Custom wood wheelchair ramps in Killeen
A wood ramp is built to fit your porch and can look like part of the house. It's the permanent option many homeowners and veterans choose. Here's how they're built and how to keep one safe.
Get a wood ramp quoteOr call (254) 276-5132
Wood ramps at a glance
- Built on site to fit your porch and yard
- Can match the look of the house
- Permanent, which suits VA HISA funding
- Needs sealing every few years
National guides commonly put professionally built wood ramps at $2,000 to $10,000 or more.
How a wood ramp is built
A wood ramp is framed on site from pressure-treated lumber, with posts set in the ground or on concrete footings, a deck surface, and handrails. The builder designs it around your porch, so it can follow the lines of the house, wrap around a corner, or tie into an existing deck. Most home wood ramps take two to four days to build, depending on length and turns.
Because it's attached to the house and set on footings, a wood ramp is a permanent structure. That's a drawback if you may move soon, and an advantage if you want the ramp to look like part of the home.
When wood is the right choice
- You own the home and plan to stay. A permanent ramp makes sense when the need is long term.
- Appearance matters. A wood ramp can be painted or stained to match the house, and some HOAs prefer it at the front entrance.
- Your entrance has an unusual layout. Custom framing can handle angles, grade changes, and tight spaces that standard aluminum sections don't fit well.
- You're using a VA HISA grant. HISA covers permanent ramping to the home and excludes portable ramps, so a permanent wood ramp is the straightforward fit. Read how HISA works.
Keeping a wood ramp safe in Central Texas
Wood needs more care than aluminum, and Central Texas weather is part of the reason: long hot summers dry and crack boards, and heavy spring storms soak them. To keep a wood ramp safe:
- Seal or stain it every two to three years, and after any major repairs.
- Use a slip-resistant coating or grip strips, especially where the ramp gets wet.
- Check each spring for loose boards, raised nails or screws, and wobbling handrails.
- Keep leaves and mud off the surface, since wet debris is a common slip hazard.
What a good wood ramp includes
Whoever builds it, a safe ramp should follow the same guidelines used for public ramps: a slope no steeper than 1:12, at least 36 inches of clear width, a flat landing at least 5 feet long at the door and after every 30 inches of rise, and handrails on both sides. Ask the builder to confirm these in writing. Use the calculator to check the length your entrance needs, and see what affects the price.
Wood ramp questions
How long does a wood ramp last?
With regular sealing and repairs, a well-built pressure-treated wood ramp can last many years. Skipped maintenance shortens that, especially in hot, wet weather.
Is a wood ramp cheaper than aluminum?
Not usually for short ramps, because wood takes more on-site labor. On long runs the difference can narrow. Get quotes for both if you're unsure.
Will the VA pay for a wood ramp?
The VA's HISA benefit can pay toward a permanent ramp, such as a wood or concrete ramp, when a VA doctor prescribes it. Get approval before work starts.
Do I need a permit for a wood ramp?
Permanent ramps attached to the house are more likely to need a permit than removable ones. Your builder should check with your city.
Request a free ramp estimate
Tell us a little about the entrance and who the ramp is for. A local installer will call you to set up a time to measure. There is no cost for the estimate and no obligation.
Prefer to talk it through? Call (254) 276-5132.
If you plan to use a VA HISA grant, check the box. The installer will know to write the quote in a form you can include with your VA paperwork.