Wheelchair ramps
Wheelchair ramp installation for NJ homes
Wheelchair ramp installation in NJ gives you a way into the house that does not depend on anyone's help. Describe your entrance, and we will connect you with a local contractor who works out what will fit.
What wheelchair ramps work can include
Modular aluminum ramps
Bolted sections that go in quickly, can be adjusted or moved later and need little upkeep. A good match when the need may change.
Wood-framed ramps
Built on site to match the porch and the yard, with handrails and a surface chosen for grip in rain. A solid choice for a long-term entrance.
Concrete or paved ramps
Permanent, quiet underfoot and sturdy, usually the better answer where the rise is small and there is room to run a long slope.
Threshold and short ramps
A single doorstep or a garage step may only need a short fitted ramp, and it is a small job compared with a full entrance.
Questions people ask
How long does a ramp have to be?
A widely used rule of thumb is one foot of ramp for each inch of rise. A porch 24 inches off the ground therefore needs a ramp around 24 feet long, plus landings. It is a reference, not a legal rule for private homes.
What if my yard is too small for a long ramp?
The ramp can switch back on itself with a level landing at each turn, or a platform lift can replace it. The contractor will tell you which suits the space.
Do I need a handrail?
For anything beyond a very short rise, a handrail on each side adds steadiness and a guard against slipping off the edge. Plan for it from the start.
Can a ramp be taken away later?
Modular aluminum ramps are made to be unbolted and moved. Wood and concrete ramps are permanent, which you should weigh before choosing.
Will insurance or a program pay for a ramp?
Some VA benefits and NJ Medicaid cover ramps for those who qualify, and a medical expense deduction can apply. Medicare does not generally pay. See the funding guide for each program.
What changes the price
- Rise from the ground to the door. Every added inch of height adds ramp length.
- Material, with modular aluminum, wood and concrete each pricing differently.
- Turns and landings, which are needed when the ramp has to fold back on itself.
- Handrails and edge guards on both sides.
- Ground conditions such as slope, drainage or old steps that must come out first.
- Whether a homeowners association or the town needs to approve the plan.
The permit point
The state's lists of ordinary maintenance and minor work do not name a new ramp, so ask the town's construction office before you build. Repairing part of an existing porch or stoop is treated differently from building something new.
Source: NJ Administrative Code
Signs this job fits
- You or a family member now rely on a wheelchair, scooter or walker at the front or back door.
- Getting up the steps needs another person's arm every time.
- A hospital or rehab discharge is coming and the entrance is not ready.
- You want to host family and friends without moving the party to someone else's house.
- A long, shallow slope fits your yard better than a lift would.
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.
Aging in Place NJ · (315) 640-3590
How the job goes
Describe the entrance
Which door you use most, how high it sits above the ground and what the yard looks like. Your wheelchair or scooter size matters too.
The contractor takes measurements
They measure the rise from ground to threshold, the space for the run and the landing, and the condition of the porch the ramp will meet.
Choose a design and get the price in writing
You compare materials and layouts, then receive a written quote. Your first project comes with $100 off.
Build and a test run
After building, the contractor checks the slope, the handrails and the landing, and you try the ramp yourself in your own chair or with your walker.
Wheelchair ramp installation in NJ starts with the rise
Measure from the ground to the top of the threshold. That number, the rise, sets the length of the ramp. The U.S. Access Board uses a maximum slope of 1:12, which means one foot of ramp for every inch of rise. It recommends gentler slopes outdoors.
Source: U.S. Access Board
Here are three worked examples.
- A 6-inch rise, two porch steps, needs about 6 feet of ramp.
- An 18-inch rise needs about 18 feet, plus landings.
- A 30-inch rise needs about 30 feet, and a ramp that long usually turns back on itself.
Those access standards do not bind private homes, but they are a trusted yardstick.
Landings, width and handrails
The guidance asks for at least 36 inches of clear width between handrails and a level landing at the top and bottom of each run. It asks for handrails on both sides of any ramp rising more than 6 inches.
The landing at the door needs thought. It must be deep enough for you to open the door while you stay on level ground. Edge guards stop a wheel from rolling off the side.
Ask the contractor to draw the ramp, with each landing and rail, before you agree to a price.
Modular, wood or concrete: which fits your house
Start with how long you will need it. If the need may be short, or may change, a modular aluminum ramp can be unbolted and moved. If this is the long-term entrance, wood or concrete can be built to match the porch.
Then look at the lot. Along the Ocean County shore, some homes sit high off the ground, and a long run may not fit the yard. See how that plays out for wheelchair ramps in Toms River and wheelchair ramps in Brick.
Ask about grip in wet weather, snow removal and who maintains the surface.
Permits, setbacks and associations for a new ramp
The state's lists of ordinary maintenance and minor work do not name a new ramp. The advice is to confirm it with your local construction office before work starts. Repairing part of an existing porch is not the same as building something new.
Source: NJ Administrative Code
Ask the office whether a ramp near your property line triggers a setback rule. If you live under an association, ask for its design approval rules first. The permit guide for home modifications in NJ has more.
Planning a ramp before a hospital or rehab discharge
If a discharge date is set, call early. Send photos of the entrance and the rise to the contractor. Ask for a phased plan: a safe way in first, handrails and finishes after.
If the rise is large and the yard is small, a platform lift may beat a long ramp. Our page on stairlifts and home lifts explains when. Then send the short form, and your $100 comes off the first project.
Tall entrances: run limits and long ramps
The ADA Standards limit any single ramp run to a 30-inch rise, with a landing at least 60 inches long between runs. They are a reference for a private home, not a rule. They show why a tall entrance needs a ramp with turns, and why the footprint can be bigger than people expect.
Sources: U.S. Access Board, NJ Human Services
A state release from 2015 noted that many homes now must be raised against storms, and that lifts or stair glides may then be essential. If your front door sits high, ask the contractor to compare a long ramp against a lift on cost, space and daily use.
What a good ramp quote spells out
- The rise, the length and the number of landings, with a drawing.
- The material, the walking surface and the handrails.
- Who removes old steps and who restores the garden.
- The permit steps, and who files them.
- The start date and the finish date.
Read it twice before you sign, and remember you can cancel for three business days.
Keeping a ramp safe through the seasons
A ramp has to work in January as well as in June. Wet wood and leaf mulch can be slick. Snow and ice can hide the edge. Ask the contractor which surface grips best in your yard and how you will clear it.
Walk the ramp once a season. Check each handrail for movement, each board for rot and each landing for pooled water. Small repairs are easy to book. A rail that has loosened is worth fixing before the next rain.
Paying for a ramp
The VA's HISA benefit covers permanent ramping for eligible Veterans, and NJ Medicaid managed care lists ramps among residential modifications. The IRS lets entrance ramps count as medical expenses above a threshold. Medicare does not generally pay. See the guide to paying for home modifications.
Sources: VA HISA benefit, IRS Publication 502
Ready to plan it?
$100 off your first project. Call or send a request.