Building a storage shed can be fun and exciting, especially if you have woodworking plans to follow. However, not all plans tell you how to build a ramp into your shed. There is an easy way to build a ramp and it won’t cost you an arm and a leg.
I built a shed several years ago and had the same problem some of you have. I was wondering, how do I get into the shed with my riding mower? I need a ramp that won’t break down when I drive on it. It has to be strong and cheap, after all it’s just a ramp. I tried making a ramp out of plank and plywood, but had to move it every time I needed to mow. Then I remembered that some old barns had dirt ramps built up to them. Would that work for me?
So that’s what I did. My storage shed was raised on sandstone blocks and treated with 4×4 lumber. There was a twelve inch gap that had to be filled. Starting three feet in front of the shed door, I backfilled with soil up to the door. The ramp was wider than the gate and was level on both sides to allow mowing over the ramp. If you live in a freezing climate, be sure to drop the ramp 2 inches below the door entry. The ground swells when it freezes and you won’t be able to open the gates in the spring. I planted grass on the ramp and was able to cut it along with the rest of the grass.
The cost was my labor and a small grass seed and the ramp held up to many years of use. So give it a try and save some money, which is never a bad idea.
