Build a Ramp for Your Shed

If you've own a shed and have ever tried to lug your lawn mower or other heavy equipment into it, you know how back breaking this is. It's probably high time you build a ramp. It's easy to do and save you the strain of heaving that heavy stuff into your shed. You need a little skill with tools and few materials, so you can build a ramp yourself on the cheap.

Make your ramp wide enough to for the equipment you will be moving in and out of your shed. 3 feet is usually enough but I would make it as large as your door on your shed, or even 6 inches or so past the outside of your door.

Cut a 2x6 ledger equal to the width of the ramp. Rip the top so it is beveled to the angle of your ramp. Level the ledger so that its 5 inches below the floor of your shed. Drill three holes into the ledger board and attach it to the shed with 3/8 x 3 inch lag bolts. If you're attaching it to concrete, use ½ x 3 inch redheads.

Measure the height of the shed floor to the ground. For a proper slope that is easy to walk up and haul heavy equipment up, multiply your measurement by 8. For example if your floor to ground height is 10 inches, your ramp is going to be 80 inches long. Cut 3, 2x4 stringers about 6 inches or more longer than your ramps length. This way you have extra when you make your final cuts, so you don't cut your stringers to short.

Rest the 2x4's along the top of the ledger board. Using a square a straight edge, hold it tight against the outside of the ledger board and tight against the side of your stringer. Scribe a mark along the edge. This will be the angle you will need to cut all your stringers. Use the same method along the ground on the other side of your stringer. Cut to the lines and test fit. Once the test board is precise, use it as a pattern to cut the rest of your stringers.

Fasten the 2x4 stringers to the top of your ledger board, one on each end and one in the middle. Attach with 10d galvanized nails by toe nailing into the stringer below and to the sides of your shed. If you're butting against concrete, use tapcons to attach to the slab by periling and screwing in the tapcons.

Cut 2x6 decking boards for the top of the ramp. Measure the width of your ramp and cut your decking boards 1 ½ inches larger than the ramps width. An example is if your ramp is 3 feet wide cut the decking boards 37 ½ inches. This way the decking boards hang over the edges ¾ inches over the sides of your ramp.

Attach your decking boards from the top of the ramp to the bottom. Secure them using 8d galvanized nails or use no. 8 2 inch decking screws. Place each board tight against the other if you are using pressure treated boards, or space using a nail if you are using other materials besides pressure treated such as cedar or other rot resistant wood. The last board should be ripped on a bevel to make a nice transition between the ramp and the ground. You may place patio blocks at the front of the ramp or use gravel.

A nice ramp for all your hauling and equipment should now be complete. You can stain or paint the wood to match your shed. The ramp should last for years to come and save your back for years as well!