Ramp options for a stepped front door: four choices, real costs

A step into the house that was fine for 40 years can become a major problem almost overnight. A new mobility aid, a hip operation, a change in how someone moves. Suddenly the 200mm step at the front door is the reason a parent can't get out for a walk.

There are four categories of ramp, and they cost wildly different amounts. Pick the right one and you solve the problem. Pick the wrong one and you've spent money you didn't need to, or solved nothing.

1. Rubber threshold ramps (£40 to £120)

A moulded rubber wedge that sits in front of the step. Non-slip, durable, no installation. Good for single steps up to about 80mm. Just slide it into place.

When it works:

• A small step at an internal or external door
• Occasional wheelchair or walker use, not daily heavy chair
• Short-term solutions (recovering from surgery)

When it doesn't:

• Larger steps, especially 150mm+
• Power wheelchair use (too steep an angle)
• Anywhere it could be a trip hazard for other occupants

Takes five minutes to put in place. No permission needed (not permanent). Good first step while you work out the long-term answer.

2. Portable aluminium ramps (£150 to £450)

Folding aluminium ramps, sometimes called telescopic or suitcase ramps. Store in a cupboard, deploy when needed. Useful for visiting family members, occasional outings, or for a carer arriving with a wheelchair.

Lengths from 60cm (single step) up to 2.1 metres (a proper run of 300 to 400mm). The longer the ramp for a given rise, the gentler the gradient. The wheelchair-friendly minimum is 1:12 (12 units of ramp for every 1 unit of height).

At 200mm step height, you want a 2.4m ramp minimum. Less than that is too steep for self-propelled wheelchair use.

3. Timber ramps, fixed or semi-fixed (£300 to £900)

A purpose-built timber ramp over the step. Can be permanent (bolted to the path) or semi-permanent (sits in place, liftable for maintenance). Surfaced with anti-slip strips or purpose-cut grooves.

When it works:

• Longer-term but not permanent solutions
• Properties where a concrete ramp would change the look
• Rental or Listed properties where the timber ramp can be removed if needed

I've built plenty of these for clients in Cirencester cottages where a concrete ramp would be both overkill and visually wrong. Pressure-treated softwood, stainless fixings, non-slip aluminium strips on the surface. Lasts 10 years easily, and can be lifted and replaced in an afternoon if needed.

2 days of work for a standard front-door ramp, including design, materials, and finish.

4. Permanent concrete or stone-finished ramps (£1,500 to £4,000)

The big one. Excavation, foundation, concrete pour, surface treatment, handrails, sometimes drainage. This is what a proper permanent ramp costs done right.

When it's worth it:

• Permanent wheelchair user, daily use, heavy wear
• Long-term plan to stay in the property
• Disabled Facilities Grant available (means-tested, but worth checking with Cotswold District Council; a grant up to £30,000 is available in some cases)

For this I'd work with a builder. I'll spec it, help you pick a trade, and do the smaller finishing work once they're done, but the concrete itself is a specialist pour.

What I'd ask before recommending any of them

• Who will use it, and how often?
• Self-propelled wheelchair, powered chair, walker, walking frame?
• Is this short-term (post-surgery), medium-term (aged parent visiting), or permanent?
• Is the step height measured? (Many people guess. Bring a ruler. 50mm of extra step makes a big difference.)
• Is the property listed or in a conservation area? Permanent external ramps on the front elevation of a listed building need consent.
• Is a Disabled Facilities Grant on the table? Worth the application if eligibility fits.

A common Cirencester scenario

Two-thirds of the ramp jobs I've done locally are timber semi-permanent ramps fitted at a rear or side entrance, leaving the front elevation untouched. The user uses the rear entrance while mobility is an issue. The front door is left traditional. The solution doesn't change the look of the cottage, the grant application isn't needed, and the work's done in two days for around £700.

That won't suit every situation. But it's always my first question: is there a secondary entrance we could use instead?