Why Choose An Aluminium Wheelchair Ramp?
Probably the most popular types of portable wheelchair ramps are made from aluminium. There are several reasons for this.
One is the durability of aluminium. Buy yourself an aluminium wheelchair ramp and you'll be using it for years to come. Although only used for a few minutes at a time they have to be tough enough to be moved around on often rough surfaces, dropped and stored in a variety of places, not all of them ideal. Aluminium ramps also need little if any maintenance.
When it comes to a portable ramp, weight plays a major factor. This is where aluminium has many advantage over other materials as it is not only light but strong, allowing even quite large ramps to be picked up and moved easily just by one person. At the same time they are easy to manoeuvre into place. Their inherent strength also allows them to carry heavy loads if necessary.
The price of an aluminum wheelchair ramp is also a reason why they are so popular. It is possible to get a small ramp for well under a £100, though you have to bear in mind that cheaper ramps will be thinner and less durable.
Aluminium wheelchair ramps come in various formats. They can be a solid wide sheet or they can be folded to aid portability. Another common format is as a pair of narrow channelled ramps. The fact that they are so narrow means that they are particularly light and portable. This portability can be further increased if they are telescopic. That way the ramps can be expanded to cope with a variety of slopes and then be reduced to their minimum size before storing away.
One downside is that although waterproof, water and aluminium make for a slippery surface. All but the cheapest ramps will come with a non-skid surface but it has to be said that some are more non-slip than others. If you live in an area of high rainfall you may want to satisfy yourself that the aluminium wheelchair ramp you are looking at is able to cope with very wet conditions if you want to avoid unexpected accidents.
All in all aluminium ramps are an ideal solution for most people looking for a portable ramp that won't break the bank.