How to attach a wheelchair ramp to threshold?

[Allen Worsham]

I have been asked to make a wheelchair ramp for our church's "Outreach Director" (Kevin) for his adult daughter who is in a wheelchair due to cerebral palsy. They are closing on their new construction home the end of the month and need to have a simple ramp that will go from the garage into the house. The construction of the ramp is pretty straight forward and I have all the materials already on hand (2x4's for the base and plywood for the top and some hardwood for the sides so the wheelchair won't slide off) so I don't have any construction issue. But I need to find a means to connect the ramp to either the threshold or garage floor so that it won't slide when in use. Also it needs to be done in such a way that it can easily be removed as their daughter is in college and lives on campus so she is not there all the time.

 

The size of the ramp will be a total of 31"wide and 4' long. The height is 4" from the concrete garage floor to the top of the concrete foundation of the house and it has 3/16" thick metal cap. There is a rounded metal threshold that sits 1" back from the foundation and is 1" tall and then on the interior side has a 1"drop to the tile floor in the house so I will have to add in a piece of quarter round to make the wheelchair transition easier.  So I was thinking of just drilling 2 holes (one on each end) down into the foundation and then put in a couple of "Threaded Tap-Coms" so that I could put a couple of threaded bolts into it to hold the ramp in place. Then all that Kevin would have to do is take a ratchet and socket and remove the bolts as needed. I could also drill 2 holes into the garage floor and then put a metal "L" bracket on each side for the bolts to go through. I know I am trying to "Over Engineer" this, but I want to have a couple of options as I go into it as they close on the house on 12-30-14 and will move in on 12-31-14 so I need to have it done so I can do the install when they move in. So any input would be appreciated.

Below is a photo of the garage door and threshold from "MY" garage into "MY" house as it is exactly the same as Kevin's house with the same threshold and design.



 

[Ron Dudelston]

Allen, I'd consider attaching the ramp at the end opposite the threshold with tapcons.  When it is nor longer needed youe can grout the holes back in.

[Cliff]

because you don't get freezing,   the concrete is fine to anchor to.

[John Hechel]

Allen,

I'd consider putting rubber feet on the bottom of the ramp and attaching it to the door frame with screw hooks and eyes.

[Charles Nicholls]

I like the threaded tap idea. Like Ron said, easy to grout in when it comes time to sell the house if that ever happens. 

Ok so the ramp will be 31" wide, Is the doorway also 31" wide?

Will she be opening the door herself or will someone else be doing that? I ask this because if she opens the door herself, to open the door easier, she will likely have to turn the chair slightly to one side or the other to get the door open & clear the footrest and front wheels, so the deck of the ramp may need to be slightly wider, say 36". If the door will be opened for her before she gets there (or if someone is pushing the chair for her) then this is probably not an issue.

 

Just a few random thoughts.

[John Morris]

I like the threaded tap idea. Like Ron said, easy to grout in when it comes time to sell the house if that ever happens. 

Ok so the ramp will be 31" wide, Is the doorway also 31" wide?

Will she be opening the door herself or will someone else be doing that? I ask this because if she opens the door herself, to open the door easier, she will likely have to turn the chair slightly to one side or the other to get the door open & clear the footrest and front wheels, so the deck of the ramp may need to be slightly wider, say 36". If the door will be opened for her before she gets there (or if someone is pushing the chair for her) then this is probably not an issue.

 

Just a few random thoughts.

Love your insight Charles!

[John Morris]

I'd also like to add, the Homes For Our Troops homes I have been in do not have any thresholds at all anywhere.

They install an auto door seal at the bottom of each exterior door, the door closes and the seal springs down to the floor. If this is going to be a permenant operation Allen, you may consider removing the threshold, and building the ramp to finish floor level.

[Charles Nicholls]

I'd also like to add, the Homes For Our Troops homes I have been in do not have any thresholds at all anywhere.

They install an auto door seal at the bottom of each exterior door, the door closes and the seal springs down to the floor. If this is going to be a permenant operation Allen, you may consider removing the threshold, and building the ramp to finish floor level.

Thanks John. I like this idea too, especially if she will be pushing the chair herself but doesn't have a lot of strength in her hands to get the chair over the threshold.

[Allen Worsham]

She will always have a person there as she has to be transported in a van with a ramp. So no worries about opening the door as she can do that.I was there and took the measurements as well as seeing her go in and out in her power wheel chair using a rolled up piece of carpet which worked out fine. She cannot use a manual chair on her own dievto her CP.

[Charles Nicholls]

She will always have a person there as she has to be transported in a van with a ramp. So no worries about opening the door as she can do that.I was there and took the measurements as well as seeing her go in and out in her power wheel chair using a rolled up piece of carpet which worked out fine. She cannot use a manual chair on her own dievto her CP.

 See that's why I wondered. My ex wife had CP but had enough strength in her hands (at least the last I saw her) to use a manual chair and get in doors without any problem, but I know that not everyone that has CP can

My best friend Terry who also had CP, was not able to get around in a manual chair and had to be pushed when he went anywhere in the car.

[Cliff]

Don't forget the rail - or at least to check local code to see if it's needed.   Codes in various places require rails galore.  I think I have to have grip rails to go in my own pockets where I live.

 

May also have to have a raised edge to prevent the wheels from rolling off.

 

Betchya there's a code for minimum width pf the ramp and I know there's one for the rise.

 

I've seen lots of ramps with little stretchers nailed across the rise to prevent wheels from rolling backwards.

Dunno if'n it's code or what.

 

 Code Code Code

[Allen Worsham]

Yes, I asked about codes but it will not apply in this situation. Being that it is in the garage on private property with no public access (like through the front door where anyone could come up to the door) and is strictly for wheelchair use there is nothing spectacular that has to be done so no hand rails. I will put in side rails that will stick up so the wheels won't go off.