Wheelchair ramps and walkway modifications someone using a walker, crutches or a cane for: Apartment, House, Store, Warehouse or Public Facility.
Handicapped Wheelchair Ramp Design as per the ADA codes and guidelines.
Chair Lift Installations, Slip Resistance Surfaces, Curb Ramps and Customized Hand Railing.
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People in wheelchairs need access to elevated areas and may require the use of a handicap ramp. Wheelchair ramps can be difficult for someone using a walker, crutches or a cane, so consider the installation of both, ramps and low riser steps. This design will accommodate people with a broad variety of physical needs and requirements and help maintain their independence. Handicapped Wheelchair Ramp Design There's many factors involved in the design. The ADA provides codes and guidelines that apply to public places and government funded projects, however, we incorporate these guidelines for all applications, including residential homes. Steel ramps are durable but quite heavy. Ramps must be carefully designed in order to be useful.  Slope and Rise When built to provide an accessible entrance, the slope of the ramp should be as small as possible. The maximum slope in new construction is 1:12, (every inch of rise will require one foot of run). Example: A step that is 6" high would require a ramp 6' long. The maximum rise for any run is 30". Clear Width The minimum clear width of a ramp is 36" between railings. This can be a little tight, especially for a long run. We prefer about 40" wide. Landings Level landings are required at the top and bottom of each run. This seems to be overlooked by many builders. Imagine trying to open a door, in a wheelchair on an incline. If the run is over 30' long, you'll need a level landing 5' long and as wide as the ramp. For an L shaped turn, a 5' x 5' landing is required. For a switch back turn, 5' x 8' is minimum. Handicap Handrails If a wheelchair ramp has a rise greater than 6", or a horizontal run greater than 72", it requires handrails on both sides. A 12" extension is required but can not project into another path of travel. Edge Protection Ramps and landings with a drop off require edge protection to prevent people and wheelchairs from slipping off. This can be accomplished with curbs that must be a minimum of 2 in. in height. You can also install the protection using the lower rail of your handrailing. Curb Ramps The maximum slope of a curb ramp is 1:12 the flares is 1:10. An alternative to flares can be a 2" curb. Slip Resistance Slippery surfaces can be a real problem, especially for the elderly. Concrete is easy, a rough broom finish. That's just one of the reasons I prefer concrete. Wood can be very slippery when wet and will create a hazard (and liabilities). Wood ramps have not been clearly addressed by TAS or the ADA. Possible solutions include sand grit strips and additives to paint. We use 36" wide, white asphalt, rolled roofing. How We Build Our Wood Ramps Although we prefer concrete, there are times when wood is the only alternative. View our design for wood wheelchair ramps. A wheelchair ramp is an inclined plane installed in addition to or instead of stairs. Ramps permit wheelchair users, as well as people pushing strollers, carts, or other wheeled objects, to more easily access a building. Wheelchair ramps come in a number of varieties each intended for a different purpose. There are permanent, semi-permanent and portable. Permanent ramps are designed to be bolted or cemented in place. Semi-permanent ramps rest on top of the ground or cement pad and are commonly used for the short term. Portable ramps are lightweight, usually aluminum and typically fold for ease of transport. Wheelchair ramps are also available in other materials such as a steel and wood. Wood ramps are cheaper but are not as durable. Steel ramps are durable but quite heavy. Ramps must be carefully designed in order to be useful. Many jurisdictions have established standards for permanent wheelchair ramps. For example, they may specify the minimum width of a wheelchair ramp is 36 inches, and the slope must not be steeper than 1 inch of rise for every 12 inches of length. A less steep rise can be easier for a wheelchair user to navigate, as well as safer in icy climates. Wheelchair ramps (or other ways for wheelchair users to access a building, such as a wheelchair lift) are required in new construction for public accommodations in the United States by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Aluminum Wheelchair Ramps Aluminum ramps are strong, durable and weather resistant. They are the best alternative to provide quality and functional assess to many areas. Aluminum ramps require minimal maintenance and will last a lifetime. Check out our online catalogs: Modular, Folding, Solid, Threshold. The brand new PORTA-RAMP handicap folding wheelchair ramp line is a high quality, low cost portable ramp. These ramps fold to half their width but stay their full length so they can be deployed in seconds. They have a built in traction surface that does not wear off and they include a carrying handle so they can be carried like a suitcase. (SCG-2 ramp does not include a suitcase handle because it would hit the ground at the recommended 4" rise). Their all aluminum construction allows them to be super light weight for their size. These portable ramps are heavy duty and have a 600 lb. weight capacity. Conveniently load manual or power wheelchairs, scooters or just about any thing with wheels onto porches, curbs, landings and the 6 foot model will even load into some minivans. Five lengths are available to fit many loading requirements and heights Determine the proper length of ramp for handicap access First, determine how much incline your power wheelchair or scooter can go up (should be listed in your owners manual). ADA requirements are listed below. ADA recommends a 3:12 slope which means for every three inches of vertical rise you are required to have at least one foot of ramp (14.5 degrees incline) To determine the length of ramp needed: Measure the vertical rise from the ground to where the ramp will sit on the vehicle, stairs or threshold. Take that measurement (inches) and divide it by 3. This will determine the length of ramp needed for an unoccupied power chair. • Example: 24 inches of rise requires an 8 foot ramp minimum (24 divided by 3). For loading occupied power chairs/scooters (someone is riding on the power wheelchair/scooter): ADA recommends a 2:12 slope which means every 2" of vertical rise requires one foot of ramp (9.5 degrees of incline) To determine the length of ramp needed for residential usage: (Note: Business use requires a 1:12 slope) Measure the rise from the ground to where the ramp will sit on the vehicle, stairs or threshold. Take that measurement (inches) and divide it by 2. This will determine the length of ramp needed for an occupied power chair. • Example: 24 inches of rise requires a 12 foot ramp minimum (24 divided by 2). Business use For loading occupied power chairs/scooters (someone is riding on the power wheelchair/scooter): ADA recommends a 1:12 slope which means every 1" of vertical rise requires one foot of ramp (5 degrees of incline) To determine the length of ramp needed for business usage: Measure the rise from the ground to where the ramp will sit on the vehicle, stairs or threshold. This measurement equals the length of ramp needed in feet. • Example: 24 inches of rise requires a 24 foot ramp minimum (24 divided by 1).



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