Preparing a house to be handicapped accessible can be quite an undertaking for many people. Everything from creating usable bathrooms to adequate entryways that allow people with disabilities to be independent can add a lot of value to the life of someone who has difficulty moving around. One of the necessary components in transforming a home is building wheelchair ramps that someone who cannot walk can use to get in and out of the house. There are steps one usually follows to make the ramp is easy to use and structurally sound.
Determining the best design to use and where to put the structure is often the best place to start. Some places might not be big enough to install a ramp. Some are placed at the from door and some are put near a back or side door. Whichever work best for the design should be paramount when reaching a decision.
Once the design work is completed and one knows where they are putting the ramp, the next step for many people is finding out if they need a permit to do the construction. A quick call to the town or city permit department should settle that question fairly fast. One should be prepared for a visit from an inspector to make sure they are constructing things properly.
Once one has a permit in hand they can begin construction. They will need to gather up all the material they are going to use and place near the construction zone. All tools and cutting equipment should be kept nearby as well. An essential piece of equipment is a saw horses or a cutting table, since one will usually be cutting a lot of wood into measured pieces.
One should be mindful that it is often easier to walk up a slope than it is to wheel oneself up one. A slope with too much rise could be a burden to the person who has to rely on it. A general rule of thumb is to have an inch rise for every foot of ramp length. This creates a slope that is easy to navigate.
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 width of the ramp should be at least 36 inches wide. That will be wide enough to handle almost any chair that is made. Hand rails should also be installed to help in case one starts to roll out of control. These handrails can help able bodied people walking on the structure when the flooring is wet or frozen.
Someone who is unable to walk often needs some assistance. The house they live in usually can be made handicap accessible. Wheelchair ramps help people be mobile enough to get in and out of their homes.
Determining the best design to use and where to put the structure is often the best place to start. Some places might not be big enough to install a ramp. Some are placed at the from door and some are put near a back or side door. Whichever work best for the design should be paramount when reaching a decision.
Once the design work is completed and one knows where they are putting the ramp, the next step for many people is finding out if they need a permit to do the construction. A quick call to the town or city permit department should settle that question fairly fast. One should be prepared for a visit from an inspector to make sure they are constructing things properly.
Once one has a permit in hand they can begin construction. They will need to gather up all the material they are going to use and place near the construction zone. All tools and cutting equipment should be kept nearby as well. An essential piece of equipment is a saw horses or a cutting table, since one will usually be cutting a lot of wood into measured pieces.
One should be mindful that it is often easier to walk up a slope than it is to wheel oneself up one. A slope with too much rise could be a burden to the person who has to rely on it. A general rule of thumb is to have an inch rise for every foot of ramp length. This creates a slope that is easy to navigate.
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 width of the ramp should be at least 36 inches wide. That will be wide enough to handle almost any chair that is made. Hand rails should also be installed to help in case one starts to roll out of control. These handrails can help able bodied people walking on the structure when the flooring is wet or frozen.
Someone who is unable to walk often needs some assistance. The house they live in usually can be made handicap accessible. Wheelchair ramps help people be mobile enough to get in and out of their homes.
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