Any deck builders / DIYers out there that can lend some advice on what should be the world's easiest "floating deck" ?
Trying to build a wheelchair ramp for my 83-year old father in my parent's attached double garage. It's really more of a 5'x5' platform out their entry way , 14" above the garage floor. A separate 3' wide by 7' matching wood ramp would be attached.
I have the advantage of what I imagine should be a perfectly level concrete slab (garage floor), so this should be a cakewalk, right? The only obstacle to work around (or on top of) is the existing concrete step 37"W x 7.25"H x 12.5"D, along with a 2x4 makeshift handrail attached on one side.
Plan A
For the 5x5 platform, I'm thinking four tuffblocks / camo blocks on the corners would be sufficient to support two beams of a single 2x8 pressure treated lumber on both sides of the existing step, beams extending 5' out, perpendicular to the wall of the entry way door. This would allow a joist frame to sit on top of the beams, but there would only be room for this joist level to be made of 2x6 lumber. Any issue with that if there are 5 joists, no more than 15" apart? Ideally, the beam on both sides would be made up of double 2x8s, but there's only room for a single if I'm intent on using plastic deck blocks. Is the single 2x8 sufficient for a structure this small? One advantage of this design is that a "stacked" joist on top of the beam would allow the joist crossing over the concrete step to clear it.
Levels:
2" camo block ground offset for 2x8 beam
7.25" 2x8 beam
5.25" 2x6 joist
1" 1.25 decking
15.5" CRAP --- that's not going to work (targeting 14")
Plan B -- vertical 4x4 posts in the CAMO block, joists flush with beam instead of stacked
0.5" camo block ground offset for 4x4 post
3.25" cut posts to required length for the 14" height
9.25" double 2x10s beam, attached on top of 4x4 post with post cap
1" 1.25 decking
Basically, just a single frame structure of 2x10s on top of 4x4 posts/camo blocks. I like that I can double up on the beams this way. The problem is the joist crossing above the existing step. Instead of that joist being a 2x10 with everything else, only a 2x6 would fit above the step for that particular joist. That's also the highest traffic area, can I get away with doubling up or fortifying that section with additional 2x6 blocks?
Is it silly screwing around with 4x4 posts & cap post hardware when they can only be cut to a height of 3.25"? Is there a better way to do this I'm not thinking of?
Sorry this post has turned into me mentally trying to solve for X=14". Any knowledge I have acquired on this subject has probably been learned from youtube in the past two weeks. Genuinely interested in any input from those with experience. My mom got an estimate for $2,000 to install a 7' ramp directly into the entry way door. Very problematic in that the handrails effectively take away all access to the back door. It's basically a more solid version of a folding ramp that we purchased for $200 that my dad wasn't comfortable with even though me and my mom were able to ride his wheelchair down it. I'm thinking for half of the price in lumber materials, he could actually exit through the door on level ground and have room to make a left turn down a wide wooden ramp. Build steps to the platform for more convenient access to the back door and to their car. Less commotion than a 7' ramp directly into the door as the only way in and out for everyone. The estimate for an L-shaped version of the metal ramp was $4K.
