I need to build a wheelchair ramp to cover a drop of about 180mm for a friend. Having spoken to the metal workshop, it's not much cheaper than just buying a plastic one, so I'm looking at building a ramp out of decking instead (it only needs to last for 6 months).

The base at the moment is gravel. My plan is to

* Scrape out the gravel
* If the grounds looks solid, use it. Otherwise put some concrete pads down
* Dig out a bit at the bottom of the ramp, so that I don't need to taper the decking to nothing.
* cut some tapering base pieces from PT, for a in 1 in 12 gradient
* add cross-braces at the bottom of the frame
* place smooth decking on top, width-ways
* Add some edging pieces to stop the wheel chair falling off sideways* Oil the decking
* Add grip strips (or possibly just use walk sure decking in the first place)


Since it's a temporary measure, and also need to be in quickly, I do not plan on building a balustrade, or a landing. If we do need one later, I'll pick up the whole ramp, move it, and put the landing in the middle!

I'm aware that this will rot at the bottom end, but I don't see it as likely to disintegrate over one winter. Any other problems people can see?

On 04/09/2014 11:45, wrote:
I need to build a wheelchair ramp to cover a drop of about 180mm for a friend. Having spoken to the metal workshop, it's not much cheaper than just buying a plastic one, so I'm looking at building a ramp out of decking instead (it only needs to last for 6 months).

The base at the moment is gravel. My plan is to

* Scrape out the gravel
* If the grounds looks solid, use it. Otherwise put some concrete pads down
* Dig out a bit at the bottom of the ramp, so that I don't need to taper the decking to nothing.
* cut some tapering base pieces from PT, for a in 1 in 12 gradient
* add cross-braces at the bottom of the frame
* place smooth decking on top, width-ways
* Add some edging pieces to stop the wheel chair falling off sideways* Oil the decking
* Add grip strips (or possibly just use walk sure decking in the first place)


Since it's a temporary measure, and also need to be in quickly, I do not plan on building a balustrade, or a landing. If we do need one later, I'll pick up the whole ramp, move it, and put the landing in the middle!

I'm aware that this will rot at the bottom end, but I don't see it as likely to disintegrate over one winter. Any other problems people can see?

It'll work well enough.

It might be as quick to just make a ramp out of hardcore and sand, then
put some slabs down on that. Unless there's a reason you need it to be
removable, say because the landlord wants everything reinstated as it
was at the end of a lease.

--
Tciao for Now!

John.

In message ,
writes
I need to build a wheelchair ramp to cover a drop of about 180mm for a
friend.

To be honest, given that it is only for six months, I would buy a
folding aluminium one. I had to buy one for my shop [1], and it worked
fine although was only used once! Cost was less than a hundred pounds.

[1] Local 'darling' who did not use my shop before becoming disabled
complained about lack of disabled wheelchair access. I duly purchased
the ramp, and she made a point of using it. Once. Never came again. No
one else ever requested the ramp, although there were large signs
advertising availability, and a bell to request use.

--
Graeme

On Thursday, 4 September 2014 13:15:17 UTC+1, News wrote:
In message ,

writes

I need to build a wheelchair ramp to cover a drop of about 180mm for a

friend.



To be honest, given that it is only for six months, I would buy a

folding aluminium one. I had to buy one for my shop [1], and it worked

fine although was only used once! Cost was less than a hundred pounds.

Having chatted to his wife, I've come to much the same conclusion. She cares more about just having someone sort it out for her than the end price (which will be eventually paid by the insco of the car that hit him....)

The only question I'm trying to work out now is - recommended gradient is 1 in 12 for a wheelchair ramp - but what gradient can I get away with given he will always have assistance?

On Thursday, 4 September 2014 14:20:53 UTC+1, wrote:
Having chatted to his wife, I've come to much the same conclusion. She cares more about just having someone sort it out for her than the end price (which will be eventually paid by the insco of the car that hit him....)



The only question I'm trying to work out now is - recommended gradient is 1 in 12 for a wheelchair ramp - but what gradient can I get away with given he will always have assistance?

Just found this:
http://www.wheelchairramps.co.uk/choose.html
1:5 tops for manual assisted.

On Thu, 04 Sep 2014 06:20:53 -0700, bblaukopf wrote:

On Thursday, 4 September 2014 13:15:17 UTC+1, News wrote:
In message ,

writes

I need to build a wheelchair ramp to cover a drop of about 180mm for a

friend.



To be honest, given that it is only for six months, I would buy a

folding aluminium one. I had to buy one for my shop [1], and it worked

fine although was only used once! Cost was less than a hundred pounds.

Having chatted to his wife, I've come to much the same conclusion. She
cares more about just having someone sort it out for her than the end
price (which will be eventually paid by the insco of the car that hit
him....)

The only question I'm trying to work out now is - recommended gradient
is 1 in 12 for a wheelchair ramp - but what gradient can I get away with
given he will always have assistance?

Just to say...we have a folding aluminium one as we have a disabled
friend who visits half a dozen times a year. It works well for getting to
the house, then we move it for a single step down elsewhere in the house.
It's a short one (low step) and was about £40. Got it at CPC!



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My posts are my copyright and if @diy_forums or Home Owners' Hub
wish to copy them they can pay me £30a message.
Use the BIG mirror service in the UK: http://www.mirrorservice.org
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In message ,
writes

The only question I'm trying to work out now is - recommended gradient
is 1 in 12 for a wheelchair ramp - but what gradient can I get away
with given he will always have assistance?

