Ramp is amazing! That's awesome that Rex Lumber sent someone out to assist you with the build! The slope on the ramp should be perfect for anyone to go up/down with minimal effort. Nice! *For those that don't know what ripping is: it's going from one side to the other length-wise with your saw to cut down the width to desired size
One of the best instructional videos I've seen for DIY. I plan on building this as a transition incline ramp to eliminate the high step up into our front door. I'll paint it with herculiner truck bed liner to waterproof the wood, and to provide a slip resistant textured surface for walking up the ramp. Thank you sir for helping alot of people remedy a common household problem. Much appreciated.
Glad to hear it was helpful. A truck liner bedding would work really well. It would definitely help waterproof it and make it a little bit more slip resistant
Just built this with my Dad. Thank you so so so so much!!! We had to rewatch the angle part a few times but it was explained so well. Thank you again!!
I need one of those for my house. My father-in-law is wheelchair bound and need this type of ramps. Thanks for the great instructions and showing us how to do it step by step.
It's a good project that should be able to do now that you have seen it done. Be safe, take your time, and get some help to assist your father-in-law out on having a wheelchair ramp at your home. Good luck!
Thank you SO MUCH for an easy to follow video. I was trying to figure out how to calculate the correct angle 📐 of the side support boards and this made it so simple to figure out. Thanks for providing an excellent tutorial! The great thing is it’s easily adaptable to any need.
Thanks for the video, it was very helpful. I built a two-piece ramp for my friend based on your design. Her house had two long steps. I built the top ramp so the end of it overlapped the bottom ramp about six inches. The advantage is that the ramps cannot easily separate when she drives her mobility scooter over them While going down the weight of the scooter is already pressing down on the bottom ramp. Anyway, great video, it really helped!
Not quite the way I would have done it. Main issues width, would have gone enough wider to add strips on the sides to make sure the chair wheels could not accidentally go off the sides. Second, I would have overlapped the top by 1/2 width and then sawed off the end with the angle to make the top edge flush with the top of the door step. I don't know if these guys have ever had to move someone in a wheel chair, but the bottom of this ramp is a show stopper. Had they started at the top with a half width, they could have finished on a half width with the last board cut to exceed the end of the ramp risers to give a flush to the concrete edge. What they have instead at the bottom is a one inch wheel stop. The caregiver will have a very hard time getting the chair on the ramp. They will have to first get the front wheels on the ramp by stepping on the wheelie bar(s) and then lifting the entire weight of the chair and patient onto the ramp (no way you will roll the wheels onto the ramp) while controlling the position of the chair on the ramp without going off the sides, a very dangerous situation without guide/guard rails on the edges. Also, looks like they could have gone another foot from the door to reduce the slope. That would be a tough push for anything over a 100# person + chair. I (my own opinion only) would not do this as designed. Could be painted with Non-skid paint (worked well for years on a stair built for an outdoor hot tub.
I just said same thing to my son. Both my kids are in wheelchairs , we have industrial type metal ramps at our house but I'm making one similar to this for my parents house. As well as possibly making one for a person I met yesterday that needs one
Obviously these guys are not so good at building this. But you are going overboard with the difficulty. Also you make it sound like the caregiver is insanely old and needs the chair herself or himself. And did they specify the ramp was for an elderly person with a caregiver? I would assume this kind of ramp would be for a person with a broken leg healing up soon. I hope at least.
I need a ramp like this for my mom. She has an apartment and can't have a fixed ramp. I think my brother will be able to make something like this. I will send this to him!
Theres a little bit of flaw with the design. I get that it’s temporary but there’s a bump in order to get ON the ramp which might be hard to do with a manual wheelchair. There are designs that have a smooth transition from floor to ramp that are movable ramps. It’s an easy fix too
Just what i was looking for! Retired by Phippeans beach we need side door entrance from kitchen to higher concrete Patio where wife feeds our egg producing Chickens and Ducks.
I am in a wheelchair, the last board is to high for easy transition going up. It should of had a bevel cut on the last board. If your life revolved around living in a wheelchair , you would know what I am talking about.
