Results 1 to 13 of 13

Thread: Threshold for new concrete on existing concrete

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Chico in Superior California
    Posts
    37

    Threshold for new concrete on existing concrete

    I need to build a ramp to over come a 5" step into the shop. This will enable me to ride my mobility scooter in to the shop. The issue is how to deal with the concrete when it tapers off to 0 at the low end of the ramp where it meets an existing concrete path. Are there metal thresholds on the market? Not excited on cutting space on existing.
    Bill

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Michiana
    Posts
    3,040
    Good morning Bill -

    I work in the building products industry and have to deal with ADA and accessibility issues periodically. Do a Google search for "ADA Threshold Ramp" and you'll be amazed at the breadth of products available. Most are aluminum or molded rubber. There are all types available that allow for the smooth transition from one elevation to another.

    - Rob
    Sharp solves all manner of problems.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2021
    Location
    Mid West and North East USA
    Posts
    2,796
    Blog Entries
    2
    Concrete patching mortar with acrylic bonding adhesive painted on the old concrete and mixed into the patching mortar can be feathered down to zero. It works fairly well. Epoxy grout it also available. It is vary permanent. For wood ramps I use 1/8 inch thick X 6 inch wide steel flat bar to transition from a rabbit in the 3/4 inch wood down to the concrete.
    Best Regards, Maurice

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    SE PA - Central Bucks County
    Posts
    65,638
    Honestly, without physically removing a section of walkway to tie in a newly poured concrete ramp, I'd use another material for this application, such as what Rob mentions. Any kind of "feathering to nothing" is going to present a challenge, even with materials like Maurice mentions. A ramp added on top of existing will look better and be less likely to break apart at the low end where the ramp meets the existing walkway. For a permanent solution, I'd definitely cut out a section of walkway and pour in a ramp to match using normal techniques to tie the new into the old including an expansion joint with rebar pins between the sections.
    --

    The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Collegeville PA (30 min west of Philly)
    Posts
    1,143
    Blog Entries
    1
    My mother recently progressed to needing a ramp on concrete steps at their house and went with the aluminum approach and has been very happy with it. Very solid, doesn't rust, looks nice etc.
    - Bob R.
    Collegeville PA (30 minutes west of Philly)

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2021
    Location
    Mid West and North East USA
    Posts
    2,796
    Blog Entries
    2
    +1 for aluminum, steel, or wood. Unless you have a good concrete guy or like to do concrete yourself.
    Best Regards, Maurice

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Location
    Central North Carolina
    Posts
    1,830
    I have a handicapped adult son who weighs 300 lbs and his heavy duty electric wheelchair to contend with here. We have the aluminum ramps of different sizes for all of our transition problems. They have been working fine for him for about 5 years now. The largest transition height is 8" high, and he manages fine with a ramp that is about 30" long. Because of his and chair combined weights, this ramp has bent up sides 2" high to add strength to it. The ones for house to porch, etc are just flat aluminum with slight transition bends so the ends lay flat on the two floor levels. I anchored the big high transition ramp in place by drilling into the edge of the high floor and dropping toilet flange bolts through the ramp holes and into these holes. They aren't threaded in, just used as pins with large flat heads. This makes it easy to remove and replace the ramp when needed and it has stayed in place well. Before the aluminum ramps I had build wooden ramps, but they didn't work all that well. The aluminum ramps have proven to be a far better choice.

    Charley

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Tampa Bay, FL
    Posts
    3,885
    I happened to look into this a few years ago when I bought a ramp to gain access to my raised access floor in my workshop to move in large machines (which we wound up doing by forklift, but that's another story).

    I believe the ADA requirements are for no more than a 1:12 slope (about 5 degrees of incline) which is very shallow and therefore long. Now Charles' son successfully navigates on a much steeper slope, so this is obviously a very conservative slope. If you don't need to get any zoning approval, you could, of course, choose whatever works for the area. A 5' long slope, which would be called for for your 5" step, is quite long for many areas. Mine by code would have required 18', which would have been a total non-starter.

    And I agree that aluminum or steel would be best for your situation.
    - After I ask a stranger if I can pet their dog and they say yes, I like to respond, "I'll keep that in mind" and walk off
    - It's above my pay grade. Mongo only pawn in game of life.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Northeastern OK
    Posts
    301
    I suspect ADA slope requirements are based on manual wheelchairs and limited mobility walkers, not powered mobility devices.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Chico in Superior California
    Posts
    37
    Thanks all, went with a 35" x 5' aluminum ramp from Allegro Medical Sales.
    Bill

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Michiana
    Posts
    3,040
    Glad to hear it worked out for you.
    Sharp solves all manner of problems.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    SE PA - Central Bucks County
    Posts
    65,638
    Quote Originally Posted by Bill Gebhardt View Post
    Thanks all, went with a 35" x 5' aluminum ramp from Allegro Medical Sales.
    Bill
    That was likely a very good choice for this application...designed for the task for sure.
    --

    The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Tampa Bay, FL
    Posts
    3,885
    Sounds like a great choice. Does it work out well for you with your mobility scooter?
    - After I ask a stranger if I can pet their dog and they say yes, I like to respond, "I'll keep that in mind" and walk off
    - It's above my pay grade. Mongo only pawn in game of life.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •