subject: Shed Building Plans - Building Proper Shed Ramps [print this page] Once you have built your own shed using professional shed building plans, you will need to maneuver your equipment, tools and other items easily into the storage shed without putting a strain on your back. A DIY shed ramp is just what you need and this needs to be built correctly so that your ramp does not collapse under the weight of you and your tools and equipment.
There are many different blueprints for building a shed ramp some of which are free and some that are not. Whatever you decide on, you need to make sure that the plans are descriptive enough and provide step by step instructions. Professionally prepared plans are usually the best way to go because they provide all the information that you need including the materials and tools that you need as well as the size to cut the wood pieces. Free plans are usually not as detailed and usually end up costing you additional time and money.
Building a Proper Shed Ramp
The incline of the roof should be about 3 inches per vertical foot. Anything steeper than this will end up causing problems. It is important to have enough of a slope but one that is not too steep.
The ramp should also be sturdy enough to be able to handle any amount of weight that it shall be subjected to. You do not want to keep fixing the ramp or building a new one because it was not build sturdy enough especially if you have heavy equipment.
A good set of plans should be able to provide you with a on the type wood to use that will be sturdy enough for your purposes.
At a minimum, you can use 4 X 4 inch of pressure treated lumber for the framing of the ramp that is set at no more that 12 inches apart. You would then use 3/4 inch plywood that has been pressure treated for the ramp surface. In order to prevent slipping when the ramp is wet, it is beneficial to either use non skid or real rubber on the surface of the ramp.
You could also purchase metal shed ramps if you prefer but they may be very expensive and it would be cheaper for you to build one made of wood from scratch. A wood ramp is just as effective and safe as a metal shed ramp.
If you will be driving some type of vehicle into the shed, some type of ramp system is needed. In addition, if the foundation lifts the shed more than a foot above the ground, a sloped walkway or ramp will be beneficial to prevent pressure and damage to your knees.
