I just recently got a wheelchair ramp put together for my son Ryan. The 3 guys who put it together put underlayment over top. They said not to put rock salt on top of it or to use a shovel. Any suggestions about what I can do about the up coming snowy weather? What can I do to keep the snow off and to keep my son from sliding?
I have a client who screws a tarp along one side and then holds down the other edge with a couple of bricks. This, or some variation of it might work for your son.
p.s. you can also improve footing by applying grainy, non-skid outdoor stair treads, such as are available at large hardware stores.
I am not an wheel chair ramp expert, although I've worked part time in health care for many years.
My first thought was a no-brainer: for you to sweep the ramp with a broom often, epecially when the snow is "dry" so it won't melt later and form ice.
My other idea is to attach something like astro turf to the ramp, wich I think would make it less slippery come winter.
I hope somebody else here has more experience with these things.
You say the guys used underlaymant for the top surface. Question is what kind of underlayment. If it is of the OBS type (Oriented Strand Board) it is not recommended for external construction and that is why they said not to salt or use a shovel. It is water resistant but not for out door use.
This is just an example of treads you can put on there to help with your issue. Other places sell them too also dark colors will help the snow melt when the sun shines on them, much like black paved driveways melt much faster than lighter colors.
www.collectionsetc.com/
You could take a gallon of outdoor paint and add a cup or two of sand into it. This will give it some grit for traction when it is painted onto the ramp. Good Luck.
I find that using hot soapy water on the ramp will not only get off current ice but prevent further icing for a while. Make sure it is good and soapy. Works on wooden steps and porches too.
We have pressure treated wood for a ramp and front deck. So when it snows I just use the shovel, and sometimes I need to put salt on it to help scrap it.
Use the Sandpaper like Shingles. The kinds the roofers use. It's pretty much waterproof, inexpensive and can be purchased by the smaller boxes. If your friends can come back and put a simple cover over the ramp, that might be your best bet.
The most important issue when building a wheelchair ramp is to make sure that the incline gradient is not too steep. Remember that ADA guidelines require that the ramp has at least a 1:12 gradient, meaning that for every inch of height, the ramp should have at least 12 inches of length. If you live in a snowy or icy area, the length of the ramp should be even longer.
I have a pressure treated wheelchair ramp...that iced up today...can I use salt or what can I use to stop the ice..
I use salt and it doesn't hurt the pressure treated one that we have for my husband. I was recently told to put a heat tape like the ones used for water pipe applied to the underside of the ramp to keep it warm enough for the salt to work effectively.
