How to Build Wooden Dog Ramps

It is often hard for dog owners to watch their pet age, especially if the dog starts to have trouble going up or down stairs. This difficulty may be from numerous issues, but it may happen simply because the dog is aging. In any case, the pet owner is faced with finding a solution to allow the pet to keep its mobility. Wooden dog ramps can eliminate the need for your dog to use stairs and are fairly easy to build.

Things You'll Need

  • Measuring tape
  • 1/4-inch plywood sheet
  • Saw
  • Indoor-outdoor carpet
  • Carpet cutter or box knife
  • 3/4 x 4 x 16-inch wood strip (if needed)
  • Box of 1/4-inch staples
  • Staple gun
  • 20 or more wood screws, 1/2 inch
  • 8 or more wood screws, 1 inch
  • Phillips head screwdriver
  • 4 or more wood strips, 3/4 x 2 x 16-inch
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Instructions

    • 1

      Measure from the top lip of the stairway to the bottom edge of the bottom step. If you have a landing in the middle of the stairs, measure from the lip of the top step to the landing; then measure from the lip of the landing to the bottom edge of the bottom step.

    • 2

      Write the measurement(s) down. Add 4 inches to the measurement. This is how long the plywood and carpeting need to be.

    • 3

      Cut the plywood with the saw to the necessary length. Cut the back of the carpeting with a carpet cutter or box knife to the necessary length. Set the carpeting aside. If you are joining two or more pieces of plywood together, proceed to the next step.

    • 4

      Set the 3/4 x 4 x 16-inch board on the floor. Set the two plywood sections over the board so the ends of the board match the width of the plywood sheets. Place the plywood so that the short edges meet end-to-end. Match up the sides. Screw several 1/2-inch screws through the plywood into the board using a zigzag pattern.

      Skip this step if you only need one plywood section per set of stairs.

    • 5

      Lay out the plywood on the floor. Lay the carpeting over the plywood. Match up all four sides of the carpeting with the plywood evenly. Staple the carpeting to the plywood.

    • 6

      Set one wood strip across the bottom edge of the plywood over the carpeting. Measure 11 inches up from that strip, and set the next strip. Repeat the process to the top of the plywood. Attach each wood strip with 1/2-inch wood screws using the screwdriver.

    • 7

      Set the completed ramp on one side of the stairs with the carpet facing up. Overlap the top of the plywood with the top of the stairs. Extend the plywood over the stairs by 4 inches.

    • 8

      Use the screwdriver and screw the 1-inch wood screws through the ramp into the stairs. Use a zigzag pattern to attach the ramp to each step. Substitute concrete anchors or concrete nails for use on concrete or metal stairs.