How to Build a Dog Ramp on a High Deck

Having a ramp handy can be helpful for dogs that are aging, sick, recovering, or just lazy. But dog ramps are expensive and a come in a limited range of sizes. Manufactured ramps extend about 4 feet and can cost $200 or even more. If you have a high deck, 4 feet won't be high enough. By making the ramp yourself, you can customize it to reach your deck, and do it for a fraction of the cost of a purchased ramp. Deborah Zelten on the Bouviers website explains how to make a ramp with simple materials you can find at a home improvement store.

Things You'll Need

  • 5-foot-by-16-inch lumber board
  • 2 5-foot-by-3-inch boards
  • 10 No. 6 1 1/4-inch drywall screws
  • 6-foot carpet runner
  • Staple gun
  • Drill
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Instructions

    • 1

      Lay the 16-inch board flat. This will be the ramp that the dog walks on. Place a 3-inch-wide board on either side of the ramp. These are the edges, which will prevent the dog from falling off the ramp. Place the two thinner boards on their sides so they stick up. Use the No. 6 screws and drill the siding into the ramp.

    • 2

      Lay the carpet runner on top of the ramp between the edges. Allow the carpet to fall over the ends of the ramp by 6 inches on both ends.

    • 3

      Attach the carpet to the ramp along the edges, using the staple gun. Fold the carpet under the ramp and staple along the end and the edges. Do this at both ends.