Hello everyone my name is T3 i am new and im looking forward to talking to alot of generous people and swapping ideas.how ever i have been knotting my brain trying figure out how to build a access ramp,books just dont explain all details and i just cannot find a detailed website to walk me through.all i keep seeing is 1-12 and rise and run andjust cant seem to figure any of these out.can enyone help me with this in the most simple way to do this out of wood because it will be a handicap ramp.please and thanks to all helping me with this problem. from: T3
Edited 1/22/2006 11:42 am ET by T3
Replies
You are asking for alot and I don't know where to begin, except that the pitch or slope of the ramp as 1/12 means there is a rise of one unit for a run of twelve of the same unit--so if the ramp is 12 feet long, one end must be 1 foot higher than the other. If it's 24 feet long, the top end is 2 feet higher than the bottom. You can even use inches if you want.
For the rest of it, if you post at Breaktime, they will give you some help, but they will probably ask for specifics--how long a ramp do you want and so on.
I would use pressure treated lumber and make a frame out of 2x8's, then put another frame of 2x4's inside it, so the 2x4's act as ledgers for the decking of 5/4 x 6's running the width of the ramp with about an eighth inch gap between them for drainage. I'd put the inner frame at the bottom of the outer one, (except at the bottom of the ramp) so even with the decking on, you have a lip to help prevent wheelchairs from falling off the edge. Nail everything with hot dipped galvanized or stainless steel nails. I'd dig post holes below frost and put PT posts in the holes, plumb in both directions and fill and tamp with gravel.
I'd probably use something like 4x6 posts and cut a mortise out to hold the frame pieces and bolt the frame to the posts. Use hot dipped galvanized or stainless steel bolts. Attach ballustrade to the posts too.