Making your home more accessible can add value to your home and not to mention being useful for any friends and family members who have access requirements. Here are some tips on installing a ramp in your home.
Your Budget
The budget is always an important factor when it comes to installing accessible equipment, particularly for ramps, as they are not cheap to install. To get a proper one in place, you want to be willing to spend a bit of money, whether you opt for a mobile one or one that’s permanently installed. Think about the budget you have available and what you can reasonably afford. There are certain installations that might be able to do payment plans, so work out what’s best for you beforehand.
The Type Of Ramp
It’s good to get an idea firstly of what type of ramp you are after and more importantly, where you want this ramp to go. The type of ramp can vary depending on the size to cater for specific wheelchair users and whether it includes any sort of handle or lift mechanism for higher-level floors. Handicap ramps can be really beneficial to install and so if you’re looking into the types that are on offer, it’s worth doing some research. Ideally, you want it to cater for most wheel-chair and access required users, but you also don’t want it looking too different to the rest of your property.
Typically, the width of most ramps should be a minimum of 36 inches. This is because most wheelchairs end up starting at this size and go upwards.
Materials To Use
There are a variety of ramp styles to choose from, but it’s also worth considering the materials that you’ll use depending on your area’s weather conditions. The more durable the material, the longer it will last, but if you live in a hotter climate, you may want to opt for wooden, rather than metal which will end up getting hot and expanding. Make sure you factor this in when deciding on the materials you want to use because these may end up making a huge difference to how functional the ramp is.
Where To Place It
When it comes to placing the ramp, you have a number of options. Depending on where your front or main door sits is the ideal spot for the ramp to go but you need to make sure that it fits and leaves space for everyone else to be able to walk past freely. It might be that you have the ramp within your home and so more space will want to be factored in for this. If you’re going to have a ramp that does more than just sit there, then you want to think about electrical points and how to keep it dry.
Getting a ramp for your home is certainly useful, and if you have a bit of a disposable income going, then it’s definitely worth getting in order to help make your home more accessible and wheelchair-friendly.
