How to Build a Ramp for a Garage

Mini half-pipes or quarter-pipes fit best in garages. You can use the same plans to construct a full half-pipe or a quarter-pipe. Most skateboarders prefer to build mini ramps because larger ones require more skill to master. Mini half-pipes require less materials, space and labor to build and cost less. Building a half-pipe can be a daunting task, especially for someone with no carpentry or construction experience. With the right tools and materials, the endeavor of building a half-pipe will pale in comparison to the fun, exercise and memories you can have on the finished ramp. Building and keeping the ramp in a garage also protects it from the elements and will extend its life.

Things You'll Need

  • 42 2x6s, 8 feet long
  • 5 2x4s, 8 feet long
  • 4 2x8s, 8 feet long
  • 12 1x6s, 8 feet long
  • 4 4x4s, 8 feet long
  • 2 3/4 inch plywood, 4'x8' sheets
  • 12 3/8-inch plywood, 4'x8' sheets
  • 2 metal pipes, 1 1/2 inches in diameter
  • 8 sheets of Skatelite, 4'x8', or 1/4 inch Masonite, 4'x8' sheets
  • 5 to 6 lbs wood screws
  • Hammer
  • Measuring tape
  • String
  • Chalk or pencil
  • Power drill with screwdriver bit
  • Jigsaw
  • Radial saw
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Instructions

  1. Construct the Ramp

    • 1

      Find a good spot in the garage to build and house the half-pipe. The ideal site for a half-pipe is a dry, uncluttered, well-lit spot. The finished half-pipe will have a footprint of 200 square feet. The ramp needs at least six feet of clearance above it.

    • 2

      Build the flat bottom of the ramp. Plans divide half-pipes into three basic parts: the flat bottom (middle section) and the two curved sides. Cut four pieces of 2x6s with the radial saw to create a square frame. Cut 14 2x6s and place them every eight inches on center to support the frame.

    • 3

      Draw the sides onto one sheet of 3/4 inch plywood using a piece of string anchored to a screw as a compass. The curve on the sides, called transitions, should be a continuous circle from the flat part of the ramp to the top of it. This is true for whatever size of half-pipe you construct. Cut the sides with the jigsaw and attach them to the flat bottom.

    • 4

      Frame the sides with the remaining 28 2x6s, 8 inches on center, following the curve up to the top. Cut out a 2 1/2 inch notch at the top of the ramp for the coping--the metal pipe that lines the seam where the transition and platform meet. Frame out boxes for the platforms on each side, keeping them level and square.

    • 5

      Add the surfaces to the ramp and the platforms. Cut 4x8 sheets of plywood to surface the flat and curved transitions. Use wood screws to anchor the plywood sheets to the 2x6 framing.

    • 6

      Add another layer of plywood to the flat bottom and transitions. Lay them in the opposite direction as the previous layers. Avoid lining up seams from the two layers. Cut off the plywood at the notch for the coping.

    • 7

      Add the final layer of waterproof Skatelite or Masonite on the bottom and the curved transitions of the ramp. Screw down the 4x8 sheets of Masonite and Skatelite to add a final smooth surface to the ramp.

    • 8

      Surface the tops of the platforms. Some plans call for surfacing with 2x4s while others suggest plywood. The use of 2x4s makes the surface much stronger and more durable. Line the 2x4s side by side across the top of the platform and screw them to the framing.

    • 9

      Cut the metal pipe to fit the width of your half-pipe and place it in the notch where the platform and the transition meet. Punch four holes in the pipe with a metal drill bit. Use screws to anchor the pipe to the 2x6s that frame the notch left for the coping in step 5.