A ramp is a means of transporting people or property from one place to another by allowing them to climb or descend over a distance. Ramps come in various shapes and sizes, and they can be hand-operated, powered, or self-propelled. Ramps are usually freestanding and often made of steel beams covered with protective tiles to prevent slipping.
In this tutorial, we are going to show you how to build a ramp for one step for kids of all ages. Using items that you most likely already have around your house, you will be able to make your own ramp and get on the family bike ride that’s been wanting to happen.
Building a ramp for your one step is very easy if you have a need. First, decide how long and wide you want the ramp to be. Put in some measurements so that you have an idea of what size pile of sandbags to use as a base layer. The sandbags should be about 20-30 cm (8-12 inches) high, about 25 cm (10 inches) wide and about 30 cm (12 inches) long. Put some flat objects on top of each bag, such as wooden pallets or log bases so that they will hold up the final height of soil used for the ramp.
Building a ramp for one step is a very straightforward process, but it does require some quick math and careful measuring to determine the slope of your ramp. If you have a lot of tools on hand, this project can only take about an hour or two to complete. Otherwise, you may need to make several trips back and forth from your local home improvement store! Either way, once you’ve figured out all the steps, this is a fun project that can lead to years of independent mobility for someone in your life who needs it.
How To Build A Ramp For One Step
- Planning Your Ramp
The primary benefit of building a ramp into your home is that you can improve the safety and accessibility, while also eliminating a tripping hazard. You can build ramps at the front door of your home or to enter a porch or garage. Building it yourself is certainly cheaper than hiring a contractor.
Many people start with an idea of how they want their ramp to look and end up spending more time working on design than actually building it. The good news is that there are only two main design considerations for ramps for one step: the slope and the clear opening width.
- Measuring For Clearance And Slope
The first step in building your own single-step ramp will be measuring for clearance, slope and length when designing where the threshold should be placed relative to where your new landing will rest inside your doorway or opening where it connects directly onto existing concrete flooring surfaces at either end (if applicable).
The primary benefit of building a ramp into your home is that you can improve the safety and accessibility, while also eliminating a tripping hazard. You can build ramps at the front door of your home or to enter a porch or garage. Building it yourself is certainly cheaper than hiring a contractor.
Building a ramp can improve the safety, accessibility and overall look of your home. It’s also fairly easy to build one on your own.
You can build a ramp at the front door of your home or to enter a porch or garage. Building it yourself is certainly cheaper than hiring a contractor, especially if you have some basic carpentry skills:
- Measure out how long and wide you want the top of your support beams to be; this will determine how many boards are needed for each side of the structure. The length should be slightly longer than your longest step (e.g., if you are using 12″ x 12″ wood planks). The width should be about three times as wide as each step (e.g., if there are two steps leading up from ground level).
Designing the Ramp
Calculate the slope and clear opening.
Once you’ve decided how high you want your ramp to be, it’s time to figure out how much additional space is required for your wheelchair or scooter to pass through comfortably. If the ramp is too steep, it can cause issues for users with balance issues, so in general you should aim for a slope of between 1:12 and 1:24 (6-18 degrees). The safe minimum clear opening height is 60 inches (152 cm) from the ground level to where they pass under the walking surface; however, if they have trouble seeing where they’re going then an opening up to 80 inches (203 cm) may be more appropriate. You’ll also need a minimum width of 36″ (91 cm), although this will vary depending on what model vehicle or device needs access. Calculate both values using these formulas:
Many people start with an idea of how they want their ramp to look and end up spending more time working on design than actually building it. The good news is that there are only two main design considerations for ramps for one step: the slope and the clear opening width.
As long as you consider these factors, you can build a ramp for one step that blends into your home and provides your loved one with safe access to their outdoor space.
Most codes specify that ramps cannot be steeper than 1 foot of vertical rise for every 12 feet of ramp (8.3 percent). You can use less steep slopes, but you need to consider the trade-off between length and steepness. For example, a ramp with a 10 percent slope will be much shorter, but steeper, than a ramp with a 5 percent slope.
Most codes specify that ramps cannot be steeper than 1 foot of vertical rise for every 12 feet of ramp (8.3 percent). You can use less steep slopes, but you need to consider the trade-off between length and steepness. For example, a ramp with a 10 percent slope will be much shorter, but steeper, than a ramp with a 5 percent slope.
Many people start with an idea of how they want their ramp to look and end up spending more time working on design than actually building it. However, if you’re not sure where to begin or how to decide what’s best for your situation we recommend starting with our free guide How To Build A Ramp For One Step which contains all the information you need to get started building your own wheelchair access solution today! The guide covers everything from choosing materials and designing steps all the way through installing them in your home safely so that everyone gets where they need to go.
Final words
Building a ramp for one step is easier than you think. With a little planning and some basic construction skills, you can build a ramp that will make your property safer and more accessible. Just remember to follow our tips on safe design, construction and maintenance to get the most out of your new ramp.
