Even if you are not the handiest of handymen (or women), you can build wheelchair ramp. If you work on it one step at a time, you'll soon have a fully functional and safe wheelchair ramp that can help your friends or family members in a wheelchair get into your home, vehicle, or other places where there is uneven land.

If you need to build a wheelchair ramp to help someone get up and down stairs into their home, these are the steps you'll need to follow:

1) Measure. To figure out how long of a wheelchair ramp you need, you need to know the total “rise” of your incline. Most people would think that measuring from the ground to the height of the top step would be enough to determine the rise, but the total rise is actually found by determining the difference between the height of the top step, and the ground where the ramp will be. When you get the figure of the “rise”, round it to the nearest whole number to determine the required length of your wheelchair ramp.

2) Lay out posts every five to seven feet on either side of your steps, and set them into concrete as they become the supports for the ramp. Make sure you select wood that is designed for burial under ground.

3) Use a chalk line at the top of the steps and snap a straight line to the bottom where the ramp will go. Measure 1and 1/2 inches from the top of the frame.

4) Cut and notch the 2x6 joists to fit the top and bottom. These will hold your decking for the ramp into place.

5) Place 2x4's in between each of the posts in order to support the middle joist. Use vertical blocks beneath each joist in order to support them before lying the deck boards and screwing with galvanized screws. Be sure to keep it sturdy by fulling screwing in each piece of decking.

6) Measure up 34 1/2 inches above the deck boards and mark a line on your posts for your handrail. This will put the handrail at a standard height of 36 inches, as the decking should be about an inch and a half above the ground. Cut them off at the same slope as your wheelchair ramp. The handrail should be at least an inche and a half all around for easy gripping, and to allow someone in a wheelchair to pull themself up the ramp. Attach the handrail with hardwood spacers, and be sure it is secure.

Of course, wheelchair ramps are typically built to accommodate wheelchairs, but they also work well for pushing baby strollers. They eliminate the need for taking the baby out of a stroller, dragging the stoller up steps or over a rocky hill, and then putting the baby back into the stroller again at the top Ramps add to the resale value of your home, provided they are installed properly. Check with the Americans with Disabilities act to be sure that you are meeting their code standards for your ramp, including keeping the slope of the ramp within an inch rise for every 12 inches in length.

In order to get longevity out of your wheelchair ramp, make sure you build using pressure treated lumber. This will prevent it from rotting. You can use a deck stain to further protect the ramp's wood Check with your local building department, as they may require you to have special permits for building a wheelchair ramp.