How To Build A Wheel Chair Ramp By Jack Wells At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

You hate reluctance, you hate stumbling and you hate hesitation while on move. Often it is a problem when you enter a building on a wheelchair. You are uncomfortable and it is just impossible for you to keep balance. As a solution to this problem, many buildings around the world have been providing wheel chair ramps. Building a wheel chair ramp is preparing an inclined plane for using instead of stairs. To enter a building, a wheel chair ramp is just perfect for wheel chair users and other individuals who are employed for pushing strollers, carts and several other wheeled objects.

Building a wheel chair ramp is not easy. It has an exclusive design, which makes the wheel chair ramp more useful and effective.

The details to be followed for building a wheel chair ramp are as follows:

1. The minimum width of a wheel chair ramp should be 36 inches
2. The slope of the ramp must not be steeper than 1 inch of rise for every 12 inches of length
3. If the wheelchair has a minimum steep rise it becomes easier for the user to find the way
4. A less steeper wheel chair ramp is much safer to be used in icy climates

Wood can be used for building a wheel chair ramp, but you must make use of pressure treated lumber. This prevents the wood from rotting. However, before the beginning of the construction process you must get hold of your local codes. You require the local codes in order to apply for a building permit in your specified locality.

Few simple steps for building a wheel chair ramp:

In order to decide the rise of the ramp you must first measure up perfectly from the ground. Each inch of the rise requires a foot of run. For instance, a 20-foot long ramp is the requirement of a 20-inch high deck.

In building a wheel chair ramp, you must make use of batterboards and mason’s lines for laying out the outside edges of the ramp. You are free to level the lines and square them by applying the principle of 3-4-5 triangles. After removing the sod, you must dig deep about 2 to 3 inches into the soil. For building a wheel chair ramp close to the ground level, you should always dig up a few inches extra.

Make use of a masking tape for a proper laying of the posts locations. A frequent placement of posts are required in the corners of the landing and every five feet at the center along the ramp length. Then your next step would be to transfer the taped marks to the ground by means of a plumb bob and powered chalk. Once your job is accomplished, you must make proper arrangements for the installation of the posts.

While building a wheel chair ramp, you must aptly install the posts in the holes so that their placement is just eight inches from the bottom. After fixing the posts in the holes, you must plumb them with a level and brace them in correct positions.

In the conclusive part of building a wheel chair ramp, the decking boards have to be attached to the joists with galvanized 8d (2 ½ inch) nails or No. 8 deck screws. Give the entire setup a sophisticated and finished look.

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