Wheelchair ramp problems

Too steep. The single most common complaint, and almost always the result of trying to fit a ramp into a footprint that couldn't hold it. At 1:12 you need 12 feet of run per foot of rise, and no run may rise more than 30 inches before a landing. If the space doesn't exist, the honest options are a switchback, a different entry point, or a lift — not a steeper ramp.

Too narrow, especially for power chairs. ADA §405.5 sets 36 inches minimum clear width measured between handrails. Power chairs are wider and longer than manual chairs and turn differently, so a ramp that just clears for a manual user can be unusable for a power user. If the household's equipment is changing, plan for the bigger chair.

Rot, ice and surface failure. Wood ramps fail at ground contact and at fasteners. Ice is the seasonal hazard that turns a compliant ramp into a serious fall risk, and it matters: CDC reports more than one in four older adults falls each year, with about 3 million emergency department visits annually from older adult falls. Non-slip surfacing at $5–$20 per foot and a maintenance budget of $50–$300 a year are the countermeasures.

HOA restrictions and permit delays. Both are process problems, and both are best solved by starting early and getting everything in writing. Where a build is stalled, bridge with a rental at $80–$200+ per month rather than living without access or building something unpermitted you'll have to remove.

How to choose

Measure the existing ramp before assuming it's fine

Rise divided by run should be 1:12 or gentler. Clear width between handrails should be at least 36 inches. Two measurements settle most arguments.

Plan for the chair you'll have in five years

Manual to power is a common transition and it changes the width and turning space you need.

Treat ice as a design problem, not a weather problem

Non-slip surfacing at $5–$20 per foot, plus a plan for clearing. Falls are the leading injury issue for older adults per CDC.

Fix rot at the source

Ground contact and fasteners. Patching the deck while the posts rot buys a season and costs the ramp.

Bridge, don't improvise

A rented ramp during an HOA or permit delay is cheaper and safer than a temporary plank arrangement.