Three Tips to Building a DIY Shed Ramp

If you've either bought or built a storage shed towet.
protect your riding lawn mower and other equipment,Regular plywood will allow algae to grow on the ramp
you're going to need a DIY shed ramp to facilitatesurface. When wet, you can fall very easily on this
moving your stuff in and out without damaging yourslick-as-grease surface. Also your riding lawn mower
gear.could slide off the ramp and tumble on its side. In
You are going to need a ramp for any shed on youreither instance, you're prone to a serious injury.
property in which you plan to store some type of2) Build your ramp so it has a three-inches-per-vertical
vehicle or if the shed's foundation lifts the structurefoot incline
12 inches or more above the ground.This ramp requires a gentle slope. If it's steeper than
In addition to making it easy for you to movethree inches per vertical foot, your riding lawn mower
equipment in and out, a ramp's gentle incline is aand other low-clearance equipment will bottom-out on
benefit to you because it creates a comfortablethe shed entrance.
walkway.3) Use at least four-inch-square pressure-treated
Overall, a shed ramp will provide a safe and easybeams set no more than a foot apart when
means to get the best use out of your shed.constructing the ramp's framework. Then add your
It is important to construct your ramp correctlypressure treated plywood to create the ramp's
because with poor constructionsurface
• You'll have difficulty rolling bigger equipment inYou must build your ramp so it is strong enough to
and outsupport your weight along with your heaviest pieces
• Your ramp will become slick when wetof equipment. A huge man atop a lawn tractor can
• The structure could fail to support heavierstress a fragile ramp to the point where bows in the
equipment.middle or collapses completely.
Here are these three key points to remember whenOf course, you have the option of installing a metal
building a ramp for your shedramp. But, they're pricey. And a properly constructed
1) Use 3/4-inch pressure treated plywood for theDIY shed ramp built out of wood can be every bit as
ramp surface, then add a non-skid surface on top.safe and effective as a metal product.
This will prevent you from slipping when the ramp is