Skip to content
  • 800-876-7267
  • About Us
  • News
  • Blog
  • Knowledge Base
    • Yard Ramps
    • Non Slip Stair Treads
    • Threshold Ramps
    • ADA Guides
  • Shipping and Returns
HandiRampHandiRamp
  • Login
  • 0
    • No products in the cart.

  • Shop
    • Threshold Ramps
    • Portable Wheelchair Ramps
    • Handi-Treads
    • Wheelchair Van Ramps
    • Commercial Van Ramps
    • Commercial and Industrial Products
    • Curb Ramps
    • Disability and Accessibility
    • Pet Products
  • Accessibility Products
    • Threshold Ramps
      • Portable Wheelchair Ramps
      • Modular Ramps
      • Handrails
      • Galvanized Access Ramps
      • Aluminum Sectional Ramps
      • Concrete Deck Ramps
    • Horse Mounting Ramp
      • Track Ramps
      • Wheelchair & Scooter Lifts
      • Grab Bars
    • Hitch Mounted Carriers for Scooters & Wheelchairs
      • Handi-Ramp® Van Ramps for Wheelchair and Cargo Access
      • Curb Ramps
      • Temporary Sidewalk Replacement Kit
      • Custom Ramps
  • Home Products
    • Handi Treads® Aluminum Non Slip Stair Treads, Nosings, Strips, And Pads
      • Home Slip and Fall Prevention
      • Puppy Treads
      • People Treads
      • Window Well Art
      • Custom Ramps
    • Pet Ramps
      • PetSTEP Folding Ramp
      • HalfSTEP by PetSTEP
      • Aluminum Pet Ramps
      • Hitch Step
  • Commercial Products
    • Yard Ramps
      • Used Yard Ramps
      • Yard Ramp Rentals
      • Fracking Ramps
      • Plant Safety Products
      • Portable Delivery Ramps
      • Aluminum Walk Ramp
      • Loading Ramps and Loading Ramp Systems
      • Channel Ramp
    • Dock Equipment
      • Dock Boards
      • Dock Plates
      • Rail Boards
      • Dock Levelers
      • Dock Bumpers
      • Portable Loading Platform
      • Hand Lift Truck
      • Wheel Risers
      • Hose, Pipe & Cable Protector Ramps
    • Car Ramps
      • Commercial Van Ramps
      • Sprinter Van Ramp
      • ATV Loading Ramps
      • Motorcycle Ramps
      • Pick-Up Truck Ramp
      • Lawn & Equipment
      • Ambulance Ramps Systems
      • Wheel Chocks
      • Custom Ramps
    • Nonslip Stair Treads
  • Recreational Products
    • ATV Ramps
    • Motorcycle Ramps
    • Pet Ramps
    • Segway Ramps
    • Marina Boat and Pier Ramps
    • Snowmobile Ramps
    • Custom Ramps
  • Contact Us
  • 0
    • No products in the cart.


HandiRamp  >  Blog  >  Accessibility  >  7 Reasons Why Aluminum Ramps are Better Than Wood
Accessibility, Safety

7 Reasons Why Aluminum Ramps are Better Than Wood

Posted on June 19, 2013January 25, 2018 by Greg

When choosing to have a permanent ramp installed at your home or business, there are two main options for the ramp’s material: wood and aluminum. Despite wood ramps being less expensive than those made from aluminum, the durability, practicality, and simplicity of an aluminum ramp make it well worth the extra cost.

Wood Ramp vs. Aluminum – Pros and Cons

At the surface, there may not seem to be much of a difference – but there is. Of course, everyone wants to save money, but as the saying goes, “you get what you pay for.” In this case, wood is (and should be) a short term solution, one that comes with yearly hidden fees, hassles, and wasted time. Simply put, a wooden ramp may save you some money in the short-term (emphasis on “might”), but the recurring costs and replacement fees will always make an aluminum ramp the better long-term investment.

 

Reason 1: Cost

While the building materials themselves may be cheaper, a prospective ramp buyer also has to consider the cost of building a wooden ramp from scratch. The cost of a contracted ramp is typically $1,600 to $3,200 (Source: NC State University Brochure). Those kinds of significant, additional costs can quickly outweigh the money saved by buying a wood ramp, sometimes even making aluminum ramps cheaper than wood.

Reason 2: Ramp must be maintained

As mentioned above, wood ramps come with hidden, yearly fees.  The ramp needs to be pressure-treated and painted each year as the wood decays, even with treated wood. You’ll also have to be on the lookout for termites, weather-related damage, and splinters.

Reason 3: Wood is not Non Slip

When it rains, wood has a tendency to become very slippery, even in warmer climates.  Can you imagine moving a wheelchair down a wet, wooden ramp without any kind of traction in the snow, ice, or rain? It’s a dangerous situation that could result in serious injuries. To help with the slippery surface, you could install HandiTreads along the surface of the ramp. This, however, would result in additional costs beyond the building and materials for the wood ramp.

Aluminum ramps can be custom-made for wet conditions. There are a variety of wheelchair ramps with different non- slip surfaces.  Many of the aluminum ramps have a non slip raised button surface that is excellent for preventing a wheelchair from slipping down the ramp. Handi-Ramp carries a variety of portable wheelchair ramps, all with a black rubber non slip surface standard.  The same non slip surface can be applied to permanent ramps to aid in traction.

Reason 4: Concrete Footings

Before installing a ramp the first step is digging a hole and installing concrete footings. The posts of the ramp must be dug below the frost line so that the ramp is stable and sturdy.  Many hardware stores sell a bag of concrete for $4, but unless you’re a handyman, you’ll need to hire a company which could be costly.  Aluminum ramps do not need concrete footings but instead rely on their own welded parts.

Reason 5: Building Permits

Where ever you live, the city will require a permit for building the ramp.  This requires a trip to the town hall to fill out a permit application (along with a processing fee), then waiting for the permit to be issued. Finding extra time in your schedule can be tricky especially if you are working.  Sometimes the city officials can also give you a hard time about the contractor doing the work.  They may have their own history with the contractor, and not look kindly on the company doing work on their local residences or businesses.

Reason 6: Inspections

Once the ramp is finished, an inspector needs to check the level of the ramp and that construction has been done correctly. Inspections can be a real inconvenience. Oftentimes this will result in work needing to be redone, placing the burden of the extra cost on you if the contractor made a mistake during the process.

Reason 7: Ramp cannot be stored

Once the ramp is up, it is up. There is no taking it down for the winter, or removing it for protection from weather or other damage. The wooden ramp will get exposed to the elements and will deteriorate faster – even if pressure-cleaned and pretreated.

Save yourself  Time, Money and Hassle, Buy an Aluminum Ramp

As they say, time is money, and in this case, in addition to the cost of the wooden ramp and the rest of the hassle, buying a wooden, permanent ramp is simply a worse investment than buying aluminum.  Having a non-slip ramp that can withstand the elements and be able to be taken down if need be is a great benefit.

Do you have any experiences with wooden ramps not lasting as long as they should have?  Leave a comment and share your story.

For more information on our accessibility products give us a call at 800-876-RAMP in Libertyville, IL.

This entry was posted in Accessibility, Safety and tagged aluminum ramp, cost of wooden ramp, IL, Libertyville, maintainence of wooden ramp, slippery wood, wood ramps require building permits and inspections, wooden ramp.
Greg

Make Your House a Home with Improved Safety
Products of the Past, Innovations for the Future

4 thoughts on “7 Reasons Why Aluminum Ramps are Better Than Wood”

  1. Tyler Johnson says:

    That’s a good point that wood could get pretty slippery when it rains. I could see how you could add texture to the aluminum ramp to make it have a lot more grip when a storm comes through. My friend was recently injured and will be in a wheelchair from now on, so I’ll have to recommend that he looks into aluminum ramps.

    October 2, 2020 at 9:32 AM
    Reply
  2. Taylor Wright says:

    It’s good to know that the ramps could be cheaper. My aunt is in need of a ramp for your house. I’ll be sure to use these tips to get her an aluminum ramp.

    January 6, 2020 at 9:36 AM
    Reply
  3. Duncan Lance says:

    There is a lot to take into consideration when choosing between a wooden or aluminum ramp. As the article points out though, there are several factors that make aluminum the superior choice. For example, wood will rot overtime and need constant repairs whereas aluminum will not.

    August 2, 2018 at 6:30 PM
    Reply
  4. Margaux Ford says:

    Thanks for the information on the benefits of having an aluminum ramp because they can be custom-made for wet conditions, and have a variety of different non- slip surfaces. My dad is planning on installing a wheelchair ramp at my grandparents home so it would be convenient for them. I think that it would help if I will share this article with my dad so he’ll consider on installing an aluminum ramp. It’s good to know that many of the aluminum ramps have a non-slip raised button surface that is excellent for preventing a wheelchair from slipping down the ramp. Thanks for the tips!

    March 16, 2018 at 5:19 PM
    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Contact Handi-Ramp
800-876-7267 Chat With Us Ask a Question
Recommended Products
Portable Ramps Threshold Ramps
Shop Now
  • Commercial and Industrial Products
  • Disability and Accessibility
  • Home Products
  • Pet Products
  • Recreational Products
  • Uncategorized
Blog Categories
  • Accessibility
  • Material Handling
  • Overview
  • Safety
  • Uncategorized

Call Monday – Friday
800-876-7267
7 AM to 7 PM

(Central Time)


Email
info@handiramp.com

Use Our Contact Form
About


World's Oldest Ramp Manufacturer - Since 1958

Handi-Ramp
5600 99th Ave, Unit A
Kenosha, WI 53144
Phone: 800-876-7267
Fax: 847-816-8866

Customer Care

Handi-Ramp® products are available across North and Central America including Alaska, Hawaii, Canada and Puerto Rico.

Call us at
(800) 876-RAMP
to discuss your specific needs.

Company
Badge Accredited Business

Shipping Options

Free Shipping* on Select Products!

*An additional shipping charge will be added for orders outside of the contiguous United States.

International customers are responsible for paying applicable duties, brokerage fees and taxes after order is placed.

View Our Shipping Policy

800-876-7267
  • Welcome to Handi-Ramp®
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • My Account
  • Privacy Policy & TOS
  • Shipping and Return Policies
  • Careers
  • News
  • Blog
  • Sitemap
© 2020 Handi-Ramp. All rights reserved. Website assembled by Internet Engine.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
  • Shop
    • Threshold Ramps
    • Portable Wheelchair Ramps
    • Handi-Treads
    • Wheelchair Van Ramps
    • Commercial Van Ramps
    • Commercial and Industrial Products
    • Curb Ramps
    • Disability and Accessibility
    • Pet Products
  • Accessibility Products
    • Threshold Ramps
      • Portable Wheelchair Ramps
      • Modular Ramps
      • Handrails
      • Galvanized Access Ramps
      • Aluminum Sectional Ramps
      • Concrete Deck Ramps
    • Horse Mounting Ramp
      • Track Ramps
      • Wheelchair & Scooter Lifts
      • Grab Bars
    • Hitch Mounted Carriers for Scooters & Wheelchairs
      • Handi-Ramp® Van Ramps for Wheelchair and Cargo Access
      • Curb Ramps
      • Temporary Sidewalk Replacement Kit
      • Custom Ramps
  • Home Products
    • Handi Treads® Aluminum Non Slip Stair Treads, Nosings, Strips, And Pads
      • Home Slip and Fall Prevention
      • Puppy Treads
      • People Treads
      • Window Well Art
      • Custom Ramps
    • Pet Ramps
      • PetSTEP Folding Ramp
      • HalfSTEP by PetSTEP
      • Aluminum Pet Ramps
      • Hitch Step
  • Commercial Products
    • Yard Ramps
      • Used Yard Ramps
      • Yard Ramp Rentals
      • Fracking Ramps
      • Plant Safety Products
      • Portable Delivery Ramps
      • Aluminum Walk Ramp
      • Loading Ramps and Loading Ramp Systems
      • Channel Ramp
    • Dock Equipment
      • Dock Boards
      • Dock Plates
      • Rail Boards
      • Dock Levelers
      • Dock Bumpers
      • Portable Loading Platform
      • Hand Lift Truck
      • Wheel Risers
      • Hose, Pipe & Cable Protector Ramps
    • Car Ramps
      • Commercial Van Ramps
      • Sprinter Van Ramp
      • ATV Loading Ramps
      • Motorcycle Ramps
      • Pick-Up Truck Ramp
      • Lawn & Equipment
      • Ambulance Ramps Systems
      • Wheel Chocks
      • Custom Ramps
    • Nonslip Stair Treads
  • Recreational Products
    • ATV Ramps
    • Motorcycle Ramps
    • Pet Ramps
    • Segway Ramps
    • Marina Boat and Pier Ramps
    • Snowmobile Ramps
    • Custom Ramps
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • News
  • Blog
  • Knowledge Base
    • Yard Ramps
    • Non Slip Stair Treads
    • Threshold Ramps
    • ADA Guides
  • Shipping and Returns
  • Login