If you’ve been thinking about purchasing a ramp for your home, business or car, you may be having some difficulty deciding on a specific type of ramp.
There are dozens of ramps for many different purposes, and Budget Construction Company can help you decide on what works best for you. Here we’ll discuss your options.
Consider the material
Wood-Wood is the most common material used for building ramps. They can be built using any type of sturdy wood and stained to match your home or building. Wood ramps are generally custum built to fit in with your home and to meet the unique needs of the individuals requiring the help of a ramp. It is recommended that wood ramps come with some type of non-slip surface (like aluminum treads), as wood can become slippery when wet.
Aluminum Aluminum ramps are another popular ramp of option, coming in a close second to wooden ramps. Aluminum ramps can be more advantageous over other types of ramps as they can be put together in many different configurations to fit your home or business. Many aluminum ramps include turns and landings to fit a higher entrance. Again, aluminum ramps need to be fitted with a non-slip surface.
Galvanized Steel– Galvanized steel ramps are not as popular as aluminum or wood ramps, but they have great traction due to their “open pattern”. The open base ensures that water, dirt and snow do not accumulate, but can be hard on high-heeled shoes and bare feet.
Concrete– Concrete ramps are often made of galvanized steel, but include a poured concrete surface, which makes walking more pleasant. These ramps give the feel and walking surface of a poured concrete ramp, but are less expensive to install and a lot less permanent.
Consider your needs
Permanent– Some ramps are permanent fixtures, while others can be removed or moved around with greater ease. Wood ramps are the most permanent of ramps, as they are often custom built to fit your home or building perfectly. Permanent ramps are best suited for long-term home use or use at an office, senior/community center or other place of business that needs to be handicap accessible.
Moveable– When selecting a ramp, it’s important to consider whether the ramp will eventually be moved, or if it’s more of a permanent fixture. Aluminum, galvanized steel, and concrete ramps are much more easily moved than wood ramps.
Portable– There are many different kinds of portable ramps, which are great to use on an as-needed basis (like getting out of a car or accessing multiple entrances in a home or building). Portable ramps come in many different lengths, surface materials and configurations. Aluminum portable ramps are the most popular and also the most inexpensive. There are also portable ramps made of plastic and/or fiberglass, but these can be more expensive and less practical.
Threshold ramps– Threshold ramps are intended for use on a short rise. Even rises of an inch or two can be difficult to maneuver with a wheelchair, so threshold ramps can be extremely useful. Threshold ramps are generally made of aluminum.
As you can see, ramps come in many types of materials and can be used to meet any number of needs. They can be high, low, built straight, or built with turns. Most are equipped with handrails, others are simple and portable. Whatever your needs are, you can turn to Budget Construction Company to help you decide on the best ramp for you. Call us today at (773) 283-9200 to speak with a member of our team.