What Are the Different Types of Materials Used for Wheelchair Ramp?

This article will shed light on the different types of materials that can be used for your wheelchair ramp installation, whether it is a residential property or a business place.

Have you decided to have a wheelchair ramp installed at the area you live in? The first thing that comes in mind is what type of material would be the best for ramp installation. It is obvious that you are wondering what material to choose. It gets easier to decide when you have a brief idea about what materials are most commonly used for ramps construction in the USA.

Having comprehensive knowledge about the materials would help you to make an informed decision. After all, you are going to make an investment, be it small or big. In the next section, you will learn about the different materials that you can consider using while installing ramps.

Different types of ramp materials

Wood ramps

Some homeowners do think that wooden ramps will be a better choice as it is inexpensive, yet more beautiful than a metal one. And it is true that a properly built wooden wheelchair ramp can be as functional as one needs it to be.

However, there are certain things that a homeowner must bear in mind. They are:

• Wooden wheelchair ramps need considerable time, labor and proper material to build. Sometimes, wooden ramps take a considerable amount of time to get built, meaning that the labor cost will be high. So, if you are comfortable with paying a significant amount of money in exchange to a highly functional ramp, then, by all means, go for it.
• Keeping wooden ramps safe and easy for use by the users needs proper upkeep. If you do not maintain your wooden wheelchair ramp, it is going to rot, crack, fade and warp soon.
• Such ramps are greasy during wet weather. This is why; they need you to take precaution to prevent slipping.
• When it comes to getting rid of a wooden ramp, it needs enough labor and time as well that could cause you to spend money.

Concrete ramps

Concrete ramps are commonly installed in that of public and commercial places. you can consider using concrete to build your ramp, only if your property layout is convenient for the installation.

Here are the major factors to consider:

• Concrete ramps need enough time, labor and money.
• They are durable having high weight capacity. The good part is that they need low maintenance. However, concrete ramps are more prone to cracking over due course of time.

Steel ramps

Modular ramps are made of either aluminium or steel. They might seem similar, but their features are not similar to each other. Here are the factors to consider:

• Steel is a heavy material that means it would take more effort and time to install as compared to aluminium.
• Steel ramps will need rust-proofing and considerable maintenance for long term use. In a wet climate, they will need you to make serious attempts to maintain.

Aluminium ramps

Owing to the several positive characteristic features, aluminium ramps make a good choice for homeowners.

IRONSPAN is an avid writer who takes interest in gathering knowledge in different areas like wheelchair ramps, steel buildings, ramps construction etc and sharing the knowledge with the audience.