6 Benefits of Modular Aluminum Wheelchair Ramps Call (513) 889-2492 ORDER NOW Tracy Mikulec Tracy Mikulec, a seasoned leader in the digital marketing realm, currently serves as the Director of Digital at SixAxis, a pioneering manufacturer of industrial and commercial safety products from renowned brands like SafeRack, ErectaStep, and Upside. With a career spanning over three decades, Tracy has been at the forefront of digital innovation, ecommerce, and technology strategy. Since January 2015, Tracy has been instrumental in shaping the digital landscape at SixAxis, LLC, based in Andrews, South Carolina. His role involves leading digital strategies and overseeing technological advancements for SixAxis and its diverse portfolio of brands. Feb 09, 2024 Estimated reading time: 4 minutes Why Aluminum Wheelchair Ramps Are the Superior Choice for Accessibility Solutions When it comes to selecting a wheelchair ramp for your home or business, the material choice plays a pivotal role in functionality, durability, and maintenance. While various materials are available, aluminum is the stand-out choice for a reliable, low-maintenance solution. At Upside Innovations, we specialize in providing top-tier aluminum wheelchair ramps designed to enhance accessibility with ease and efficiency. AluminumIronSteelWoodConcreteTensile StrengthMedium-HighMedium-HighHighMediumLowCorrosion & Warping ResistanceHighLowMediumLowLow-MediumRequired MaintenanceLowHighMediumHighMediumPriceMedium-HighMediumMedium-HighMedium-HighLow Why Choose Aluminum for Your Wheelchair Ramp? 1. Safety Features Aluminum wheelchair ramps boast a non-slip decking that ensures maximum traction, from rain to snow, under any weather conditions. Unlike wood ramps that require frequent grip tape application, aluminum ramps feature extruded decking with built-in grooves, providing a secure grip for wheelchair wheels without the need for constant maintenance. 2. Optimal Strength-to-Weight Ratio Aluminum’s lightweight yet strong nature makes it an ideal material for wheelchair ramps. It offers comparable strength to heavier metals but is much easier to handle, assemble, and adjust, making it a practical choice for temporary and permanent installations. Our wheelchair ramps come in 8′ and 10′ prefabricated, modular ramp sections. Hook the prefabricated ramp sections together for quick and easy installation. View our ADA ramp installation guide. 3. Durability and Maintenance One of the most significant advantages of aluminum is its resistance to rust and corrosion. Aluminum ramps maintain their integrity and appearance over time, even in harsh weather conditions, without the need for annual maintenance. This not only saves on long-term costs but also ensures your ramp remains safe and functional year after year. 4. Flexibility and Adaptability Our modular aluminum ramps feature adjustable legs to accommodate uneven surfaces, ensuring a level and stable platform. This adaptability extends to the ramp’s configuration; modules can be easily added, removed, or rearranged to meet changing needs, a flexibility not offered by wood or concrete ramps. 5. No Building Permits Required Modular aluminum ramps are considered non-permanent structures, unlike permanent wood or concrete ramps. This means they typically do not require building permits, streamlining the installation process and making them ideal for projects with tight deadlines. HOW LONG DOES YOUR ADA WHEELCHAIR RAMP NEED TO BE? Use our ADA Ramp Length Calculator to find the correct ramp length for your project. Ramp Length and Slope Calculator 6. Cost-Effectiveness While the initial investment in an aluminum ramp may be higher than other materials, the speed of installation, lack of annual maintenance costs and the ramp’s longevity make it a cost-effective solution. Additionally, the high resale value of aluminum allows for recovery of the initial cost, should your needs change. Wood vs. Aluminum: Cost Wood Cost: Material cost: A wood ramp costs an average of $100-250 per linear foot, according to Fixr.com, so, although variable, a 30′ ramp can cost around $4,600. If you add a 5’x 5′ platform which is required at the door, it would cost a total of about $5,500 for the material. Install time: A 30’ wood ramp with a platform takes roughly (2) 8-hour days for two carpenters to cut and install. Install cost: To build the ramp, you will likely need two carpenters ($60 per hour) for the two days. That means that labor costs will be roughly $1,440. In total, a wood ramp costs about $7,240. Plus, you will have to factor in the price of a building permit which usually costs a couple of hundred dollars. Aluminum Cost: Material cost: Aluminum ramp manufacturers charge a wide range of prices because there are different grades of aluminum and the varying size and load requirements for commercial versus residential. You can expect to spend between $6,400 on material for a 30’ commercial, aluminum ADA including a 5’ x 5’ platform. Install time: You don’t need any prior experience to install an aluminum ramp, and it takes about 3-5 hours to complete the installation of a 30′ ramp. Install time: A novice can install an aluminum ramp system on his/her own, so the installation cost would be free if you decide to install it yourself. Installation costs for an aluminum ramp are typically less than half the cost of a wood ramp installation. Aluminum and wood ramps initially cost about the same amount of money when you consider installation cost. Ramps Wood vs. Aluminum Ramps Read More » February 5, 2024 News Creating Safe & Equal Access for All with Wheelchair Accessible Ramps Read More » September 4, 2022
