 4 feet long.

• 2

  Cut the 4-by-6-inch lumber in half, leaving two 4-foot boards. Measure 2 inches on the newly cut end and mark. Draw a line from this mark to the opposite corner of the board. Cut along this line. You will have a board 6 inches tall and 4 feet long that looks like a triangle with the sharpest tip removed. Repeat with the other piece of wood.

• 3

  Lay one of the smaller triangles on top of the larger one, lining up the right angles. Drill a hole through both pieces of wood and insert a carriage bolt 2 inches in from each corner. Repeat with the other large triangle and one of the smaller triangles. These are the sides of the ramp.

• 4

  Measure 8 inches from the 4-foot side of the plywood on both sides. Mark a line. Lay the long edge of the remaining two triangles on these lines and use wood screws to secure them in place.

• 5

  Turn the ramp over so that the triangles are under the wood plank. Slide the smaller triangles of either side under the edge of the plank and secure with wood screws. The larger triangles extend beyond the wood ramp providing a small safety lip. Put the ramp in place.

• 6

  Cut the tops of all the balustrades at an angle, removing 1/4 inch from the lower side.

• 7

  Place the 40-inch balustrades next to the tallest portion of the ramp. Secure with the L-brackets connecting the balustrade to the side of the ramp on either side of the balustrade. Repeat with the other four balustrades, place the 38-inch in the middle of the ramp and the 36-inch balustrade at the bottom.

• 8

  Place the handrail on top of the balustrades and secure with more L-brackets on either side of the posts.

• 9

  Affix the adhesive strips to the floor of the ramp. Allow no more than 1 inch of wood to show between the non-slip strips.