Wacky market niche - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

Danno6102 · 08-26-2008, 07:13 AM

Skateboard/bike ramps.

It's seems like around here there are a lot of communities putting up some small ramps to get the kids off the streets. They seem fairly easy to build. What are your thoughts on offering these as another service? Of course you'd be released from all liability, so if some punk teenager broke his arm showing off for a cheerleader, you didn't get your pants sued off because you built it. Doubt you'd get much work from it, as most kids build their own, but it's just another thing to set you apart from the crowd.

Just an idea.

Dan

john5mt · 08-26-2008, 10:26 AM

most of the community built ones i have seen are built from concrete

Danno6102 · 08-26-2008, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by john5mt

most of the community built ones i have seen are built from concrete

I've seen concrete, wood & purchased metal units, but most of the outdoor community ones have been concrete as you mentioned. Like I said, probably not too much out there for small private residential work, but there are some companies that specialize in it from a commercial standpoint from some googling I've done.

Just thinking outside the box.

mmike032 · 08-26-2008, 11:37 AM

I was looking at that lst week. Not much residential demand here for it but wew do have 1 skatepark in town thats built out of wood.
My sons been wanting one since he started skateboarding but I'm gonna wait until he gets better at it.
We built a few when i was a kid.

ecr · 08-26-2008, 03:09 PM

i will admit it does not take a rocket scientist to build ramps. but if you do not know what radius makes a good transition. then you will be building a ramp that kids won't skate. i am 33 been skating since i was 12, i have built a lot of backyard ramps and bowls and a few private and public parks. there is a small market in some areas .

BattleRidge · 09-24-2008, 09:41 PM

I spent the last 2 years of my life living in a 2000sq ft warehouse I built into a skate park, ramps are definitely my favorite thing to build, bmx is probably the only thing I don other then work, I agree though you need to know what your building before you do it, ramps are about feel and tranny and flow.Thats a pic of me rippin it uuuuuuup
[IMG]file:///Users/codyham/Library/Caches/TemporaryItems/moz-screenshot.jpg[/IMG]
http://www.newschoolers.com/web/cont...mber_id/50054/

Greg Di · 09-24-2008, 09:55 PM

I was asked to bid one in the spring. The HO gave me downloaded internet plans to build from.

My cost was $13,000+ because the ramp was huge and the plans he gave me were written by some pot-smoking skater dude that had no idea about construction. I knew the head scratching would go on and on...

Needless to say, I did not get the gig.