LumberJocks Woodworking Forum banner

Project Information

So we needed to add a ramp to the house for easier access.
I didn't want to cover up my wedding cake staris that I built a few years ago and also didn't want a 20ft long ramp that would change the entire look of my old farmhouse.
This is what I came up with .. I added the bent spindle railings just to make it a little different than the other ramps and porches I've seen..
I kind of like the way it all flows together and a bonus is that my Grand Daughter got a new play ground!
She loves that ramp which made it all that much sweeter !!

The only thing left to do is slop on a coat of paint and have a beer or two while I admire my hard work !

Gallery

Comments

· Registered
Joined
·
17 Posts
That's the nicest ramp I have seen. Far too often they are only utilitarian without any class. Yours has both. Great job.
 

· Plus Member
Joined
·
3,078 Posts
It looks really nice but what about the top step to the porch? There is a pretty good threshold there for a wheel chair to climb over.

May want to take a look at this:
http://www.ada-compliance.com/ada-compliance/ada-ramp

Since it is a permanent ramp, a building inspector could ask you to tear it down and rebuild it to ADA specifications.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
3 Posts
Any project that ends with "having a beer or two and admiring" is a successful project in my books.
Well done.
 

· Banned
Joined
·
3 Posts
I miss titled the picture. It is an access ramp for my father who has a hard time with stairs.
This allows him to enter my house with far less effort. I did not mean wheel chair and no one should be making me tear anything down. How does the posting of a simple project always turn down this road???
It's a ramp. Thats all it is. geeesh. Thanks for your input.
It looks really nice but what about the top step to the porch? There is a pretty good threshold there for a wheel chair to climb over.

May want to take a look at this:
http://www.ada-compliance.com/ada-compliance/ada-ramp

Since it is a permanent ramp, a building inspector could ask you to tear it down and rebuild it to ADA specifications.

- dbray45
 

· Registered
Joined
·
2,392 Posts
Nice job. I too have trouble with stairs (bad knees). That would work nicely for me.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
82 Posts
Hi Tom,

(Sigh) Don't stress over what the naysayers pontificate about. There seems to be one in every crowd thumping their chest about things "done wrong" while ignoring the fact it was built with quality skills, materials & meets the exact needs of the person you are doing this for.

Job well done.

-Dave
 

· Registered
Joined
·
415 Posts
If this was labeled as wheelchair accessible, then maybe the question. There are many forms of accessibility, this is a fine example of one.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
4,326 Posts
Humm why only two beers? it looks like 2×6 packs at least.

Great wood craftmanship !!
 

· Registered
Joined
·
6,272 Posts
Stellar job on the ramp, Tom….Don't fret over what others may think…it looks great…And your family, and especially your father will get good use out of it…..I myself have a hard time with stairs, with a bad back, hip, and knees replaced…..I like your farm house, too…Looks like it belongs in the country…...
 

· Banned
Joined
·
3 Posts
Good call on the location Rick! We live in the woods with only one house across the street that is also an old farm house. ( hence the mailbox )
My wife and I tend to use the ramp more than the stairs these days. It is just easier to use. The funny thing is that the dogs are using it now as well.. I guess we all take the easy path ??
I am really not worried about what other people think, I am an avid inventor and my ideas get shot down on a daily basis.. I am just amazed how freely people give their negative opinions online. There always seems to be building inspector or an expert in every area that has never built what I did but still has to get off a negative comment for some reason..
I tend to always go for the positive, not the negative.. Life is to short for that… Just build it !
Stellar job on the ramp, Tom….Don t fret over what others may think…it looks great…And your family, and especially your father will get good use out of it…..I myself have a hard time with stairs, with a bad back, hip, and knees replaced…..I like your farm house, too…Looks like it belongs in the country…...

- Rick Dennington
 

· Plus Member
Joined
·
3,078 Posts
The only reason that I made the statements that I did was because I ran into those issues with my daughter - who is in a wheel chair and have built ramps - permanent and temporary. I have had to deal with inspectors, building codes, and the ADA.

Oh and as far as "There seems to be one in every crowd thumping their chest about things "done wrong" while ignoring the fact it was built with quality skills, materials & meets the exact needs of the person you are doing this for."

I was not "thumping my chest" but if you are going to do something and it isn't done right, it really doesn't matter what materials or skill set is used to build it.

I went by how it was labeled and offered some input - because I have been there.
 
Top