Thank you for this tip! I’m sure it will be helpful for others. I bet this would really help out and make the transition easier. This build was a very temporary ramp for my Grandma who has since passed.
This is exactly what I need. Wanting to build a wheelchair ramp for my mother ,as my inaugural project in the workshop that came with my new house, and my dimensions for the door frame and drop are identical to yours.
@@MCFIXIT Havent started yet, been having bad weather. Though, I think I have a problem. The door I'll be putting the ramp at isn't flat to the ground like yours. For some reason, someone has like a concrete glob along that section of the house. I dont know how to explain it.
@@MCFIXIT Ok, I'm getting the materials tomorrow. But I have a question. I got rid of the concrete that was in the way, it wasnt even attached to the foundation, it was just there. But it caused me to miss measure the step, it's 7 inches not 6. Is the best way to adjust the lumber, just to get a x8 piece, and cut off an inch?
I would have made it a bit wider to be able to have some extra space on both sides of the door for entering and exiting. Overall a really great video with instructions and tips along the way! Thank you!
Great informative video making one for my local pub though I will chamfer the last board too make it even easier for the wheelchair , just subbed to your channel , Alan from Scotland cheers
13:56 He steps on the ends to make it just like it needs to be. I thought there might be a beveled edge on that last deck board. Probably not really necessary. Nice job.
Yes, that would be a good drop ratio. This had another step about a foot away from it. So this is what we did to make this temporary wheel chair ramp for grandma before she passed with cancer.
for my project I just have to build another step like the one that's existing already there and just build a wider version of the same height and everything and then on the left side it'll have a ramp and a rail to hold on to I'm not sure if I going to put a rail the part that's against the wall maybe not but I am going to put one on one side and then there's going to be another rail going forward so in case somebody wants to walk straight ahead down the stairs they can but for the ramp it's going to be on the side I don't know if my mom will allow me to put the ramp on the side because she has a thing there that shouldn't be there because the ram could go there and that way she has a way to get down without getting hurt
I need to build one that would fit onto three stairs so the first step is a really deep step like you stepped on a lot so the previous owner added a box to cut that step in half then there's a half circle brick step and so what I want to do is I want to put a long box that goes from one end to the other and then on the one end on the I want to say if you're facing the door in the inside of the room it would be the one on the left side if you're coming in the room it would be on your right side and build a little ramp that goes down there and I want rails that go down forward and rails that goes sideways so it's like a two-way so you can either go forward and step down the rest of the way or you can turn to your right as you and go down the ramp and that's what I need to build but I'm not sure how it I do that I have a picture of the area but I put it too bad RU-vid doesn't have a way to upload pictures so that the RU-vidrs who upload their videos could get a better idea of what we're working with when asking questions
That's hard to picture without a photo or drawing. Ensure there's enough for someone to use the ramp or stairs as needed. Best of luck on your project!
I would think that you would want to leave a little gap between the boards for expansion and contraction. Otherwise, a great video. Thanks for posting.
I notice that where the angled framing meets the ledger/ header, they are a bit shorter. is this intentional so that the top 5/4 board pitches downward or should they be flush?
The top of the ramp should be just below the step not above like in the video because if the person is coming out of the house in a wheelchair, there is a real risk of the ramp sliding out making it useless. You could have fixed it in place with a couple of brackets in to the mortar.
Definitely secure it if in an electric chair, my son was driving his chair down the ramp but I didn't realize he had ran into the railing first and then backed up to go down the ramp. Unfortunately when he hit the railing he moved the ramp out and when the heavy chair started down the ramp it fell and he and his over 800 pound chair fell with it His chair landed on his back and he was using his arms to hold himself up. We have security cameras and when I re watched his fall my heart fell to my stomach. I called the ramp guy at that point t and he came right over to bolt it down He said he didn't realize our son had changed to an electri. Heavier chair. All ramps using wheel chairs should be bolted You can always refill the hole if ramp is no lo gee needed.
Yes, that is definitely something you could do. I would suggest some 3in Tapcon screws. They often come with a masonry drill bit too. And make sure to pre-drill the wood too! That would definitely make it more secure if you want to go that route. This project was intended to be a simple removal if needed.