Sadly, I cannot remember the gradient of the one I had, and cannot
check, as it is in use elsewhere.
--
Graeme

On 04/09/2014 11:45, wrote:
I need to build a wheelchair ramp to cover a drop of about 180mm for
a friend. Having spoken to the metal workshop, it's not much cheaper
than just buying a plastic one, so I'm looking at building a ramp
out of decking instead (it only needs to last for 6 months).

The base at the moment is gravel. My plan is to

* Scrape out the gravel * If the grounds looks solid, use it.
Otherwise put some concrete pads down * Dig out a bit at the bottom
of the ramp, so that I don't need to taper the decking to nothing. *
cut some tapering base pieces from PT, for a in 1 in 12 gradient *
add cross-braces at the bottom of the frame * place smooth decking on
top, width-ways * Add some edging pieces to stop the wheel chair
falling off sideways* Oil the decking * Add grip strips (or possibly
just use walk sure decking in the first place)


Since it's a temporary measure, and also need to be in quickly, I do
not plan on building a balustrade, or a landing. If we do need one
later, I'll pick up the whole ramp, move it, and put the landing in
the middle!

I'm aware that this will rot at the bottom end, but I don't see it as
likely to disintegrate over one winter. Any other problems people can
see?



If you are doing it properly you need a 4' square level landing outside
the door.
Most people will find it hard to keep a wheel chair stable on a ramp
whilst operating the door.

On Thursday, September 4, 2014 11:45:02 AM UTC+1, wrote:
I need to build a wheelchair ramp to cover a drop of about 180mm for a friend. Having spoken to the metal workshop, it's not much cheaper than just buying a plastic one, so I'm looking at building a ramp out of decking instead (it only needs to last for 6 months).
The base at the moment is gravel. My plan is to
* Scrape out the gravel
* If the grounds looks solid, use it. Otherwise put some concrete pads down

paving slabs. If needed. Wood pads would last 6 months.

* Dig out a bit at the bottom of the ramp, so that I don't need to taper the decking to nothing.

Probably no need.

* cut some tapering base pieces from PT, for a in 1 in 12 gradient
* add cross-braces at the bottom of the frame

I'm unclear what you mean there. The sheet material will brace it. When I did a quick lightweight ramp I used ply with 2 sticks screwed on, nothing else underneath.

* place smooth decking on top, width-ways
* Add some edging pieces to stop the wheel chair falling off sideways* Oil the decking

The edging may be all the frame you need

* Add grip strips (or possibly just use walk sure decking in the first place)

Or varnish plus a light sprinkle of sand. Over-grip can itself cause falls though.

Since it's a temporary measure, and also need to be in quickly, I do not plan on building a balustrade, or a landing. If we do need one later, I'll pick up the whole ramp, move it, and put the landing in the middle!
I'm aware that this will rot at the bottom end, but I don't see it as likely to disintegrate over one winter. Any other problems people can see?

Believe it needs to be 1 in 12 for a wheelchair.


NT

On Thu, 4 Sep 2014 06:20:53 -0700 (PDT),
wrote:

The only question I'm trying to work out now is - recommended gradient is 1 in 12 for a wheelchair ramp -
but what gradient can I get away with given he will always have assistance?

Whatever the assistant can cope with, which is usually not much
steeper than 1:12. Most find going down more difficult than going up
and wheelchair "brakes" are really just devices to stop them moving
when parked, not to control them on an incline.

On 04/09/2014 22:27, Peter Parry wrote:
On Thu, 4 Sep 2014 06:20:53 -0700 (PDT),
wrote:

The only question I'm trying to work out now is - recommended gradient is 1 in 12 for a wheelchair ramp -
but what gradient can I get away with given he will always have assistance?

Whatever the assistant can cope with, which is usually not much
steeper than 1:12. Most find going down more difficult than going up..

That is because most people push the chair down the slope and have to
pull at it to slow it down. Going first and backing it down is far more
controllable.


--
Colin Bignell

wrote in message
...
I need to build a wheelchair ramp to cover a drop of about 180mm for a
friend. Having spoken to the metal workshop, it's not much cheaper than just
buying a plastic one, so I'm looking at building a ramp out of decking
instead (it only needs to last for 6 months).

The base at the moment is gravel. My plan is to

* Scrape out the gravel
* If the grounds looks solid, use it. Otherwise put some concrete pads down
* Dig out a bit at the bottom of the ramp, so that I don't need to taper the
decking to nothing.
* cut some tapering base pieces from PT, for a in 1 in 12 gradient
* add cross-braces at the bottom of the frame
* place smooth decking on top, width-ways
* Add some edging pieces to stop the wheel chair falling off sideways* Oil
the decking
* Add grip strips (or possibly just use walk sure decking in the first
place)


Since it's a temporary measure, and also need to be in quickly, I do not
plan on building a balustrade, or a landing. If we do need one later, I'll
pick up the whole ramp, move it, and put the landing in the middle!

I'm aware that this will rot at the bottom end, but I don't see it as likely
to disintegrate over one winter. Any other problems people can see?


Forget all the decking boards and tread grips etc, simply make the sloping
base as you normally would, then use OSB for the ramp.
Cover with mineral felt and tuck over the sides, use felt nails to hold in
place.

I've had ramps built like this passed by BCO for wheelchair use, even though
they ended up in a skip 6 months later when the houses were eventually sold.

Also, a timber yard will cut lengths of 7X2 to a taper for you, then you get
two out of one length