D I Y Shed Ramp--3 Tips To Building It Right
If you've either bought or built a storage shed to protect your riding lawn mower and other equipment, you're going to need a DIY shed ramp to facilitate moving your stuff in and out without damaging your gear.
You are going to need a ramp for any shed on your property in which you plan to store some type of vehicle or if the shed's foundation lifts the structure 12 inches or more above the ground.
In addition to making it easy for you to move equipment in and out, a ramp's gentle incline is a benefit to you because it creates a comfortable walkway.
Overall, a shed ramp will provide a safe and easy means to get the best use out of your shed.
It is important to construct your ramp correctly because with poor construction
You'll have difficulty rolling bigger equipment in and out
Your ramp will become slick when wet
The structure could fail to support heavier equipment.
Here are these three key points to remember when building a ramp for your shed
1) Use 3/4-inch pressure treated plywood for the ramp surface, then add a non-skid surface on top. This will prevent you from slipping when the ramp is wet.
Regular plywood will allow algae to grow on the ramp surface. When wet, you can fall very easily on this slick-as-grease surface. Also your riding lawn mower could slide off the ramp and tumble on its side. In either instance, you're prone to a serious injury.
2) Build your ramp so it has a three-inches-per-vertical foot incline
This ramp requires a gentle slope. If it's steeper than three inches per vertical foot, your riding lawn mower and other low-clearance equipment will bottom-out on the shed entrance.
3) Use at least four-inch-square pressure-treated beams set no more than a foot apart when constructing the ramp's framework. Then add your pressure treated plywood to create the ramp's surface
You must build your ramp so it is strong enough to support your weight along with your heaviest pieces of equipment. A huge man atop a lawn tractor can stress a fragile ramp to the point where bows in the middle or collapses completely.
Of course, you have the option of installing a metal ramp. But, they're pricy. And a properly constructed DIY shed ramp built out of wood can be every bit as safe and effective as a metal product.
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