Wheelchair ramps are a great boon for all those who use wheelchairs. With ramps, one has greater independence to move around. There are many types of ramps available today to suit all kinds of users and selecting the right type of ramp demands some thorough browsing. The prices also vary greatly from type to type and brand to brand. Since one might require more than one ramp, it is necessary that one is able to make one’s purchases in the least rates possible. For those who are planning to buy a wheelchair ramp and are looking for information on the topic, including the specifications, utility and the real cost of a wheelchair ramp, here is some useful information structured in an easy-to-understand way.

Wheelchair ramps are divided into three broad categories: permanent wheelchair ramps, semi-permanent wheelchair ramps and portable wheelchair ramps. Each of these categories has been discussed in detail below:

Permanent Wheelchair Ramps

These ramps are constructed permanently at places where a ramp is either required by a large number of users, such as the entrance to a general store, or where one or more users require a ramp quite frequently, for example inside an old-age home.

Though concrete is the obvious choice for these ramps, wood and steel can also be used to construct them. These ramps might require a building permit and so before getting them built, one must check with the local authorities regarding the permit. It is always advisable to construct railings on these ramps for greater convenience and safety of the users. Cost of building these ramps depend on the steepness and length of the structure. The more the length, the greater would be the cost. There is a maximum limit of steepness in permanent ramps; therefore one cannot install extra steep inclines just to reduce the costs. Here are the estimated costs for building a permanent wheelchair ramp to give you a general idea of the investment that these ramps require: you might have to shell between $100 and $200 per liner foot or $1000 to $2500 per vertical foot. So a ramp that is around 15 inches long would cost you between $1500 and $3000.

Semi-Permanent Wheelchair Ramps

These ramps are meant for temporary or a short time usage. These ramps are used either at temporary structures to make them more easily accessible to everybody (for example, exhibitions or fairs) or at places where a large number of wheelchair users are expected to arrive (for example, an event for the elderly or the disabled).

Concrete of course cannot be used to build these ramps. The usual materials used therefore are wood and steel. Though steel ramps are sturdier and stronger, they are more expensive and heavier as well. The choice between wood and steel should be made keeping these factors in mind. A semi-permanent wooden wheelchair ramp should cost you between 100 and 250 dollars while steel ramps’ prices can go as high as $500. With wooden ramps, extra charges might be involved in the form of the labor required to build the ramp.

Portable Wheelchair Ramps

These ramps offer the greatest independence to those using wheelchairs, since they can be carried anywhere. Portable ramps can be folded into small portable sizes and can be easily carried along with oneself in one’s wheelchair accessible vehicle. The most popular material used in these ramps is aluminum because it is strong while also being lightweight. Since the height to be climbed would differ from place to place, these ramps must be bought according to the heights one is most likely to face on a daily basis. For example, if one has to visit a place on a daily basis that doesn’t have a mobility ramp, one should buy a portable ramp such that one is at least easily able to access that particular place.

Portable ramps are of many types. There are threshold ramps (prices ranging from $50 to $125) which will carry you through an average threshold; there are single-fold ramps ($90 to $200) that would fold into a suitcase like object with a handle for easy portability; then there are multi-fold ramps that are longer than single-fold ramps and are suitable to even climb into an SUV ($250 to $1000); and lastly there are telescoping ramps ($300 to $700) whose length can be extended according to the challenge at hand. There are also roll-up portable ramps that roll up into very small sizes for comfortable portability.