Service
Entries, ramps and rails
Getting in and out is where a fall often starts.
A rail on each side of the steps, a threshold that does not catch a foot, a porch light you can see by and, when it is needed, a ramp built to a slope that works. Minnesota winters mean we think about ice and snow before we think about looks.
What is included
Rails on both sides of the steps, with a grip a hand can close on
A low or no threshold at the door
A ramp built to a slope that suits a walker or a chair
Lighting and a path that drain well in winter
Before you decide
What changes the cost, and what is not included
The rise
A ramp needs a long run for every inch of rise. A tall porch can mean a long ramp or a platform lift.
A longer ramp needs more yard and a landing
The material
Wood, aluminum or concrete, each with its own upkeep in snow and salt.
Aluminum needs no paint; wood can be built into the porch
Rules
Ramps and rails may need a permit and may be subject to setbacks and the rules of your city or association.
We tell you which apply at your address
What the estimate leaves out
Permit fees, landscaping disturbed by the work, and snow removal after it is built.
A temporary ramp can be an option while permits are in
How it goes
The steps, in order
- 01
Step 1: Walk-through
We measure the rise at each door and look at the path from the car.
- 02
Step 2: Plan and permit
A drawing with the slope, the landings and the rails. We apply for the permit when one is needed.
- 03
Step 3: Build
Footings, frame and decking or a prefabricated system, then rails with the right height and grip.
- 04
Step 4: Finish and light
Nonslip surface, threshold changes and exterior lighting.
- 05
Step 5: Final walk-through
Your parent walks or rolls it with us, in good and bad light.
Questions
Good to know
Do I need a permit for a bathroom or a ramp?
Often, yes. Moving plumbing or walls, adding a ramp or changing an entry usually needs one. We tell you which permits apply at your address and who pulls each, and the permit fees are shown separately in the estimate.
How long will it take?
A bathroom is weeks, not days, and the estimate gives you a timeline for your house. A rail or a ramp is often a matter of days. We tell you what the permit queue adds, since we do not control it.
Do you install stair lifts or sell medical equipment?
No. We build the changes to the house: showers, floors, walls, rails and ramps. For a stair lift, a hospital bed or a lift chair, we point you to an occupational therapist or a medical-equipment supplier, and we make sure the house is ready for it.
Is the way in the problem?
Send a photo of the steps, or book a walk-through. We will say what we would do first.