Mobile Home Steps & Ramps in Lakeland, FL

Why steps and ramps matter here

A mobile home's floor sits above the ground, so every entrance needs steps, and a fall on worn stairs is a real risk. Polk has dozens of active-adult communities, many of them manufactured-home parks. Steps also take a beating here: sun, rain and sandy soil loosen posts and rot wood treads.

Polk County's rules

• Unincorporated Polk's code says all mobile homes must have entry stairs at each entrance, in line with the building code. See Sec. 715 of Chapter 7.
• No landing is required for stairs at least 42 inches wide with a 12-inch tread depth, set on the hinge side of the door so the door can open. Those stairs don't need guard rails or handrails under that section. Your safety may call for them anyway.
• Handicap ramps need a permit and must meet setbacks. So do decks, walkways, platforms, stairs and landings. See Polk County permitting.
• On a rented lot, Polk says an owner can't permit additions as an owner-builder without notarized consent from the landowner.
• Inside a city, ask that city's building department.

In a park

A ramp or new steps count as an exterior change, so get the park owner's written approval first (Fla. Stat. 723.023). Ask the office about setbacks, materials and what happens to the ramp if you move. If you need a ramp because of a disability, tell the park that in writing, and ask about your right to a reasonable modification under fair housing law.

Sizing a ramp

• Slope: the federal ADA standard for public places sets a maximum running slope of 1:12, or 1 foot of ramp for each inch of rise. It's a sensible target at home too. See the ADA Standards.
• So a door 30 inches above the ground needs about 30 feet of ramp, usually with a turn and a level platform.
• Width: the ADA standard calls for at least 36 inches clear between handrails.
• Measure the rise from the ground to the door threshold, and measure your lot before you choose a design. On a tight park lot, a switchback may be the only way to fit it.
• If a ramp won't fit, ask about a vertical platform lift.

Materials

• Aluminum: modular, light and quick to install, and it can be taken apart if you move. HomeGuide says semi-permanent ramps are usually aluminum.
• Wood: common for permanent ramps, but it needs upkeep. Use pressure-treated lumber and a non-slip surface.
• Concrete: durable, but hard to remove.
• Steps: pressure-treated wood, composite, aluminum or precast concrete. Ask how the steps will be anchored.

Attaching to the home

Keep the weight off the home. Florida's repair rule says additions such as porches must be free standing and self-supporting, with only the flashing attached to the home, unless they were designed to be married to it. See Rule 15C-2.0081. Lenders' engineers look for this too. See foundation certification. Drainage matters as well: Polk says porches and decks that let rain through must be separated from the space under the home.

What it costs

• Portable or threshold ramps: about $50 to $600.
• Modular, semi-permanent ramps: about $350 to $3,000.
• Permanent ramps: about $1,000 to $6,000 or more.
• Rentals: about $80 to $200 or more a month.
• These are HomeGuide's figures. Length, handrails, platforms and permit fees drive the price.

Help paying for a ramp

Ask your doctor or case worker about local programs, and check whether a veterans' benefit or Medicaid waiver applies. An aging services office can point you to what's open now. It helps to have a written quote in hand.

Questions to ask before you sign

• How long will the ramp be, and what's its slope?
• Will it fit my lot and meet setbacks?
• How is it anchored, and does it touch the home?
• Does it need a permit, and who pulls it?
• Can it be moved if I relocate?
• Can your insurance agent send proof of coverage?

Mobile Home Steps & Ramps: common questions