Handicap ramp

[Tinker]

Our daughter has a 105# baby that can no longer walk or even stand without assistance.  Yesterday, she received a 4x4 to help him get around.  He is 11 years old and still has a good heart and still has a mischievous attitude.  In case you are wondering, the Big Baby is a Yellow Lab.  Andrea has had her problems with him getting up onto kitchen counters (her house And ours) to help himself to such things as ... well... just about anything that is edible...or even non-edible for that matter.  Theupside is that she will no longer have to worry about that problem.

The 4x4 is a Walkin' Wheels (lots about it on Youtube) as he can no longer use even his front legs without assistance.  Our daughter has been going to weight lifting classes to get herself into shape and learn more about proper lifting procedures.  she has had to lift him several times a day for all summer this year.

She will be coming home sometime soon, so I want to build a set of ramps so he can move around in our yard without needing a forklift to transport him.  there are four spots where I would need to add ramps, one of which should be about 8 feet in length to get 15:1 slope.  I am thinking a sheet of T-111 should do the trick.  I have not used that material in years except a sheet I had gotten to make bat houses for daughter (not the family bats that she has learned to tolerate long ago.  she moved away    [unsure]) .  as soon as i got the material, her situation changed and i used the wood to make tool shelves.

I am wondering if the rough fibers of the surface would turn splintery if out in the rain.  If it does, does it make sense to wet it so the grain stands up and then give a very light sanding just to smooth off the fibers so they are not so sharp, but still gritty?  As i remember, I never wore gloves when using it outside.  A dogs foot pads are tougher than my hand hide, i am sure.  But the dog in question no longer runs, or even walks outside without assistance. I don't think he is as tough as he once was.

Tinker

 

[Holmz]

There is concrete board (Called Vilaboard or Hardiboard here).
Often it is used for house siding or underlayment for tiles. It is rough enough it would be hard to slip on it when wet, and it is designed for wet...
It may not be attractive, but it would work on top of a traditional frame.

 

[Sparktrician]

Don't use T-111!  Use some really good 3/4" exterior plywood.  Paint it with a high end deck paint to which a grit has been added for non-skid characteristics.  DuckBack makes excellent deck paint as well as anti-skid additive.  Scott Burt can likely add depth to this thread.

 

[davetink]

We had a 125# yellow lab with hip displasia amoung other things. Sadly he didn't make it past this last April. I built a ramp with 1/2" plywood screwed to acouple 2 x4's. The hard part was when he tried it he slipped and refused to use it. Itried non slip tape but no go. I finally used outdoor carpet (actually a practice putting green) about 3 feet wide and up he went. I used it to get him into my truck and then because it was pretty light i used it so he he could get up into the house. It lasted two years and was still ok.

 

[Tinker]

There is concrete board (Called Vilaboard or Hardiboard here).
Often it is used for house siding or underlayment for tiles. It is rough enough it would be hard to slip on it when wet, and it is designed for wet...
It may not be attractive, but it would work on top of a traditional frame.

[member=40772]Holmz[/member], Thanks. 

I don't think the problem will last for ever (our time, not the dog's time).  Eventually, i will disassemble the ramp and, as usual with my demolitions, i would like to reuse the materials.  I have use a cement hardboard as base under wood stove hearths.  The stuff i used was very brittle.  Is the stuff your are talking about that brittle.  Also, how do saw blades (for woodwork) hold up cutting it?
Tinker

 

[Tinker]

Don't use T-111!  Use some really good 3/4" exterior plywood.  Paint it with a high end deck paint to which a grit has been added for non-skid characteristics.  DuckBack makes excellent deck paint as well as anti-skid additive.  Scott Burt can likely add depth to this thread.

Sparktricial, that seems like a good plan.  thanks.  I had not thought of that.  The only handicap ramps i have built were of wood floated concrete.  Sometimes with brick surfaced. those were done with when i walked away.
Tinker

 

[Jozsef Kozma]

3/4 inch treated ply over conventional framing with screws only
Tread strips applied to surface no painting neccesary
Jozsef

 

[Jozsef Kozma]

Installed one at Jersey shore property for temporary use
5 years ago

 

[Tinker]

We had a 125# yellow lab with hip displasia amoung other things. Sadly he didn't make it past this last April. I built a ramp with 1/2" plywood screwed to acouple 2 x4's. The hard part was when he tried it he slipped and refused to use it. Itried non slip tape but no go. I finally used outdoor carpet (actually a practice putting green) about 3 feet wide and up he went. I used it to get him into my truck and then because it was pretty light i used it so he he could get up into the house. It lasted two years and was still ok.

[member=27589]davetink[/member]
you have the same name as our son, only without the "er' tacked onto the end. 

I like the idea of the carpeting.  It is getting close to the time when things could get quite slippery around here.  Our daughter tries to get home either for Thanksgiving, or Christmas/New Year.  I could put the 8' ramp down and figure a way to hold the fabric in place and then roll it up when we bring the baby back into the house.  I might end up using your idea.

