Walks, Steps, and Ramps | |
WALKS Most entry walks that connect the street and house are 4 or 5 ft. wide, and will easily accommodate a wheelchair. Service walks to the sides or rear of the house, however, are usually only 2 or 3 ft. wide. A 3-ft. wide walk will permit passage by a wheelchair, but walks that are narrower should be broken out and relaid. Also, any walk that is cracked or heaved from frost or erosion should be broken out and relaid to avoid any stumbling blocks. Like driveways, walks can be concrete, either aggregate or broom-finished. Again, walks of loose-laid paving bricks (laid on a sand base with sand swept into the joints) may prove to be a walking hazard to the infirm, because such bricks can tilt and become uneven when weathered. STEPS AND RAMPS Steps should be built at least as wide as the walk and entry they serve, usually at least 4 ft. wide. But steps can be replaced by a ramp or a step ramp to make passage easier. A ramp is usually of concrete but can be built of wood. For a steep slope you can interrupt a flight of stairs or a long ramp by placing 1 or 2 steps at intervals on the run or length of the ramp. Another common safety break can be made in a long ramp, or in a flight of stairs, by building one or more long landings. Make the rise in the step(s) 6 in. or less, so a wheelchair can negotiate the rise. The slope or grade of the ramp will depend on the lot and the relative position of the drive and/or street and the entry. You can even build a switch-back into a ramp or set of stairs. A switchback is a run of steps or a ramp that rises in one direction, turns 180 degrees at a landing, and rises back to the top of the porch or entry landing. For use by wheelchairs, the recommended grade or slope is 1/12 (1 ft. of rise for 12 ft. of run, or less). Ramp Specifications An exterior ramp can replace steps where necessary, making entrances much easier to negotiate for those who must use walking aids or wheelchairs. Ideally, all entrances in the house would be ramped, so that all occupants could exit through any door in an emergency. It is critical that at least one entrance have a ramp, so the wheelchair occupant can make an emergency exit unaided, if necessary. How much slope a wheelchair can negotiate depends on whether the wheelchair is powered or propelled by hand; and if propelled by hand, how much upper body strength the person retains. As a general guideline, ramps should have no more than a 1/12 slope, or 1 ft. of rise for 12 ft. of run. This would mean that a ramp that must rise 2 ft. to the top of a porch must be 2 x 12 ft. or 24 ft. long. Ideally, of course, the more gentle the ramp slope, the better for the user. The ramp must be 31/2 ft. to 4 ft. wide; again, the wider the better. Although technically a wheelchair can travel on a 3-ft. wide path, it is difficult to keep the chair on an absolutely straight course if the wheels are turned by hand, so a margin on each side is recommended. The ramp can be poured of concrete or built of wood: whatever material is used, the surface should be as slip-resistant as possible. Concrete is more expensive but lasts longer and is easier to maintain. If you will be building the ramp yourself, use pre-treated lumber and be sure to add handrails. PORCH The porch should be large enough so that a wheelchair can change directions. The usual recommendation for a wheelchair turning radius is 5 ft., but more is better. Also useful at the main entry is a porch roof to shelter you from the weather while trying to open the door. A shelf at the side of the door large enough to accept an armload of packages is a welcome addition. If a shelf will cramp the entry, consider building a folding shelf that will fold against the house siding or against the porch railing. Another option would be to build a porch seat into the railing, a seat that could be used either while waiting or for a bench to hold packages. Opening the door can be made easier, with less fumbling in the dark, with locks that open to a number code. WALKING AROUND THE EXTERIOR All walk surfaces of concrete should be textured with a nylon bristle broom to produce a rough, slip-free finish on the surface. That goes for the porch and steps as well as walks and drives. Also available are concrete coating products that can be painted on surfaces such as steps, drives, or poolside concrete aprons to guard against accidents on wet, slippery concrete surfaces. Plant low-growing shrubbery along porches or walks and keep limbs pruned so they do not overhang the walking surface. Dig grass from between cracks in walks and use an edger to cut back the turf along the walk or drive and preserve the full concrete walkway. Remove toys, garden and lawn tools, and leaves, as well as snow and ice from any walking surface, and keep steps clear of shopping brochures, newspapers, and other such clutter. Concrete surfaces should be sealed at least once a year, in the fall, before really cold weather begins. A clear concrete sealant will protect and preserve the concrete against moisture entry and subsequent freeze damage, and it will aid water runoff and help keep steps, porches, and walks free of water and ice. Written by Gary Branson Reprinted with permission. Copyright HouseNet, Inc. |