Building Instructions for Wheelchair Porch Lifts
A porch lift can be added to a home to make the home wheelchair accessible. A lift has advantages over a wheelchair ramp since the lift takes up less space and is relatively easy to install. While the lift itself comes already constructed, some building and alterations need to be made to your porch to install it. Before you consider installing a wheelchair lift, ensure that there's room enough to place one as well as an electrical outlet nearby to power it.
Select a section of your porch where the lift will be installed. An ideal location is right next to the stairs, but regardless of where you decide to put your lift, it is important to make sure that there is a rain gutter overhead to prevent water from falling onto the lift and an electrical outlet to power the lift. Remove any overhanging branches from that area.
Remove the section of handrail where the lift will deposit its rider. A portable reciprocating saw has enough power to cut through a wood or metal handrail. The opening doesn't have to be as wide as the lift but should be wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair and its rider. Measure beforehand to ensure that you remove enough of the handrail.
- Select a section of your porch where the lift will be installed.
- Remove the section of handrail where the lift will deposit its rider.
Replace the handrail with a lockable gate. Some lift kits come with a gate that should be installed according to the manufacturer's instructions. If the kit doesn't have its own gate, one can easily be made using fencing lattice and 2-by-4 lumber. Cut and nail together a frame using the 2-by-4s, then screen in the open area with the lattice. Attach two hinges to one side and a gate lock to the other. Hang it in place.
Build a sturdy base for the wheelchair lift. Make a frame slightly larger than the base of the lift using 2-by-4s. Place the frame where the lift will be based, and cover it with a sheet of plastic. The plastic will form a vapor barrier between the ground and the concrete base. Mix the concrete, according to the product instructions, in a wheelbarrow. Fill the frame with concrete. Remove the frame when the concrete has set. Cut away the excess plastic.
- Replace the handrail with a lockable gate.
- Place the frame where the lift will be based, and cover it with a sheet of plastic.
Assemble the wheelchair lift according to the manufacturer's instructions. Place the lift on the base, and secure it to the concrete with anchor bolts. To cut the holes for the bolts, use a drill with a concrete-cutting bit the same size as the anchor bolts. With the anchors in place, secure the lift with nuts and washers. Plug the lift in to give it power.
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Tips
- If there's no available electrical outlet, have an electrician do the necessary work so that your lift can be powered.
- In place of a concrete base, you can also install a sturdy wooden one.
Writer Bio
Joanne Robitaille's first journalistic experience was in 1994, when she did school reports for a local newspaper, "Shoreline." Her articles now appear on various websites. Robitaille has a Bachelor of Arts in English and creative writing from the University of Windsor.
