The Ramp Is a Build, a Kit, or a Crew: Measure the Landing Before You Choose

A ramp decides whether she can leave the house without you lifting her down the step. There are three ways to get one: you build it, you assemble a ready kit, or a crew installs it. The slope and the landings decide which one is safe, and the lifting you can do alone decides the rest.

Local option: New Plan Care gives families in the St. Louis area in-home help so a parent can stay home: companionship, help with bathing and dressing, meals, and overnight care. Call (314) 405-0887.

Measure the rise and the landing first

Measure the height from the ground to the threshold, and the flat space at the top where her chair or walker will stop before the door. Measure the width of the door and the path. A ramp needs room to turn at the top and at any bend. If you do not have a flat landing, a long ramp with a sharp turn may not fit, so price the crew before you buy boards.

Check what you can lift alone

Boards, rails, and posts are heavy, and you cannot safely lift her or heavy loads when you are the only one doing the work. If every piece takes two people, plan for a second person on each day of the build, or a crew. Count the people you can actually call on for a full morning, not just the ones who say yes on the phone.

Ask the questions that decide the job

For a kit, ask the rated weight, the maximum slope the maker allows, and the fasteners it uses to attach to the frame. For a build, ask whether the surface has grip when wet and whether the edges have a rail or curb her chair cannot slide off. For a crew, ask what they check after installation, when they come back to tighten it, and what they fix if a board loosens after a month.

Check the permit before the first board

Ask the local building office whether a permit is needed for a ramp at your address. The answer is local and rules can change, so get it from the office itself. If a permit is needed, a crew may handle that paperwork for you, which is one reason to price the crew option even if you planned to build.

The Local Help for Husband Caregivers page may help you find local people to ask about installers and volunteers.