Ridgewood, Bergen County
Wheelchair Ramp Installation in Ridgewood, NJ
A wheelchair ramp in Ridgewood, NJ has to deal with raised foundations, porches and tight front paths. A ramp, a lift or a side entry can get you in without the steps.
Your house in Ridgewood
- A porch with several stepsA rise this high needs a long ramp, or a lift where space is tight.
- A back door at ground levelSome older houses have a nearly level rear entry that makes a short ramp possible.
- You want a ramp that suits the houseWood with matching rails can look built for the porch.
- A temporary need after surgeryA modular aluminum ramp can come out when it is no longer needed.
Questions people ask
Can a ramp be built around an existing Ridgewood porch?
Often. It can wrap around a corner or follow the porch front, though it must keep clear landings at each turn.
Is a lift a better choice than a very long ramp?
On a short or crowded lot it can be. A porch lift takes much less space, but has moving parts and needs power and upkeep.
How much does a wheelchair ramp cost in Ridgewood, NJ?
Cost follows the rise, the length, the material and the number of turns. A short modular ramp costs less than a long wood one with landings. Ask for the quote to list the landings, rails and the finish.
Can I get a ramp as a renter or in a shared building?
You need the owner's written permission first. A modular ramp that bolts on and comes off again is easier to agree to.
Wheelchair ramps in Ridgewood
An older house often stands higher off the ground than a modern one, with a raised foundation and often a porch that adds more steps. Many front paths in Ridgewood lead up through two or three treads, a porch floor and a threshold lip. For a wheelchair that is a barrier, and the ramp has to take in the full rise from path to door.
Length drives everything. At the standard 1 to 12 slope, a rise of thirty inches calls for thirty feet of ramp, which may not fit in front of a Ridgewood house without turning. Designers sometimes wrap a ramp around the porch or run it along the side of the house to a rear or side door, where the grade is lower. A porch lift is the alternative where space is short.
The look of the house matters here, and wood ramps with matching railings and painted skirts blend in far better than bare aluminum. Owners hold 82.5% of Ridgewood homes, so the decision is often the household's, though a new ramp should be confirmed with the town.
Source: Census Bureau, owners and renters
The permit point
A new ramp is not on the New Jersey list of ordinary maintenance, so confirm the position with the Ridgewood construction office before building.
Wheelchair ramp length for a Ridgewood, NJ porch
Everything starts with one number: the height from the ground to the door threshold. Measure it at the door, not at the bottom step. A porch with three treads and a threshold lip may rise 24 to 36 inches.
At 1:12, each inch of rise needs a foot of ramp. So 30 inches takes 30 feet, plus landings. The Access Board's reference calls for at least 36 inches of clear width between handrails, level landings at the top and bottom of each run, and handrails on both sides when the rise is over 6 inches. It recommends gentler slopes outdoors.
Source: U.S. Access Board
Put the number on a sketch of your lot before you call. It lets a contractor tell you quickly whether the ramp fits.
Our 100% Guarantee
- Asking is free. It never commits you to anything.
- We charge you no fee for planning or the introduction.
- You pay only the contractor you choose, at their written price.
- Your $100 credit is honored on your first booked project.
- Not happy with an introduction? Say so, and we will find you another at no charge.
Small print: This guarantee covers our planning and introduction service. The contractor's work is covered by your contract with them. Offer terms. Guarantee terms.
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Modular or permanent: which suits a Ridgewood house
A modular ramp is made of aluminum sections that bolt together. It goes up fast and can come off again. It suits a short need, a rented unit, or a household that wants to try a layout. Plain aluminum looks plain, so ask about decking and rail choices.
A permanent ramp is built of wood or concrete to suit the house. It can match the porch trim and be painted. With 79.0% of Ridgewood homes detached and many porches with detail, a built ramp often looks right on a house that will stay in the family.
Source: Census Bureau, home types
Not sure which? Think about how long the need will last, and what you would want the front of the house to look like in five years.
Home entry ramp options when the lot is tight
If the straight run is too long, you have choices. A ramp can turn at a landing, wrap around a porch, or run along the side to a back door where the ground is higher and the rise smaller.
A vertical porch lift takes far less room. It has moving parts and needs power and upkeep, and it needs to be sheltered from weather. For two or three steps, though, it may be the only thing that fits between a house and a property line.
Look at every door. A rear or garage door is sometimes only one or two steps up, and a short ramp there leaves the front of the house untouched. Our wheelchair ramps page shows the layouts in more detail.
Permit and the next step
New Jersey's maintenance list names the repair of an existing stoop or porch in identical materials, but not a new ramp. So check with the Ridgewood construction office before anything is built, and ask your contractor to confirm in writing who files. Read our overview of permits for home modifications first.
Source: NJ Administrative Code
If entry is not the only barrier, look at the other changes for Ridgewood homes. Entry is the first barrier, so book the visit through the form and claim $100 off your first project.
Handrails, edges and winter on a Ridgewood ramp
A ramp is a surface people cross in rain and ice, so details matter. The Access Board's reference calls for handrails on both sides of any ramp, running the full length of each run. A raised edge keeps a wheel from slipping off the side. A non-slip surface helps in wet weather.
Plan where the snow goes. A ramp that faces north may stay icy, and a ramp with a cover or a heat mat may be worth pricing. Rails that are easy to grip also help someone who walks the ramp instead of rolling it, so the same job helps a walker user. See grab bars and handrails in Ridgewood for rail finishes that suit an older house.
Ready to plan it?
$100 off your first project. Call or send a request.