What is a Driveway Ramp?

A driveway ramp is used to eliminate the bump that exists between the driveway and the street. Often, a vehicle will scrape the curb when entering or exiting a driveway. By placing a driveway ramp at the junction of the driveway and the street, the angle of the entrance is reduced, thereby eliminating the bump and scraping issues. There are many options when choosing a driveway ramp, including rubber, steel and concrete. Wood has also been used to build a driveway ramp with much success, though it usually requires more frequent changing and maintenance than other mediums.

In many communities, the driveway is angled steeply toward the street. This creates a hazard for low-sitting vehicles such as sports cars and luxury sedans. In an effort to eliminate the steep angle where the driveway connects to the street, a driveway ramp may be installed to ease the transition from driveway to street and allow the vehicle to exit or enter the driveway without fear of damaging the suspension on the curb. By creating a small ramp that sits at the very end of the driveway, the curb is eliminated, leaving only a smooth, flat surface that must be negotiated by the vehicle.

While most driveway ramps are temporary and portable, there are permanent methods of creating a smooth transition. Many cul-de-sac driveways use a long, tapered concrete approach that forms an easy transition into the driveway. For areas that do not have a concrete entrance way into the driveway, a driveway ramp may be the answer to a long-standing problem. Most ramps can be mounted to create a semi-permanent driveway ramp.

The most common method of anchoring a ramp to the end of a driveway is to spike it in place. To accomplish this, small holes are drilled into the driveway with a drill bit. Using the ramp's mounting holes as a template, the drill is used to bore holes through the surface of the driveway. Once the holes have been created, a small section of re-bar, found in most US hardware stores, is hammered through the mounting tabs of the ramp and into the holes in the driveway, effectively securing the ramp in place.

There are also special adhesives that can be used to secure the driveway ramp in place. After cleaning both the driveway and the ramp, the adhesive is applied and the ramp is set into position. The ramp must not be used for 24 hours after the adhesive has been placed. After, regular use of the driveway can be resumed.