Wheelchair Ramps Are Built To Help People Get Around

By Lora Jones


When someone suffers an injury that leaves them unable to move their legs, they often find that they need to use a special chair with wheels to help move around. The use of this type of chair means that the home they live in might have to be upgraded to handle the new physical conditions the person is facing. Wheelchair ramps are devices that can assist people to get in to and out of their house. This can make the difference between gaining some level of independence or having to rely on others to sit outside and enjoy a beautiful morning.

The first step in settling on the design one wants to use when they build a ramp is to figure out where they want to put it and how big it will be. A determining factor on placement is how much slope has to be built into the structure. Severe sloping could make it very hard for a person use the structure and still stay safe.

Once one knows what they want and where they want to put the ramp, they then have to determine if they need to get a permit from the local municipality. Many home improvement projects require that a person obtain a permit to make sure the design is okay with the town. Officials will probably come out later to check on the soundness of the structure.

The moment one gets the go ahead to start construction they can begin. There are materials that one will need to build the ramp and these things should be bought and put on site before the work commences. One will want to make sure they have their tools and equipment available for each step in the construction process. Having a table or saw horses to place wood on to cut might prove to be beneficial.

The slope should rise at a level of one inch per one foot length. This helps to ensure that motorized wheelchairs can navigate the incline with ease. This also helps those who are manually pushing their wheels themselves or have someone who can push them up into the house.

Ramps can be either short or long. This depends on how high the entryway is from the ground. Low entryways might only need a short ramp that rise a few feet, but others may have to rise at least several feet for the person to gain entrance into their home. On the longer units, many contractors will construct landing pads where a person can take a brief rest before they start the climb, or decline, from the doorway.

The ramp should be wide enough for the chair to be wheeled onto it. Most are at least thirty six inches wide to accommodate a mechanical chair. Handrails are another essential part in case someone needs to grab hold of something in case of an emergency.

Making a house handicap friendly can take a lot of effort. There are many things to consider that one might not have thought of before the debilitating situation occurred. Among the most useful structures for someone who cannot walk are wheelchair ramps to get one inside their home without help from others.




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