Building a storage shed can be fun and especially exciting if you have woodworking plans to follow. However, not all plans tell you how to build a ramp to enter your shed. There is a simple way to build a ramp and it won’t cost you an arm or a leg.

I built a shed several years ago and had the same problem as some of you. I was wondering how I get into the shed with my riding mower. I need a ramp that won’t break when I drive down it. It has to be strong and cheap, after all it is just a ramp. Tried making a ramp out of board and plywood, but had to move it every time the grass needed to be mowed. Then I remembered that some old barns had dirt ramps built in. Would that work for me?

So that’s what I did. My storage shed was raised on sandstone blocks and treated 4×4 lumber. He had to fill a foot gap. Starting a meter in front of the shed door, I packed dirt up to the door. The ramp was wider than the gate and was level on both sides to allow mowing over the ramp. If you live in a freezing climate, be sure to lower the ramp 2 inches below the door entrance. The earth swells when it freezes and will not be able to open its doors in the spring. I planted grass on the ramp and was able to mow it along with the rest of the grass.

The cost was my labor and some grass seed and the ramp lasted many years of use. So, give it a try and save yourself some money, which is never a bad idea.