Garden Steps: design guidelines. Should I put in a wheelchair ramp.?

[Ferdinand]

On costs, there are various Govt, LA or charity grants that may be available.

But I expect most on BH are unlikely to be eligible for the means tested ones.

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/care/housing-options/adapting-home/disabled-facilities-grants-to-adapt-your-home/

[ToughButterCup]

Thanks a lot @Ferdinand

[Ferdinand]

Further thoughts - make sure there is somewhere to put and keep sticks upright if there is a pausing place.

That may be a rail to hook them over (notch or nipples to retain them in place) and use a trad walking stick like Winston Churchill with a hooked top, or a thing like one of those hold-back-the-curtains hooks we get beside a window. There should be a wrought iron something that is the right shape, or a blacksmith could make one, or a wrought iron gate fabricator will have a curly bit about the right shape. 

For the rails I put in by my wheelchair ramp and rear shallow steps I put in for mum, I used post and half round fences just knocked in with 2 rails, which cost almost nothing, look rustic, and can be adjusted by a handyman or neighbour in an hour or two, and would need replacement every 4/5 years with a soundness-check at half way. But possibly splinters risk, which on slow-healing hands or skin may be problematic (wear gloves like a Bond villain, or fingerless cycling mitts with padded palms).

Also grab handles can be useful if well placed - again external spec. Vertical ones are good for balance (make them 18" not 6-12" so work for both sexes), not pulling up, as they need strong fingers - which is not you 🙃. Horizontal ones are better for that as they can be elbow leaned on. Or loops of rope with can be wrapped round an arm - which may be attached to a portable hook you carry in your manbag.

 

There are infinite varieties of helpful devices, and many are external-grade specced, and some are even attractive.

 

I'm currently interested in accessible surfaces, as I've been looking at our local rail trails. If you need one you call fall on with a soft landing there are non-bound things (hoggin, gravel) and types of things used in children's playgrounds or gyms that they bounce off - such as rubber crumb things, or soft finish tarmac type things. If you plan to be wheelchair-friendly whilst planning to fall over on it with a lower risk of broken bones these are more difficult to roll over, especially manually - of those you probably want the resilient tarmac for that.

For hard surfaces Plan B is to wear pads like a skateboarder !

It's all about taking enough, but not excessive, time to think it through, and which risks you want to mitigate and potential costs and benefits eg that more expensive soft surface vs being off your feet with a broken leg if the worst happens, and the consequent long term impact. When I did the bathroom for mum, the main research was thinking a bit, then chatting in situ for an hour with her sitting on the toilet lid. But her career was as a physio in a special school, so she was quite aware herself.

I'll stop there or I could go on forever.

F

[ToughButterCup]

Thanks very much @Ferdinand . Yer a proper good-ideas generator......

[SteamyTea]

4 quid gets you a sign for the path.

 

 

[ToughButterCup]

Thanks @SteamyTea. Your sign will go well with the current one 

 

John (referred to on the notice) is still alive. But now he only visits when there are big boys toys to play with. He can sit in the cabin, heater on Radio 3- full volume

 

He's due (as is the digger) on Wednesday, digging out for the steps. 9:00 a.m. Sharp. He spends half his time talking to the passers by. Gets on far too well in my opinion with some of the little old dears who walk past. They bring him biscuits and cake for god's sake. 

 

Mustn't grumble. 😔

Edited November 11 by ToughButterCup

[scottishjohn]

1in 50 slope ?

 how long is you garden

 that means 1ft rise the ramp will need to be 50ft long!!

how much height do you need to go?