I would start here for a ton of good info & links: http://www.contractortalk.com/f11/ramp-thon-50366/ & at least 4' wide

 

I would start here for a ton of good info & links: http://www.contractortalk.com/f11/ramp-thon-50366/ & at least 4' wide

I wasn't able to find as much info on the framing aspect that I was hoping for. It's going to be a 21' long ramp with 16" of rise.
I will do it 4' on 16" centers. So that is four joists. What would it look like to do a girder for supporting the joists that is attached to posts?
I'm trying to picture how I would attach them together such that with the slope of a ramp the joists would rest on the girders.
I have all the information on joist sizing and spacing and girders etc for decks and I had planned to build to the same specs.
I just can't figure out these girders...

 

You could build it like you would build a deck with dropped beams....set your beams on the posts, joists on top of the beam with hurricane straps and blocking mid span. Set your posts 7 feet apart and it should make the ramp pretty sturdy- motorized wheelchairs can get pretty heavy. It would most likely require some digging at the very end of the ramp to get enough clearance for your last beam but it should be fairly simple.

 

You're a GC, then do what GC's do & hire someone who knows what they are doing.

FYI, it might be better to check with your local building inspection dept. for specifics than asking on the inet if you are really going to do it yourself.

 

What Deckman said.

A pair of holes below frost for your area 6' o.c., bolt on a carry beam between the posts and 2x8 joists is what I do. The post carry right up to support your guardrails. Don't forget the put a curb on the edges to prevent the chair wheel from sliding off.

20' may be a long haul in a non-motorized chair so consider a level resting platform 1/2 way. 4' square would be fine, just remember that this will add to the length of the ramp.

Good Luck
Dave

 

20' may be a long haul in a non-motorized chair so consider a level resting platform 1/2 way. 4' square would be fine, just remember that this will add to the length of the ramp.

Good Luck
Dave

I like 5' platforms. Leaves plenty of room to turn around no matter what kind of chair.

 

You need 1:12 slope which comes out one foot of ramp every inch of rise. So if you got 20' ramp, your landing at the end should 20". Have to have a minimum Platform 5’ x 5’ at top and bottom of the ramp.

You need minimum 5’ x 5’ flat area if you making a break along the way... the ramp itself should be minimum 36" wide of clear span (measured between the railings)

Ramp requires handrails on both sides of the ramp. If I missed something look up here: ADA ramp Specifications

 

You need 1:12 slope which comes out one foot of ramp every inch of rise. So if you got 20' ramp, your landing at the end should 20".

What's this mean, he's only got 16" rise...

 

My yard is sloping front of house to back quite a bit. Ramp is going off the front of the current deck. The deck is about 3 1/2' off the ground but the slope of the ground helps out a lot.

 

my yard is sloping front of house to back quite a bit. Ramp is going off the front of the current deck. The deck is about 3 1/2' off the ground but the slope of the ground helps out a lot.

 

View attachment 95857

This is similar to how we built the ramp for a WW2 vet except we zig-zagged it behind the deck to reduce the distance that it went out into the yard. We ended up installing 2 landings that were 6x8 so that the chair could make a comfortable U-Turn while descending without stopping to adjust while going down the ramp.

 

ADA

http://www.ada.gov/regs2010/2010ADAStandards/2010ADAstandards.htm#pgfId-1006877

 

It is a residence, ADA regs are not a requirement.

Build it to whatever is code in your local and comfortable for all concerned.
In most places you are required to have guards if not over 30" to grade. You may still want them though.

Andy.

 

May not be required,, but if your asking those kind of questions, it is a good guide a to how to design it. As far as width, slope, railing heights etc.

 

It is a residence, ADA regs are not a requirement.

Build it to whatever is code in your local and comfortable for all concerned.
In most places you are required to have guards if not over 30" to grade. You may still want them though.

Andy.

He has 30+ at least in some areas, with a 42" initial height

 

I would check local codes. In some places around here it needs to be 1 inch rise for every 18 inches in length. That makes for some really long ramps.

 

After day one. Planning to do railings this afternoon.

 

After day one. Planning to do railings this afternoon.

I hope that wheel chair got an engine to get up there and breaks to get down from it...because that ramp looks way to steep.

 

I hope that wheel chair got an engine to get up there and breaks to get down from it...because that ramp looks way to steep.

It's a 1:15.3 slope and just under 21' long. I even rolled up and down it myself to make sure it would work. There is a lot of slope to the ground which probably is deceiving.

 

Not sure I buy that slope based on the stairs & trash can - looks a lot steeper than that but sometimes pictures do lie

 

Not sure I buy that slope based on the stairs & trash can - looks a lot steeper than that but sometimes pictures do lie

You can tell by looking at the fence on the right. I think the picture is a little deceiving.

 

Took another picture today. Maybe it's a better angle. Guess I should throw a level on the house to be sure though... Lol