Cost:
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| ALUMINUM | STEEL | WOOD | CONCRETE
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| Medium | Medium | Medium | Highest |
Because of our extensive commitment to specializing in just disability ramps, we can design, build and install the highest quality handicap ramp available at a price that others typically will charge for an inferior product. We handle all aspects of your disability ramp installation process assuring you the safest most cosmetically appealing wheelchair ramp at greatly reduced prices. Why pay the same or even more for a product that does not perform as well, look as good and is not as safe and durable as a professionally installed Disability Ramp from National Ramp.
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Warranty:
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| ALUMINUM | STEEL | WOOD | CONCRETE
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Our Modular Aluminum Ramps carry a THREE YEAR WARRANTY. Steel, wood and concrete generally have a ONE year warranty. Steel ramps will rust, wood ramps will rot and concrete ramps are susceptible to cracks.
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Usability:
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| ALUMINUM | STEEL | WOOD | CONCRETE
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Aluminum Disability Ramps consistently perform best in virtually every situation. In the heat, Steel ramps absorb and hold a significant amount of heat and can burn your hands and feet if touched. Wooden ramps splinter and split and can hurt or scar the end user. Additionally, wooden ramps hold and absorb a significant amount of water during rain and snow storms and expand and contract with variations in moisture content and temperatures making them potentially hazardous to the user. Aluminum Ramps do not hold or absorb any moisture. Additionally, Aluminum Ramps do not retain heat like steel ramps will and as a result, are significantly cooler to the touch in hot weather. |
Maintenance:
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| ALUMINUM | STEEL | WOOD | CONCRETE
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| Lowest | Medium | Highest | Lowest |
Aluminum Ramps are virtually maintenance free. Our Aluminum disability ramps have the longest warranty of any ramp. Steel ramps will rust and corrode. Steel ramps require scraping down, touch up and re-painting annually. Wood Ramps will warp, rot, fade, splinter and crack almost immediately. Wood ramps require refinishing, staining and water sealing treatments annually. Concrete ramps can crack and chip over time. Wood and Concrete ramps require substantial digging of your property to install concrete footings. As these footings settle over time, wood and concrete ramps can easily become damaged and misaligned requiring extensive repair to maintain their safety and stability. |
Saftey:
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| ALUMINUM | STEEL | WOOD | CONCRETE
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| Highest | Medium | Lowest | Medium |
All of National Ramp Companies Aluminum disability ramps have an extruded skid-resistant grooved surface designed to expel water to maintain your safety and security. Steel ramps are painted surfaces that can be slick or slippery when wet. Steel ramps absorb and hold a tremendous amount of heat and as a result, they can easily burn their user. Wood and concrete ramps retain moisture and can become a very hazardous and dangerous surface when wet.
* Most friends, family members and even carpenters and contractors have very limited knowledge of the extensive codes, updates and guidelines that are crucial to a safe and secure disability ramp design and installation. Don’t risk the dangers of having a wheelchair ramp built that may very well become a hazard to you or your loved ones safety. Although they mean well and their intensions are in the right place, unfortunately their lack of knowledge and expertise could ultimately result in a very dangerous situation for anyone using the ramp. The complexity and intricacies of a safe and secure ADA compliant handicap ramp should not be taken lightly. There are endless details that go into constructing a safe and maintenance free disability ramp. Countless ramps throughout the country have been repaired or replaced due to unsafe structural issues. Improperly built disability ramps can become financial as well as accident nightmares. Let the professionals at National Ramp build your ADA compliant Handicap Ramp…after all, building ramps is what we do best. |
Rentals/Leases:
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| ALUMINUM | STEEL | WOOD | CONCRETE
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Our Aluminum Modular Disability Ramps can be installed and removed as needed making them the perfect solution for both temporary or permanent ramp requirements. Wooden and concrete ramps are permanent structures that cannot be easily removed once they are no longer needed. Because of the rusting properties of steel, once they are installed and used, their rental value and usage deteriorates rapidly. Because of the durability and longevity of our Aluminum Handicap Ramps, we offer an incredible lifetime warranty on every Aluminum ramp we install throughout the entire rental or lease term. |
Durability:
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| ALUMINUM | STEEL | WOOD | CONCRETE
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Aluminum Disability Ramps are the most durable, maintenance free ramps available today by far. Because of their high rigidity, unique design and rust-free construction, aluminum handicap ramps are without question the most dependable, long lasting wheelchair ramps available anywhere! Steel ramps will rust and corrode and if not maintained and watched carefully, they could become a dangerous hazard to yourself, your friends or a family member. We are only able to offer a one year warranty on our steel ramps because of the inherit rusting properties of steel. Wood ramps will crack, fade, rot and splinter and if not meticulously maintained, wooden ramps can also become a dangerous hazard to your self, your friends and family members. |
Moving or Modification:
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| ALUMINUM | STEEL | WOOD | CONCRETE
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If you move from your home, simply call National Ramp and we will remove your disability ramp without any damage to your home or property. Your ramp can be re-installed in your new home (*some additional parts and accessories may be required to properly adapt and fit your ramp to your new home). Some steel ramps that have not started to rust or corrode may be reused depending upon their age, condition and stability. Wooden and concrete ramps cannot be safely reused once installed in your home. |
Resale Value of Ramp:
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| ALUMINUM | STEEL | WOOD | CONCRETE
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Our aluminum disability ramps can be re-sold if your need for a ramp no longer exists. Steel ramps that have not rusted or corroded might have a limited use for resale. Wood and concrete ramps have virtually no re-sale value once installed. |
Availability:
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| ALUMINUM | STEEL | WOOD | CONCRETE
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| Immediately | Good | Worst | Worst |
Because of our extensive inventory of disability ramps, parts and accessories, National Ramp can install your new handicap ramp in days and in some emergency cases, in less than 24 hours if needed! Wood and concrete require a tedious permitting process that could take several weeks or even months in some counties to process the permit application. BE VERY WARY OF ANY CONTRACTOR BUILDING A WOOD OR CONCRETE RAMP THAT DOES NOT OBTAIN ALL REQUIRED PERMITS! |
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Modification of Property: |
| ALUMINUM | STEEL | WOOD | CONCRETE
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Wood and Concrete wheelchair ramps require extensive modification to your home and property. Wood and Concrete ramps require substantial digging and concrete footings. Aluminum and Steel disability ramps don’t require any modification to your home. National Ramp disability ramps come with adjustable footings and are adaptable for each specific home or commercial application. Our Aluminum handicap ramps can be easily removed when you sell your home. The only contact point with your home is two small screws that will securely anchor our ramp to your deck, landing or porch to insure your safety. These small bolts can be easily filled in when you sell your home making sure the cosmetics of your home are not compromised. Wood and Concrete ramps will require extensive labor and repairs to remove your ramp and repair your home back to it’s original condition before you had your ramp installed. |
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Building Permits: |
| ALUMINUM | STEEL | WOOD | CONCRETE
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Wood and Concrete disability ramps are considered permanent additions and modifications to your home. As such, wood and concrete ramps will require building permits before any handicap ramp can be installed. These permits can take weeks and in some counties, even months to get approved. Our Aluminum Modular Ramps and steel wheelchair ramps are considered DME (Durable Medical Equipment) and as a result, do not require permits. Our disability ramps have already been built and designed within strict ADA Standards and are code compliant with state, national and local codes.
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Tax Ramifications: |
Because Wood and Concrete ramps require building permits, a mandatory reassessment of your property will be required upon completion of your ramp after the permit is issued that could possibly result in increased property taxes. |
Ramp Comparison