DIY Concrete Wheelchair Ramp
Step-by-step guide made from Sam Davies's YouTube video.
Learn how to pour and finish a concrete ramp for disabled access. This project covers forming, pouring, vibrating, screeding, and applying a non-slip brush finish to the concrete.
- Difficulty: intermediate
Safety
- Wear waterproof gloves, long sleeves, and eye protection when working with wet concrete, as it can cause skin irritation and chemical burns.
- Use proper lifting techniques when moving bags of cement and wheelbarrows full of concrete.
- Wear hearing and eye protection when using power tools like a concrete vibrator or impact driver.
Must know before you build
- Adhere to 1:12 ramp slope (1 inch rise per 12 inches run) to prevent unsafe steepness.
- Verify local building codes for ramp slope, width, and handrail requirements before forming.
- Use a poker-style concrete vibrator to eliminate air pockets and ensure structural integrity.
- Apply a non-slip texture with a concrete finishing brush for user safety.
- Concrete finishing time varies greatly with weather; colder conditions require longer waits.
- Embed steel reinforcement mesh within the formwork to significantly strengthen the ramp.
Tools
- Wheelbarrow
- Shovel
- Concrete vibrator (Poker-style) (optional)
- Screed bar (Aluminum level)
- Concrete float (Magnesium or steel trowel)
- Edging trowel (optional)
- Finishing brush (Concrete brush on a pole) (optional)
- Sponge (optional)
- Bucket
- Leaf blower (Cordless) (optional)
- Impact driver (Cordless, Bosch, 18V) (optional)
Materials
- Concrete mix (Hand-mixed)
- Wood planks
- Steel reinforcement mesh
- Wood screws
Step by step
Step 1: Vibrate and Level the Concrete
Use a concrete vibrator to settle the wet concrete and remove air pockets, then begin to roughly level the surface with a trowel.
- Vibrate the Concrete. Use a concrete vibrator to work through the wet mix, especially along the edges of the formwork. This removes trapped air bubbles and helps the concrete settle evenly.
- Initial Troweling. Use a trowel to begin spreading and roughly leveling the concrete, filling in any low spots after vibrating.
Step 2: Screed and Float the Surface
Use a long, straight screed bar to level the concrete surface by pulling it across the forms, and then use a trowel to float the surface.
- Screed the Concrete. Lay a straight screed bar across the top of the formwork. Using a sawing motion, pull the bar along the forms to level the concrete and remove the excess.
- Float the Surface. After screeding, use a trowel or float to smooth the surface, pushing down the larger aggregate and bringing the 'cream' to the top.
- Tip: The timing for finishing concrete depends heavily on weather conditions like temperature, sun, and wind. Be prepared to adjust your process.
Step 3: Trowel Finishing
As the concrete begins to set, repeatedly trowel the entire surface to create a smooth, dense finish, working into the evening as needed.
- Wait for Concrete to Set. Allow the concrete to sit and begin to harden. The time will vary greatly depending on the weather and concrete mix. It's ready for the next step when you can press on it without leaving a deep indent.
- Edge the Ramp. Run an edging trowel along the inside of the formwork to create a clean, rounded edge. This helps prevent chipping later on.
- Final Troweling. Once the concrete is firm, go over the entire surface with a steel trowel to create a smooth, dense, and hard-wearing finish. You may need to do this multiple times as it continues to cure.
Step 4: Apply Brush Finish
Once the concrete is firm enough, apply a light, even brush finish to the surface to create a non-slip texture.
- Clean the Surface. If any leaves or debris have fallen onto the surface, use a blower on a low setting to gently clear them off before brushing.
- Brush the Concrete. Gently drag a concrete finishing brush across the surface in one continuous direction. Pull the brush towards you to create a light, even texture.