Temperatures are dropping all over the country, which means it’s time to prepare your residential ramp for winter, especially if you live in an area that gets a significant amount of snow! In this blog, we’re going to go over how to take care of your ramp depending on the material it is made from.
Concrete Ramps
Knowing how to take care of a concrete ramp is rather simple because you can treat this type of ramp as you would treat your sidewalk. Scoop the snow with a shovel, then lay down salt or ice melt once you’re done. Similar to wood, concrete is a tricky material because it expands and condenses depending on the temperature. This change in density can cause a concrete ramp to crack. Make sure you are checking for cracks in the foundation every season and addressing those appropriately.
Wood Ramps
These ramps require quite a bit of seasonal maintenance. Most homeowners continuously seal their wood ramp to prevent moisture from seeping in and taking a toll on the materials. This process has to be done fairly regularly to delay deterioration. It’s also key to help prevent your wood ramp from becoming a slippery slope during the winter months. Oftentimes, grip tape is applied to ramps to help maintain traction, but this can peel off and wear down over time causing it to not only become ineffective but also pose a tripping hazard. It is important that this grip tape is in tip top shape when the winter months roll around. Of course, it is also imperative to keep the ramp cleared of all ice, snow, and other wintery debris so that the grip tape can actually be effective.
Aluminum Ramps
Ramps made from aluminum are by far the easiest to take care of, in every season. Just make sure that you are using a plastic shovel to scoop any snow off the ramp and avoid using salt or ice melt with chemicals. Most of the time, all you need to do to keep the ramp clear is sweep the debris off with a thick-bristled push broom and you are good to go! If there is a possibility of ice on the ramp, we recommend sprinkling a layer of Magnesium Chloride salt substitute to maintain the grip and keep the aluminum in top-notch shape.
