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Ramps are a simple, easy upgrade for your home. Our range of ramps can be used to gain access to raised thresholds for outdoor living spaces, internal entrances from a garage into a home, front doorways and more.
Ramps can be used to make existing homes easier to navigate and are ideal for users of wheelchairs, scooters, walkers and other mobility aids and even prams and strollers. Bunnings has a wide range of ramps available, allowing you to choose the right ramp for your home and the person who will be using it.
Portable ramps are also great for renters as they can be non-permanent and can be retrofitted to a home.
Before choosing the right ramp for your home, it’s important to measure the area where it will go to create the perfect fit. This includes looking at floor levels, door widths and of course, the dimensions of any mobility aids you will be using. Standard door widths of 850mm are usually not wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair.
Consider also if the ramp needs to be portable or if it will be fixed in place permanently. If the user is hoping to stay in their home for many years, it’s important to look at longevity of any ramps and ensure that they will last well.
Generally, wheelchairs will need a minimum clear width of 1000mm for a straight ramp. If the ramp includes a change of direction, the width at the turning point must increase depending on the angle of the turn.
When choosing ramps, you should consider the slope of a chosen ramp, especially if you have wheelchair users. The guiding principle behind ramp gradients is that the longer the ramp, the more gradual the slope should be so that wheelchairs users can maintain sufficient momentum to reach the top of the ramp.
Generally, Australian Standards dictate that 1:14 is the maximum gradient for a ramp. A steeper gradient of up to 1:10 is permitted if the ramp is relatively short (a maximum of 1900mm long and 190mm high).
For other mobility users, such as walkers or people using crutches or walking sticks, you might also like to consider whether you should install a temporary or permanent handrail to accompany the ramp.
Safety issues are key with any mobility aid, especially if the user will be moving around their home by themselves. Make sure any ramp has a non-slip surface, and will support the size and weight of the user, noting if they are in a heavy wheelchair.
Take time to consider who is using the ramp and what their access needs are. Sometimes ramps might only be necessary for the front or rear entrance of a house, or if there are a lot of stairs, depending on the mobility of the user. They might also be a consideration if the floor surface is slippery or difficult to manoeuvre for certain mobility aids.
It is also useful to think about the areas in the home that are used the most, such as a kitchen, bathroom, or living area and concentrate on making them accessible first, moving to other areas such as bedrooms when necessary.
Take a look at the wide range of ramps available at Bunnings, from simple quick-fixes to long-lasting accessibility-enhancers.
Asbestos, lead-based paints and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber are health hazards you need to look out for when renovating older homes. These substances can easily be disturbed when renovating and exposure to them can cause a range of life-threatening diseases and conditions including cancer. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer or visit our Health & Safety page.
When following our advice in our D.I.Y. videos, make sure you use all equipment, including PPE, safely by following the manufacturer’s instructions. Check that the equipment is suitable for the task and that PPE fits properly. If you are unsure, hire an expert to do the job or talk to a Bunnings Team Member.
