Mower Ramp
Mower Ramp A mower's dolly is used to transport a refrigerator up a ramp into a house. The refrigerator has a mass... A mower's dolly is used to transport a refrigerator up a ramp into a house. T...
Mower Ramp
DIY Shed Ramps -
You just finished building your own shed and are ready to start putting all your "stuff" inside. But now you realize that you never even thought about how you were going to get that riding lawnmower in the shed. You have gone back online and found some DIY Shed Ramps that will work perfectly. Through your research you found out some important information about building your shed ramp.
If the ramp is not built correctly, it could collapse under heavy weight and if the incline is too steep will be very slippery to walk on when wet or icy. The incline should be at a rate of 3" per vertical foot. On top of being slippery and dangerous to walk on, if the ramp is too steep, if you have a riding lawnmower with a belly blade, the blade could get hung on the entrance to the shed, no only damaging your mower but the entrance to your shed.
If you are in a wet climate, whether it is cold or hot, algae can build up on the ramp. This is dangerous enough for you to walk on, but if you are carrying tools or equipment or driving your lawnmower or ATV up this slippery ramp, you could get hurt or your equipment could slip off the ramp which could be cause a serious injury and damage to your equipment.
I can't stress enough how important it is to have enough slope on your ramp. Just as important as the slope is you want it to be sturdy enough to hold the weight of a heavy man and the weight of a riding lawn mower. If the shed ramp is not built sturdy enough to hold this weight, it could collapse.
Even if you don't have a riding mower, you should at least use 4" x 4" pressure treated wood and space them 12" apart for the framing. For the deck surface, use 3/4" pressure treated plywood. On your ramp surface, it is wise to use a non-skid paint or a type of rubber matting that can be securely attached. This will definitely lessen your chances of slipping and hurting yourself.
Another option, but an expensive option is pre-built metal shed ramps. DIY shed ramps can be just as safe and sturdy as metal shed ramps, if they are constructed properly.
As with any DIY project, it is always better to start with a set of plans. By having a good set of plans, you will know exactly what you need to do to ensure your shed ramps are built sturdy.
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About the Author
I am the wife of a "Handy Man" and sometimes even his helper. We have saved so much money over the years because he was able to "fix it or build it" himself.
Being a handy man doesn't come naturally for everyone, but you can still tackle some of these projects if you have a good set of plans and detailed instructions.