Yeah, that’s what I’d do. I would put it into the ground since it’s supposed to be temporary but a few tapcon screws would help hold it in place very well. Then fill the holes with mortar chalk when done using it
Yes that’s an option. I’d try to find a treated version if you plan on using it for some time. Plywood can often get damaged easily and weather can become an issue as well. That’s what I used the boards instead of plywood.
My first power chair is FWD. I'd have to go up that thing backwards while dragging my foot rests on it, way too short. My next chair is MWD for that reason. never getting FWD again.
Yes the MWD is definitely the best for going up any ramp. This was designed for my grandma with a basic wheel chair in her last days so she could get in and out of her house. There was only enough room to make this length but yes a longer one makes it much easier to go up especially with a powered chair.
Yes, it definitely should! I have almost the same thing to my shed for my riding mower and I go up and down on it and I’m a big guy. You could always add additional supports under it like 5 instead of 3 boards. Also, you may want to fix it to your house or ground so there no chance of slipping away from the door.
That’s definitely an option for you! This was very temporary for my grandma who has since passed. It was also underneath a large covered porch, so the elements really never got to it.
I do. My Ridgid drill chuck is not the best. It’s a very powerful drill but the chuck sometimes slip and the bit falls out. I’ve contact Ridgid for the repair (free with them) but I’m out of my favorite drill for a few weeks
We did not. It's under a covered porch and did not see that necessary since we measured it the way we did. You could if you need to help split the gap on your measurement.
Thanks for the video. Question; Would it be ok to make the ramp wider.... ?? To compensate for ramp movement, since it isn't bolted down and so the the wheel chair doesn't Have to be perfectly centered on it to enter????
I do need to build one with a 7" header too. Can I used the same proportions to calculate the run, or would you recommend longer? The ramp does not need to be ADA compliant and the shorter the run the better (within reason) as the walkway to the ramp is curved.
Yes, it will be a bit steeper than mine. This one did not also meet ADA standards, but was built for my grandma, who since passed with cancer. This was done to help get in inside and outside of the house for treatments. There was another step shortly after the end of the ramp. You might be able to see it in the video. Once they were no longer needed, we were able to easily remove them. Hope this helps!
Thank you for the great simple design. I too have stage 4 cancer and need one of these now. The online curb ramps for sale are too steep and expensive and wouldn't work for me. I'm in an apartment with a 5" step up, plus it has to be removable. Since it would be a smaller design, could I use silicone caulking as a temporary hold to the concrete? (So the ramp doesn't slide or someone walks away with it).
Yes, that could be applied to adhere it to the concrete. This could be simply removed when the time to move the ramp. Praying for you and for you to beat cancer! My grandma died of cancer in May and she is the one I built this ramp for.
Are you absolutely positive that it has to be removable? Or are you simply wanting it to be removable in case you want it elsewhere? I'm asking, because there might be some options! First off, the apartment complex - while you would need to talk with them - you should have the right to safely enter the premises, especially if it doesn't cost them anything! Also, are you on any home care? Ask for a social worker. They can help you get resources that you didn't know you qualify for! I wish I could reverse your disease, but hopefully I can at least ease some of the burden!
Are you talking about side by side or two different ones? I don’t see any issue on either of those? If side by side I’d put longer boards on it and make it connected that way.
I have the same step into my house. I also have a 7 inch step from my porch to the sidewalk. Would it be best to keep the platform level until I reach the sidewalk and my 90 degree turn? The sidewalk turns about 15” from the porch. I hope I explained that good.
Yes, that’s what I would do due to how soon it turns. You may want to anchor it to the concrete or to the ground with a pressure treated posts to help it not move though. The benefit of having no turn is the force going up the ramp presses against the step. This would not happen with a turn and some sort of anchoring would help out a lot.
Looks great but how does someone in a wheelchair reach the door handle and open the door to go through it if they're in their wheelchair on the ramp? Pretty much impossible.
This was built for my grandma in her last days battling cancer so we could get her in and out of her house. It was temporary and removable. Someone was with her to open and close the door for her. If it was a long-term fix, then we would have created a different model for her to able to use the door handle easier.
