Wheelchair ramps can play an important role in making your house accessible to those with mobility challenges.
If you decide on installing a wheelchair ramp in your home, your next question might be: do I build it myself or purchase a pre-made wheelchair ramp? There are benefits and drawbacks to each, depending on your skill level, budget, ramp needs, and more.
In this blog, we’ll go over the pros and cons of each wheelchair ramp type (purchased vs DIY), as well as a “middle ground” option that we highly recommend for home wheelchair ramps.
Build a Wheelchair Ramp Yourself
When researching for your home wheelchair ramp, you’ll likely see countless guides and recommendations to just build a ramp yourself! This DIY approach can seem tempting due to cost savings and customizability, but the benefits don’t always outweigh the drawbacks.
How to Build a Wheelchair Ramp?
Thinking about building your own wheelchair ramp, but unsure of where to start? Here’s a general guide on all the steps required to build a home wheelchair ramp for a loved one with mobility challenges.
Select your location
Outline where in your home you’d like to build your wheelchair ramp.
Do your research
Take time to research local building codes, safety guidelines, and The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance standards. Be sure to consider weather as well: depending on where you live, your weather can heavily influence the safety and durability of your ramp.
Determine the configuration of your ramp
Start designing what you need your ramp to look like. Will it be a single straight length? Will it have a U-shape? Take the time to measure how long each ramp length will need to be, slope, and more. Don’t forget to plan out handrails as well!
Determine ramp materials
With what materials will you build your ramp? Popular materials include wood, concrete, steel, aluminum, and more. Make a list of all of your different materials and calculate their cost.
Purchase ramp materials
Purchase everything needed to construct your ramp.
Build and install your wheelchair ramp
Build your ramp! Depending on your ramp design, the time required at this stage can be anywhere from a couple of days to several weeks.
Perform regular maintenance
Once you finish building your ramp, complete regular maintenance to ensure safety and durability.
Keep in mind that the time and effort required to build your own ramp will vary considerably based on your skill level, ramp design, materials, and more. Many people underestimate the time and cost of building their own home wheelchair ramp. You might build your own ramp in order to save money, only to find that the cost is more expensive than purchasing a pre-made model!
Pros and Cons of Building a Wheelchair Ramp
Below are the benefits and drawbacks of building your own home wheelchair ramp.
Pros:
- Cost: Depending on the materials used, building your own home wheelchair ramp can be significantly cheaper than purchasing one. However, if you plan on hiring a local contractor the cost can be greater than a purchased ready-made ramp.
- Customization: When it comes to customization, the sky’s the limit! Select materials, configuration, and a design that matches your home or personal aesthetic.
Cons:
- Time-consuming: Building a home wheelchair ramp from scratch can require significant time and effort.
- Expertise required: If you want to ensure your ramp adheres to safety standards, local building codes, and accessibility compliance, purchasing a pre-made ramp or hiring a licensed contractor is best.
- Maintenance: DIY ramps may require more maintenance and upkeep compared to professionally installed ramps.
- Limited durability: While purchased wheelchair ramps can last for decades, DIY ramps may need replacing much sooner.
Purchase a Wheelchair Ramp
If building your own home wheelchair ramp or hiring a local contractor doesn’t seem appealing, there’s another solution! Wheelchair ramps can be purchased online, through durable medical equipment (DME) suppliers. You can skip construction time and get a steel, aluminum, or rubber ramp delivered directly to your doorstep in days.
Pros and Cons of Purchasing a Home Wheelchair Ramp
Below are the benefits and drawbacks of buying pre-made wheelchair ramps.
Pros:
- Time-Savings: When you purchase a ready-made ramp, your ramp can be set up and ready to use the same day it’s delivered. Eliminate lengthy construction and installation times.
- Safety: These ramps automatically adhere to safety standards and are ADA compliant
- Low Maintenance: Purchased ramps from a supplier often require less maintenance compared to DIY ramps
- Durability: These ramps are designed for heavy use and to last for many years, making your home permanently accessible to a family member, loved one, or friend with mobility challenges.
Cons:
- Cost: Depending on your DIY ramp design and materials, purchasing a ramp from a supplier can be more expensive.
- Limited customization: You are limited to the design, materials, and customization options that the brand provides.
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The Best of Both Worlds: Aluminum Modular Ramps
If you can’t decide between the benefits of a pre-built or DIY home wheelchair ramp, an aluminum modular ramp can be a perfect solution to offer the best of both worlds.
These lightweight accessible aluminum ramps are constructed from multiple pre-made sections. You can purchase whatever sections you like, then assemble at your home.
Aluminum modular ramps combine the versatility and customization of DIY ramps, while still saving you time, requiring minimal maintenance, and offering incredible durability.
Customizability
While you aren’t able to change the ramp material, modular ramps can be highly customizable. You decide what configuration you want your ramp to be in, then purchase individual sections to build it.
Many modular ramps also let you choose between different handrail designs, ramp traction, and more.
Durability & Maintenance
These ramps are known for their strength and durability. They are virtually maintenance-free, will not rust, and are durable enough to last for decades.
Portability
Moving? Simply disassemble your ramp and move it to your next location. Though portable ramps are ultra-durable, they have the flexibility of temporary ramps. If the modular ramp does not perfectly fit your next home, you can order additional modular sections and re-use existing ones to construct a new ramp.
If you constructed a permanent ramp, you won’t have this flexibility when it comes to moving.
Safety
Aluminum modular ramps are automatically designed to meet safety standards, are ADA-compliant, and adhere to local building codes.
Easy to Install
These modular wheelchair ramps are designed for easy assembly. You can pay to have the wheelchair ramp installed, or easily install it yourself on the same day it’s delivered! Start experiencing the benefits of a wheelchair ramp on the same day it arrives.
Where Do I Buy an Aluminum Modular Ramp?
Here at Med Mart, we have an extensive catalog of the best-rated aluminum modular ramps for your home. You can browse through different models on your own, or contact one of our product experts to help find the perfect ramp configuration for your home.
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