Wheelchair ramp checklists

Homeowner checklist. Measure rise from finished grade to threshold. Multiply by 12 for minimum run at 1:12. Check that no single run rises more than 30 inches. Mark landing locations — top, bottom, and 60 by 60 inches at direction changes. Confirm the door swing doesn't conflict with the top landing. Call the building department about permits and inspection. Check HOA covenants in writing.

Caregiver checklist. Can you push the loaded chair up the proposed slope? Can you control it coming down? Is there enough landing space to open the door while holding the chair? Is there lighting for after dark? Is the surface usable in rain? These questions are answered by walking the layout with the actual chair, not by reading a drawing.

Contractor vetting. Ask for photos of previous ramps with the slope ratios stated. Ask whether they build to ADA §405 geometry. Ask who pulls the permit. Ask for the labor warranty length in writing. Ask for references from ramp jobs specifically, not general carpentry. Compare three bids on one drawing — labor spans $50–$100 per hour or $50–$120 per linear foot, so identical scope makes the differences readable.

Safety inspection before final payment. Tape measure and a level. Running slope no steeper than 1:12. Cross slope no more than 1:48. Clear width at least 36 inches measured between handrails. Handrails on both sides if the rise exceeds 6 inches. Edge protection present — 4-inch curb, a rail blocking a 4-inch sphere, or a surface extending 12 inches past the handrail's inside face. Landings level and correctly sized. Non-slip surfacing installed. Every one of these is checkable in fifteen minutes.

How to choose

Take the measurements yourself

Rise and run take two minutes and give you the one number that governs the whole project.

Walk the layout with the actual chair

Stake the outline in the yard before anything is built. Approach angles and door swing problems show up immediately.

Bid one drawing, three contractors

Different drawings produce incomparable prices. One drawing makes the labor spread meaningful.

Hold final payment until you've measured

Slope, cross slope, clear width, handrails, edge protection, landings. Fifteen minutes with a level and a tape.

Keep the permit and inspection paperwork

It matters at resale and it matters if there's ever an injury claim.