Incidently, our last dog, we got as a rescue.  she was 7 months old and had been physically abused.  within a week or so after we got her, i noticed she had a strange swinging gate to her walk.  we took her to the vet and were told she had hip displacia.  He called in a specialist who told us he wanted to break her hip in three places.  We refused.  we did not want to do such treatment to her as she was only just getting used to not receiving pain in regular doses.  I read up about her ailment and found out that sometimes, if the young dog is active, scar tissue will build up around the damaged cartilage and the joint can work fine.  we decided that we would try the treatment of activity.  if, in later years, she got worse again, we would deal with the problem then.  We live in a very rural neighborhood and, in those days, dogs could run loose as long as they were not a problem in the area.

there were two other dogs about the same age and size that just played together every day.  whenever i went looking for my dog, there were the three, two chasing one.  It was never the same dog being chased, so i was not worried.  i was, however, observant.  Our dog seemed to never tire, so we let her run as long as possible.  Eventually, her hips got strong and she was with us for a total of 16-1/2 years.  she was just over 17 when we had to say good bye.  She never got rid of the slight swaying of the hips, but she was able to walk, and even run just a little, right to the very end.
Tinker

 

[clark_fork]

I use cedar fencing slats. They are -1 x 6 and varying lengths. Some have beveled tops so you can trim at will.  I then decide how wide the ramp is and use the slats accordingly using some as cross battens. A batten at the top can be set back to allow it to hook onto stairs etc. Then apply inexpensive in-door/outdoor carpet to the surface. Best pre-stain the cedar fencing as stain will protect the wood over time even though it is cedar.

At the lumber yard, cull the better fencing slats to find some without knots and cracks. At the bottom of the ramp, you may want to lay in and bury some bricks, pavers or such to protect the cedar over time or just add sheet of aluminum or other protective product. A batten at the bottom may be enough and you can easily replace it if it begins to rot from moisture. Cedar fencing is less than 3/4" thick so choose your screws carefully to that the screws don't protrude beyond the slat and batten. Indoor/outdoor carpet can be glued or stapled; best wrap around the edges to prevent fraying.  If you wrap, adjust the length of the batten.

The indoor/out door carpet works the best for the paws and grips in all kinds of weather. Surprisingly a dog will learn fast and generally you don't have to worry about railings. Your problem will be stupid humans trying to walk on the ramp. Add sign for stupid humans.  [mad]

Good luck and hats off to you for accommodating your pet.

 

[peter halle]

I built one for my aging golden receiver several years ago.  As he further aged I started carrying him to the yard.  Ice and even frost became my downfall - literally.  How I didn't injure myself on more than occasion falling with 75 lbs of dog in my arms I don't know.

Peter

 

[davetink]

[attachthumb=1][attachthumb=2][attachthumb=3][attachthumb=4]just some pictures of the ramp--underside, top with carpet held down with kreg screws, going up to door, and finally w/my daughter on his sofa (you can see his size as my daughter is in her 20's here.
I live in New England and the ramp held up being outside all year long for 2+ years. As you can see it's better years are behind it...
It's good to see by this post and others how many dog lovers there are here.

 

[Tinker]

[member=1674]Peter Halle[/member],
I'll leave the heavy lifting part to my daughter.  She's older than I am :
Tinker

 

[Tinker]

Quote from Clark_Fork >>>The indoor/out door carpet works the best for the paws and grips in all kinds of weather. Surprisingly a dog will learn fast and generally you don't have to worry about railings. Your problem will be stupid humans trying to walk on the ramp. Add sign for stupid humans.  [mad]

 

[Tinker]

@ davetink
Your dog looks just like our daughter's.  Couch looks like ours as well.
I showed this thread to THE BOSS, who has a virus called "Nose Trouble"
she asked, "where in New England?"

Of course, I do not have such a problem.  :

a quickee:When i was in Ft. Lewis, WA on my way to vacation in the Orient, I walked into the barracks one evening and a kid from Oklahoma was having a tussle with four guys from Red Bank, NJ.  They were kind of dragging him around the floor, so i jumped into the pile. Oakie said, "get out of here.  Ain't no d----d Yankee gonna fight my battles!"

"Hey Pal, I'm really a Reb.  I come from Southern New England."

"Oh well, Friend, Let's have at 'em then."

He and i were close buddies from that point on.  when we got to Puson, he went one way and i in another, both headed north.  we lost track, so years later, when i discovered the internet, I decided to look him up.  I knew his last name would be tough, it was Smith.  But his first name was unusual, i thought.  Not so uncommon in Oklahoma I discovered.  There were a couple of pages worth with the same first name.  Recently, i tried once more.  there are still a good handful with his same first name.  When long distance phone calls are free, i will try again.  [unsure]
Tinker

 

[Holmz]

[member=550]Tinker[/member] there is 3,4 or 6-mm that is brittle siding.
That is more if the traditional hardinoard (

 

[Tinker]

Thanks for all the help, guys.  It has been much appreciated.

I talked with my daughter last nite.  she says not to make any ramps.  She got her dog wheels yesterday and she tells me it is a lot of work for little advantage.  She will use it when her dog needs exercise.  When she has to take the dog out for doing his bizness, she will pick him up by his harness and take him out.  She will not take him over the terrace (at our house) where she has to get him up, over, about and 8-1/2" step.

She has been going to a gym for weight training and learning how to lift him.  She says it is getting to be less trouble lifting him than she found it to put him in his walking wheels.  A 105# dog.  She's lifting him!  Uh oh! I guess I should not be mouthing off at my daughter; like broadcasting when I should be tuning in  :
Tinker

 

[Cheese]

She has been going to a gym for weight training and learning how to lift him.  She says it is getting to be less trouble lifting him than she found it to put him in his walking wheels.  A 105# dog.

That's impressive...I know on occasion, I've had to lift our 90# Golden and she's all dead weight. And then you also have them frighting you from being lifted in the first place.

 

[Sparktrician]

She has been going to a gym for weight training and learning how to lift him.  She says it is getting to be less trouble lifting him than she found it to put him in his walking wheels.  A 105# dog.

That's impressive...I know on occasion, I've had to lift our 90# Golden and she's all dead weight. And then you also have them frighting you from being lifted in the first place.

You'd be surprised what you can do when your best friend needs you the most. 

 

[tjbnwi]

MDO.

Tom