Unique request today. A neighbor (good neighbor, not my evil one) is wondering if he can use some tools to build a ramp for his dog. He “rescues” Irish Wolfhounds, and so he has some with bad hips, etc. The ramp will get them up his 4 front steps.
Any features y’all can think of that would make it more useful? I suggested cleats, but he already had an outdoor carpet with deep grooves that’ll serve the same purpose. He’s adding a side rail for dog’s safety, but making it 2.5′ high in case a person wants to use the ramp, too. Won’t slope sufficient for wheelchair though.
Anything else?
Replies
milk bones at the top??
Eric
I Love A Hand That Meets My Own,
With A Hold That Causes Some Sensation.
Jim,
Bevel top and bottom to avoid a lip with the concrete or deck.
If CDX or dimensional lumber, maybe paint on a coat of epoxy (West Systems, or System Three) to seal it up. So there is not so much shrink and swell.
If epoxying and you want to be really trick about it, sprinkle on very fine sand for a no-slip surface. A flour shifter is a nice way to dispense the sand evenly.
Intermediate beveled shims off of the steps below with reduce the bounce if a person or wheelbarrow go up it.
He must have a VERY large doggy door!
Cool!Thanks.
I built a ramp for a friend's elderly (21 years old) kitty one time, so the cat could get up on the bed. It was too old to jump up there anymore. The ramp was nothing more than a length of plywood with some carpeting stapled on top, to give Mr. Kitty some traction (he'd walk up the ramp but when he went down, he'd slide on his butt down to the floor. it was pretty funny.)
You may or may not need a railing, but at least nail a strip of wood along each edge (a piece of 2x, maybe.) It will help the dogs guide their way up and down the ramp, particularly if they don't see very well any more.
I made such a ramp for my Mom's old dog. I just used plywood with some 2x4 joists. I also put on some anti-slip padding designed for throw rugs. The padding had an open weave so it wouldn't hold water and get all mildewy. I secured it about every 12 inches with staples under a small cleat.
Make it good and solid. A shaky ramp is not only scary, it makes it harder for weak, shaky legs.
Probably not an issue with 4 steps, but on a long ramp you should have some level areas every so often. Even when not in a W/C, it helps to have a flat, steady place to rest every now and then.
Rather than a ramp, it's possible that shallow steps (maybe 3-4 inches) would work out better. Would depend on the dog, I suppose.