Types of Wheelchair Ramps Call (513) 889-2492 ORDER NOW Tracy Mikulec Tracy Mikulec, a seasoned leader in the digital marketing realm, currently serves as the Director of Digital at SixAxis, a pioneering manufacturer of industrial and commercial safety products from renowned brands like SafeRack, ErectaStep, and Upside. With a career spanning over three decades, Tracy has been at the forefront of digital innovation, ecommerce, and technology strategy. Since January 2015, Tracy has been instrumental in shaping the digital landscape at SixAxis, LLC, based in Andrews, South Carolina. His role involves leading digital strategies and overseeing technological advancements for SixAxis and its diverse portfolio of brands. Dec 09, 2019 Estimated reading time: 3 minutes The US population is aging, and disabled people are living longer due to advances in medical technology. The number of Americans with a disability has increased by more than 20% over the last decade, reaching 10%. Around 3 million full-time wheelchair users can attest that this increase is directly related to our aging society. Wheelchair ramps are required by law to provide accessibility for those who use them. For personal use, there is more than one type of ramp. We’ve assembled the top accessibility solutions for wheelchairs on the market, ranging from portable to permanent. 1. Threshold Ramps Rubber threshold ramp Threshold ramps can be either rubber or metal and are made to butt up against the lip of a door threshold or a curb. They are typically between ½ inch to 6 inches in height, very lightweight, and can be used on both the inside and outside of a doorway. These ramps are simple, cost-effective solutions for people using a wheelchair, walker, or scooter to maneuver over a small barrier. 2. Folding Ramps Tri-fold (left) & bi-fold (right) ramps Folding ramps consist of either bi-fold (two panels) or tri-fold (four panels) with hinges between each panel. The bi-fold ramps fold over once while the tri-fold ramps has three folds. The folding ramp does not have handrails and is not ADA-compliant, so it should only be used for personal use. It can be used for access into wheelchair-accessible vans, or it can be placed over a small set of stairs that lead into a home. 3. Suitcase Ramps Suitcase ramp A suitcase ramp is a type of folding ramp that has handles for easy transport. Typically, it is between 2 and 6 feet long and can support about 800 pounds. It can lay directly over a small set of steps, making it perfect for home access. It is not ADA-compliant, so it should not be used for commercial applications. 4. Telescoping Ramps Telescoping ramp A telescoping ramp often consists of two separate, narrow channels – typically narrower than 12 inches each – that can extend and retract to fit the desired height. The channels are placed side-by-side and line up with the wheels of the wheelchair. These types of ramps are typically used for access into a wheelchair-accessible van, but they are not ideal for mobile scooters as the wheels are often not in line with each other. 5. Modular Ramps Modular ramp A modular ramp is typically a larger, more permanent fixture than the previous ramps. Still, it doesn’t require a building permit because it can be taken down and reassembled at another location. They are constructed out of ramp sections that are built off-site and then transported to the site for speedy assembly. Aluminum is typically the best material to use for outdoor, commercial wheelchair ramp applications because it does not rust or warp, and it is the most cost-effective option. 6. Permanent Ramps Wood ramp Permanent ramps are often fabricated on-site and commonly made from wood, concrete or metal and cannot be moved or adjusted once they are set in place, so a building permit is required. Unlike modular ramps, they are built completely on-site, so the installation and construction time is much longer. These types of ramps are typically used for residences when aesthetics are more important than longevity and code compliance. Lim, S. (2021). Wheeled Mobility Use on Accessible Fixed-Route Transit: A Field Study in Environmental Docility. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(6). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18062840 News Creating Safe & Equal Access for All with Wheelchair Accessible Ramps Read More » September 4, 2022 Ramps What is a Modular Wheelchair Ramp? Read More » January 11, 2024
