Livingston, Essex County
Wheelchair Ramp Projects for Livingston, NJ House Entries
A wheelchair ramp in Livingston, NJ can make a few steps at the front door stop mattering. Most houses here sit on open lots, so you can often pick the entry that suits you best, not just the one you were given.
Your house in Livingston
- A few steps at the front doorWheelchair, walker or scooter users cannot manage them.
- A garage entry with a stepA short ramp indoors keeps you out of the rain.
- A wide, open lotThere is room for a straight or L-shaped ramp.
- A recovery aheadA modular ramp can go in quickly and come out later.
Questions people ask
Can a ramp go in my Livingston garage?
Often. A step or two between garage and house can take a short ramp. Check the car, the door swing and the landing.
How long is a ramp for two steps?
About 14 feet at a 1:12 slope for a 14-inch rise, plus a level landing at the top and bottom.
Will a ramp hurt my home's value?
A well-built ramp that matches the house is usually easy to live with. A modular ramp can be removed later.
Does a ramp need approval?
New Jersey's maintenance lists do not name a new ramp, so confirm with the construction office.
Wheelchair ramps in Livingston
A few steps at the front door can shut a house to a wheelchair. In Livingston, about 85 percent of housing units are detached and 89 percent of occupied homes are owner-occupied, so most owners have the yard and the authority to open it back up.
Source: Census Bureau, home types and owners and renters
That open yard is the town's advantage. The choice is which door to serve and how long a ramp the lot can take. For the other jobs, see aging in place in Livingston or stairlift installation in Livingston for stairs inside.
Ask the contractor to check the lawn side too. A walk that slopes toward the house can send water to the foot of a ramp. Ask which way the door swings, since a storm door that opens over the top landing is a common snag. It is easier to fix before building than after.
Bring up the garage step as well. A short ramp inside may suit a household that parks there and rarely uses the front door.
The permit point
The state's maintenance list does not include a new ramp, so check with the Livingston construction office before starting.
Wheelchair ramp in Livingston, NJ: ranch and split-level choices
Postwar houses usually have several ways in, and each has a different climb.
- Front door: often two to four steps up from a concrete walk.
- Side or kitchen door: sometimes one or two steps, with the driveway nearby.
- Garage entry: a step or two from the garage floor to the house. A ramp inside the garage keeps you out of the weather.
Measure the rise at each door, from the ground to the finished floor inside. The smallest rise is often the best place for a ramp. If you park in the garage, the garage entry may be the best answer.
Slope math for a ramp at a ranch front step
Say your front stoop is two steps, about 14 inches of rise.
- At the 1:12 reference slope, that is 14 feet of ramp.
- A level landing at the door and at the bottom is needed. The ADA reference calls for landings at least 60 inches long.
- Total footprint is about 20 feet plus the width of the ramp.
Source: U.S. Access Board
Three steps, about 21 inches, means 21 feet. Four steps and more may call for a switchback. The ADA reference also limits any one run to 30 inches of rise.
Livingston lots are usually wide enough for an L-shaped or straight ramp along the front. Be sure it does not cross the sprinkler lines, a window well or the path to the mailbox.
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Handrails, edges and the details that make a ramp safe
The slope is the headline. The details decide whether you feel safe on it.
- Clear width of at least 36 inches between handrails.
- Handrails on both sides when the rise is over 6 inches, continuous through the run.
- Level landings at the top, the bottom and at every turn.
- A curb or edge guard so a wheel cannot drop off the side.
- A non-slip surface that drains water.
Source: U.S. Access Board
These are reference numbers from the Access Board, which does not regulate private homes. Use them as a checklist when you compare quotes.
Rain, snow and a ramp you can trust in every season
A ramp that is fine in July can be slick in January. Ask for a surface made to grip, and think about how water leaves it.
- Choose grit or grooves over smooth boards.
- Slope the ramp slightly across, so water runs off.
- Keep landings level and big enough to stop on.
- Install light at the door, so the ramp is clear at night.
Decide who will clear it. In a household of two older adults, snow removal on a ramp is a real chore, and a service or a neighbor should be lined up before the first storm. A ramp that cannot be cleared will not get used.
Wood, aluminum or concrete for a Livingston entry
Pick the material by how long you will need it.
- Aluminum modular: goes in fast, can be taken apart and reused. Suits recovery.
- Wood: built to match the house and painted. It needs regular upkeep.
- Concrete or paved: the longest lasting, and the biggest project. It suits a permanent need.
VA's HISA benefit covers permanent ramping but excludes portable ramps, so a veteran who wants help should ask before buying a modular ramp. The state's JACC program and Essex County's ramp program may also help qualified residents. Our guide to paying for home modifications covers the choices.
Checking with the Livingston construction office
A new ramp does not appear on either of New Jersey's lists of ordinary maintenance or minor work. Confirm yours with the Livingston construction office before building, and let the contractor file anything that is required. Livingston, like any town with an enforcing agency, may waive permit fees for accessibility work by ordinance. It is optional, so ask. See which home modifications need a permit in New Jersey.
Sources: NJ Administrative Code, NJ Legislature
A Livingston ramp quote starts with the form or a phone call, and your first project carries $100 off.
Wheelchair ramps in nearby towns
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