When you begin to consider having a wheelchair ramp installed outside your home or business you have to think about a few specific things. What style do you prefer? How long do you need the ramp to be? How much do you have set aside for the budget? But the overarching question that will cover all of these is, “what material do I want to use for this ramp?” We’re here to help you answer that question.
Steel There’s a reason the phrase “tough as steel” exists. This stuff can carry a significant amount of weight without bending or breaking. Pros: Lowest cost Moderate maintenance required Strongest and safest material Extremely durable Can be moved with effort Recyclable Cons: Hard to work with during installation process Heavy Will rust if not maintained properly Wood Wooden ramps are perhaps the most aesthetically pleasing to look at. They are a warm and cottage-like addition to any building that needs a ramp. Pros: Pleasing appearance You can build the ramp to meet specific slopes Flexible to your budget
Customization available Cons: Needs a significant amount of maintenance Requires a permit to install Difficult to move Time consuming to install Concrete
Concrete is perhaps the strongest and most permanent material you can use to build a ramp. If you want that thing to stay in place, you want to build it with concrete! Pros: Extremely strong Relatively easy to install Require very little maintenance Cons: Expensive Difficult to remove one installed Dangerously slippery in bad weather Aluminum
Aluminum ramps are great for people who are looking for a transportable and trustworthy ramp. True, it may not be the prettiest thing you'll ever see, but it gets the job done! Pros:
Easy to install/remove Strong Requires little maintenance Can be resold
Cons:
Not as strong as steel or concrete
Very commercial look that doesn’t suit homes
Can get icy Cons: Not as strong as steel or concrete Very commercial look that doesn’t suit homes Can get icy