How to make a ramp over stairs

Start by understanding the local authorities’ requirements, follow it up by gathering tools, taking measurements, cutting sheets of plywoods, measuring and cutting wood posts, working on the posts, gluing sheets and strengthening them with nails, attaching 5-foot long plywood sheets, digging holes with post hole diggers, filling the holes with concrete and finalizing the plywood landing.

Want to make a grand entrance into your home? Ditch climbing the stairs, stride seamlessly, and walk stylishly over a ramp.

Sounds exciting, doesn’t it?

-advertisment-

Spacious rooms, well-built floors, designer stairs, and ramps are considered architectural elements that make a family home wholesome and complete. To put it simply, you can beautify your home by adding a ramp to it.

Ramps are standard in public spaces to facilitate elderly and disabled people. However, over the years, smart homeowners have preferred to go for unconventional architectural layouts, choosing to add this convenient feature.

It is no secret that a ramp increases mobility, allowing people to move from one point to another conveniently and comfortably. In addition, children riding scooters and bikes enjoy crossing these slanting slopes as it makes carrying bikes and scooters a whole lot easier.

Ramps have another added benefit-they improve the resale value of your homes. Now ramps are used more, and the demand for them has spiked in the past years.

The disbalance in the demand and supply for ramp houses works favorably for owners who have homes with ramps. Their houses have a niche following, are sought more, and are sold off quickly.

Now that you know the many benefits of ramps installed in your homes, you must wonder where to install them. Well, you can add ramps beside stairs or over existing stairs.

-advertisment-

In this post, we will discuss how to build a ramp over stairs 11 simple steps. Honestly, you can hire professionals to make you a ramp, but you can do it yourself and save some money.

If the latter option interests you, then keep on reading.

Here is how you can build a ramp in eleven simple steps:

  1. Understand the requirements set by local authorities
  2. Gather tools
  3. Take measurements
  4. Cut sheets of plywoods
  5. Measure and cut wood posts
  6. Work on the wood posts
  7. Glue sheets and strengthen them with nails
  8. Attach 5-foot long plywood sheets
  9. Dig holes with post hole diggers
  10. Fill the holes with concrete
  11. Finalize the plywood landing

Understand the Requirements Set by Local Authorities

Before you get into the grit of building a ramp, it is important that you educate yourself regarding the prerequisites laid down by the local authorities. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has detailed guidelines highlighting the framework of this procedure.

-advertisment-

Some important guidelines to keep in mind are:

  • The ramp’s width must have a minimum of 36 inches of clearance between handrails.
  • If the rise is above 6 inches, then 36-inch handrails should be installed on both sides of the ramp.
  • In addition, the entrance and exit of the ramp should have smooth transitions so that wheels don’t get stuck in them.

Gather the Material

How to make a ramp over stairs

Start gathering the required material for this project. You will need:

  • Measuring tape
  • lywood sheets
  • Circular saw
  • Handsaw
  • Wood posts
  • Wood glue
  • Protactor
  • Post hole digger
  • Nails
  • Concrete

Start Measuring

Once you acquaint yourself with the regulations, start doing the measurements. Begin by taking a measuring tape, and extending it from the top of the doorsill to the ground below the lowermost step.

Note down the measurements. These measurements will help you determine the ramp’s angle or rise.

As specified by the ADA, for 1 foot of rise, you need 12 feet of length. Therefore, to get the exact length of the ramp, you should multiply the stairs’ height by 12.

Cut Sheets of Plywood

How to make a ramp over stairs

Purchase sheets of good-quality plywood as these will be the primary building material for your ramps. Remember that wooden ramps are the best as they are sturdy, resilient, and easy to build.

Once you have gotten the plywood sheets, use a circular saw to cut three sheets of ¾ inch plywood according to the desired length.

Additionally, you should cut 3 pieces of ¾ inch think plywood having a length of 5 feet. This will serve as the landing platform at the top of the stairs.

Measure and Cut Wood Posts

Measure wood posts according to the decided length of the ramp and cut four wood posts using a hand saw. These posts are needed to support the ramp’s landing.

Make sure to cut two posts for every 2 feet of ramp length. These will support the ramp directly.

Work on the Posts That Will Support the Ramp

Now, take a protractor and draw an 8-degree angle on the top of the pair of posts intended to support the ramp. Finally, cut the posts according to the drawn lines using a circular saw.

Glue the Sheets and Strengthen Them with Nails

Take the three plywood sheets identical to the ramp’s length and glue them together using wood glue. Make sure the ends of the sheets are similar before you join them with the glue.

Secure the plywood sheets by drilling in 2-inch nails along their edges. Keep them 6 to 8 inches apart.

Attach the 5-foot Long Plywood Sheets

Now take the three 5-foot plywood sheets and pile them on top of each other using wood glue. Secure these sheets by drilling nails through the sheet’s edges.

Dig Holes Using Post Hole Digger

Start working in the ground next to your home, on either side of the top of the stairs, and dig two holes in it using a post-hole digger. Make sure the holes are 12 inches deep and spaced 38 inches apart.

Afterward, measure 5 feet away from previously designed holes and dig another pair of holes. Keep these holes 38 inches apart from each other.

These four holes will be holding the posts for the landing.

Dig another pair of holes in the ground, keeping it 2 inches apart from the last pair. Then, keep digging additional holes every 48 inches along the ramp so they can easily hold the posts.

Fill up the Holes With Concrete

Moving on, prepare the concrete according to its given directions. Place the first four posts in their holes and pour concrete around them, so they get set.

Continue pouring concrete to set the remaining posts in the holes. Again, ensure that the angled ends of the posts are upward.  Give time to the concrete to set and get firm.

Finalize the Plywood Landing

How to make a ramp over stairs

Place the plywood landing on the four posts. Secure these plywoods to the posts by drilling 4-inch nails.

Finally, place the plywood for the ramp over the angled posts and complete the project with one last round of drilling 4-inch nails.

Ready to do the Work?

Before you begin constructing a ramp, make sure that you are well aware of the procedure thoroughly. Although it is possible to carry it out as a DIY project, you still have to educate yourself before taking on this project.

We hope this how-to post serves that purpose and guides you every step of the way. We know you will save a huge amount of money by doing this project yourself; however, we suggest you invest that amount to purchase high-quality ramp construction products.

Now that you are ready let’s get to work. Again, wishing you all the best, and we hope you master the art of building ramps with this guide.

Can you build a ramp over steps?

The walls of the ramp would have to extend at least 2 inches beyond the edges of the existing steps on your property. You would be able to then build these out without having to make any significant modifications to the steps.

How long of a ramp do you need for 3 steps?

A ten foot ramp is minimally suitable for most situations where you've got 3 steps to overcome and the rise is 20″ or less. Assistance would be needed for a person in a wheelchair to insure their safety.