I desertly need a cheap wooden ramp for my porch?

Question

I am disabled and need a cheap wooden ramp to go over my 4 small steps and my 8x12 porch

Answer 1

Are you (a) looking for plans or (b) looking for a contractor or (c) looking for some other form of assistance in this regard?

Depending on the nature and extent of your disability, you may (or may not) be able to build the project yourself.

You may or may not have friends that can provide the necessary tools and/or labor.

Your insurance may or may not cover the costs of necessary household modifications for the mobility-impaired (it's a life-threatening problem if you can't get out of the house on your own in the event of fire, etc.)

You would also do well to avail yourself of the assistance of local charities and organizations providing charitable aid.

While it's a safe bet those organizations won't want to work alongside each other (at least not in close proximity), yours is a tiny project very easily handled by one organization.

Someone mentioned an organization (AMerican BUsiness ClubS) that provides free ramps for veterans. You may wish to look at these links:

1) http://ambucs.com/

2) http://ambucs.com/pdf/rampguide.pdf

You may be able to obtain similar assistance through the benevolence or other programs of a local church or other faith-based group; it all depends on what is the "cost" of their "free help."

Note that a ramp with a gentler slope will use more material, but you don't want a ramp that's too steep to be used comfortably.

Also, the ramp itself isn't the sole consideration: you don't want a short ramp that dumps you onto soft ground (or ground that could become soft from prolonged rain and/or freezing and thawing of groundwater.

It would be a disaster to flee a burning house only to get stuck a few feet outside: you could be injured from falling debris, or cooked from the radiant heat. Fires are extraordinarily nasty events (I used to be a fire & rescue guy; I've seen some awful stuff).

Answer 2

I suggest you call around to local churches to see if they can get you in touch some contractors that will do some free work. It is a simple project and some contractors will donate a day's work of three or four people. Believe it or not, we aren't all greedy money-hungry scam artists. Well, a few of us are. HAHA. Just kidding.

When I was working for a construction company as an employee, a child was hit by a car and was paralyzed. It was a hit and run. We went out there and built a ramp for him. Just a good deed. No cost to the parents. We covered materials and labor.

But I'm willing to bet, if you talk to your clergy man, he can get you in touch with some free help. Heck, there may be a group of guys in your own church. Even if your personal church can't help, your clergy man can probably point you in the right direction of other charities. Or maybe Habitat for Humanity can point you in the right direction. Don't be to shy to ask. People genuinely like to help, if the need is there.

Answer 3

Hello, I noticed you had posted a couple of these questions and wanted to step in for a second as well. I would personally look into or print out the information found on http://www.ambucs.org/members/rampbuilding.aspx . Then get all the data you can and see if they will help build one for free. If they do not there are other options depending on your location I had a list of sites for each state but not in my bookmarks here. Anyway, besides that for ADA information and comparisons take a look at the articles/details found at http://www.discountramps.com/access_ramps.htm more specifically the "Other helpful modular and access ramp links" section of that page where it contains a pretty good selection of ADA information. Best of luck and I hope you get your accessibility problem taken care of with a working ramp solution as soon as possible.

Please keep in mind, depending on your location if you do choose to build a wooden ramp make sure to use a sand paper style non-skid surface or another form other than the wood itself as the wood will obviously get rather slippery when wet.

Answer 4

In most states there are requirements for building those ramps. Itr is best if you check with your county or city and request the legal requirements and dimensions.
I have seen people do these and then have them REMOVED because they did not meet the disability requirements.

Answer 5

If you are in a wheel chair, the last thing you need is a CHEAP ramp unless you have a death wish.

Answer 6

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Answer 7

If you are looking to have one built for you, It would make a great project for a Boy Scout Working on his Eagle Scout Badge, they have to do a project that helps either a person or the Community.

Answer 8

If you are a veteran contact the AMBUCs. They build ramps for disabled vets for free.

Answer 9

go online and find a large baptist church in your area. Find the email address of the Student Minister and shoot him an email. As a student minister, I am always looking for ways to get my kids involved helping people. Email a few churches and see what response you get back.

Answer 10

if you know anyone that could build one for you do it. or if you see some guys at a construction sight ask them if they would like to make extra money and tell them what you want. maybe they will do it for almost nothing. good luck.
P.S. listen to wirefligh, his answer is correct, and i would believe what a fire fighter has to say they run into a lot of situation, my son is one.