How To Make A Concrete Ramp

You may need to build a concrete ramp into your home to provide access to someone confined to a wheelchair, pushing a stroller or who for another reason can not walk up stairs. A concrete ramp will also provide a sturdy base that can be used to transport heavy equipment in and out of a building.

ADA Guidelines

Building a concrete ramp over the existing concrete stairs can be done, though you must follow some guidelines to comply with the American Disability Act. A concrete ramp can not exceed a slope of more than 1 inch for every 12 inches of rise.

Step One

Check out the height of the existing stairs. If they are higher than 12 inches, you will also need to pour a landing at the top of the stairs. Chances are, however, that there is already some form of landing before entering the home.

Following the grade of the stairs, and following rule of the 1 inch per 12 inches of rise, frame in the stairs with plywood. Cut the tops with the circular saw to keep with the grade and rise. Pound in the 2x4s at intervals along the back of the plywood to keep it secure.

Step Two

Remove any sod that is in your workspace. Dig a few inches deeper at the end of the ramp so the concrete will be thicker here.

Thread concrete ties under the plywood to the other side. Nail to the side to give the walls some added strength when the concrete is poured. Depending on high you are going, there will be tremendous pressure on the plywood walls. If you need to, double up on the ties.

Drill holes into the existing steps. To bond the stairs and ramp together, place rebar sticking out of the steps.

Step Three

Pour the concrete, packing it in as it is pouring. Begin screeding the concrete as it pours to keep it at the level of the plywood tops. Tap the sides of the plywood walls with the mallet to fill in any pockets.

If your rise is above 12 inches, you may want to use concrete dividers every few feet to keep the concrete from sliding down the ramp and out the bottom. A divider will keep everything contained in a particular section.

Continue screeding until the concrete is level and smooth. Run the broom over the surface to rough it up a little so that wheelchair wheels can grip the surface.

Step Four

After the concrete has cured for a few days, remove the plywood forms. At this point, you may need to add side walls to the ramp by adding small 6-inch lips to either side. Alternatively, you can add a railing system using concrete screws and either metal or wood railings.