The "frowning" and "smiling" thing isn't as important as best face up. Besides, its wood. It'll do whatever it wants to, as far as warping in any fashion.
That helps with water run off. Feel free to do best side up. Yeah, warping can be bad depending on how fast the mill dried it and lots of other conditions.
Try and find this answer. Can i build a ramp with a 10"Rise and 60"a run NOT using it for wheelchair access. I keep my motorcycle in my addition 20x20 room and need a ramp just for that on my side entry
Yes, this would be doable. You will need to make it stronger than this video. I would use 2x10 for the joists. 1/2” plywood with joists 12” on center! I would also add some metal structural hardware to give even more strength.
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Yes, but it would need to be longer. If you are able, it would be better to Mount this to the ground or house in some way bc of how big it would be. Post holes would be best with a railing since it’s 3 steps.
Sorry, I do not hire out my work right now. Depends on where you live for how much someone would charge for this project. The cost of labor is crazy high right now.
Hi, want to build something similar for our stroller. The design looks solid, just have 1 question - I want to buy pressure treated 2x8, but it is listed as "above the ground". Is there a solution for it? I know that there are U clamps, but I don't want to drill them into the concrete... What would you recommend?
I would go with ground contact treated lumber if you are putting it in the ground. If it's on a porch like this vide, then you are good with above the ground lumber. Does that make sense? Here's a link to Home Depot's pressure treated lumber that's above or below ground: www.homedepot.com/b/Lumber-Composites-Pressure-Treated-Lumber/N-5yc1vZc3sr
Yes, you could use some sort of deck stain like this: amzn.to/3oBMIv4. They have a variety of tints so make sure it will look good with the decor of your house before purchasing. Ours was a very temporary setup so we did not add a stain to it.
We spent about $150. It was a while ago with higher pricing of wood. We had all of the tools and screws. So your cost would depend on those things. You can also build a shopping list at local stores and see exactly how much it would cost in your area.
Can this be done for a shed? I would like the option to be able to remove it, but need to get my lawnmower up and down with a ramp. Would it withstand weather being treated lumber?
Yes, make sure you only pressure treated lumber to ensure it lasts for a longer period of time. Over time, all wood can deteriorate though, but your best bet is pressure treated.
Thank you for your comment. You are correct. I mentioned this is ADA approved for sizing. It was completely designed to be temporary and to be removed. It was created for my Grandma who had stage 4 cancer and then quickly passed after it was built. It needed to be temporary and to work with our situation at the time. They have since been removed and the house is about to go up for sale. You could also use this same design for other things like a ramp to a shed to easily get out your mower. Have a great day!
@@MCFIXIT My condolences for your loss. Thanks for the video. I'm looking into buying a home. I'm about at the point with my chronic pain from failed back surgery syndrome and neuropathy to end up in a scooter. This is an excellent solution for a portable ramp where you don't want to permanently modify the property.
Don't see the point of checking if it's square against the door , then pulling it away, cos it then goes off!!, then when pre-drilling give it a wiggle to get it square!!!, oh then step on the bottom to try and square it up !!!., then the drill falls out !!
Definitely an option! We did this for a temporary ramp before my grandma passed. It’s now in my backyard for my mower to go up and down to our shed. It’s the perfect size for that and when she used it.
I think I did something wrong because I had a gap and only the point was touching the ground, well I also did not Have enough Height on the 2 x 6 To reach all the way to the floor because of the aggressive angle
Thanks for pointing that out. The top is flush with the threshold. The bottom is actually flush at a board width (~3/4in). We didn’t want to cut the board at an angle but leave it the full width to be able the handle the full load of the board since it will have a wheel chair going up and down it. So yes, we did not cut it to be flush and there’s a boards width (~3/4in) but that was planned. It’s hard to say it all in a video and keep it concise enough. Thanks for your comment to allow me to explain that in more detail! Have a great day and thanks for watching & commenting!
Thanks for commenting. I’d say since it’s a tutorial it’s a shorter way of saying “now go ahead and do the step yourself.” Not sure why that’s an issue when you are watching a tutorial on how to do something with multiple steps, can you explain why?