It did not take humans long to start figuring out the benefits of a ramp for shifting loads between elevations. Even thousands of years ago, it would have been obvious that a slanted path provided an easier way to reach a hilltop than clambering up its side vertically. By the time written languages were developed, ramps were already commonly used in construction projects, siege warfare, and portage. These early ramps were normally built of packed earth, but they were the forerunners of the concrete ramps that are widely used today. Marathon Solutions Group installs concrete ramps and concrete flatwork for customers in Houston, Cypress, Kingwood, Baytown, League City, Humble, Pearland, Conroe, Katy, and Woodlands as well as some locations in Oklahoma.
What Are Concrete Ramps?
According to dictionaries, a ramp is an incline, plane, or slope that connects two levels that have different elevations. Concrete ramps are ramps that are constructed using concrete. Technically, this definition could also apply to the curb ramps found at intersections or that connect a sidewalk to a street, However, contractors typically relegate curb ramps to a different category.
What Are the Advantages of Concrete Ramps?
Concrete is an extremely strong and long-lasting material, so it is an ideal material for constructing ramps. However, concrete ramps offer a number of other advantages.
- Whether you are talking about humans, animals, or machines, it requires less effort to move heavy loads along a ramp than to lift them vertically. To illustrate, suppose you need to move a refrigerator into an upstairs apartment, so you strap it to a dolly. The wheels on the dolly mean that you do not need to use all of your strength to move the load to the foot of the stairs. However, you still have a long way to go. You can use brute strength to wrestle the refrigerator to the second floor one stair at a time, or you could attach a rope and heave it upstairs. The easiest way, though, would be to roll the dolly up a ramp.
- Ramps, especially concrete ramps, are an important part of satisfying your obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Steps and stairs make it harder for people who have mobility issues to access a building or a section of a building. The ADA also specifies the qualities that the surface of an accessible ramp must possess, and concrete checks all the boxes.
- Concrete ramps can save time, which also means that they can save money. For example, in a manufacturing facility, ramps can allow forklift drivers to move pallets of finished goods from the production floor to the warehouse in less time. At loading docks, trucks ramps can allow drivers to position their trailers at the same height as the dock.
What Should Be Considered When Constructing Concrete Ramps?
The success of your project will rely heavily on the expertise of the contractor you select. Contractors need to be knowledgeable about ramp construction to design an appropriate ramp. Therefore, they must consider a number of factors, but the following four are extremely critical.
- 1. Load Weights: In general, ramps that must support heavy weights need to be stronger than those that support light weights.
- 2. Concrete Mix: Contractors can choose from a variety of concrete mixes. Some mixes, including those with small aggregates, produce a stronger ramp than some other mixes.
- 3. Surface Texture: A concrete ramp can have a smooth surface or a rough one. Rough surfaces offer better traction, so pedestrians will be less likely to slip. However, smooth surfaces are normally better for ramps used by forklifts and other motorized vehicles.
- 4. Ramp Slope: A ramp’s slope is a mathematical calculation expressing the ratio between the ramp’s length and the difference in height between the points at either end of the ramp. A steep slope means that more effort will be needed to travel the length of the ramp. Therefore, the slope is especially critical for ramps that will be used by pedestrians.
Marathon Solutions Group is a respected company serving municipalities, industrial facilities, and commercial clients. We offer an extensive range of concrete installation services, including the construction of concrete ramps, concrete parking lots, concrete sidewalks, and Houston concrete curbs, and we perform concrete ADA work and concrete repairs. Our asphalt services include asphalt paving, asphalt crack repair, asphalt milling, asphalt sealcoating, asphalt repair, and asphalt resurfacing. We also offer parking lot maintenance, bollard installation, parking lot striping, marking removal, parking lot striping, parking lot restriping, thermoplastic markings, and parking lot signage. Our employees are well-trained, experienced professionals, and we use the best materials and equipment available to ensure your complete satisfaction with our craftsmanship. We offer free quotes with no strings attached, so contact us today to submit your request. You can fill out our online form, call 800-879-1147, or email Sales@Marathon-Solutions.com.
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