Good Materials for Ramps

Building a ramp is the most effective way to enjoy skateboarding, biking or rollerblading at your leisure. Almost any type of building material can be used to make a ramp. The materials you use depend on the type of ramp you wish to build and the materials you have available for your project.

  1. Jump Ramp

    • A jump ramp or launch ramp is the smallest and most affordable of the type of ramps you can build. Typically, jump ramps are built of the most economical wood available. Wood is a safe choice for a jump ramp because of its ability to be carried and stored where it can be protected from rain, snow or intense heat.

    Mini ramp

    • Mini ramps or mini half-pipes are a popular type of ramp to build for anyone who has enough space to house one on their property. These ramps are not portable like a jump ramp, but do not require as much material as a bowl or vertical ramp. Wood is used for the supporting aspects of the ramp. The riding surface of the ramp is commonly covered in professionally made laminate materials to help withstand the weather. Wood is also used for the riding surface if the ramp is only meant to last a single season.

    Bowl

    • Bowls are typically meant to last for years. For this reason they are usually made from concrete. Bowls require a large amount of labor and materials, which makes wood an unwise choice in places where the weather will make it permanently unusable once the winter months hit. Indoor bowls are sometimes made of wood because they do not have this problem.

    Vertical Ramp

    • Vertical ramps or half-pipes are the most expensive and least common of the four types of ramps. Professional assistance should be sought by anyone who is planning to build a vertical ramp. Vertical ramps can be made of wood, metal or concrete, depending on the situation of the builder.