homestead.fyi / PONDRAMP

Duck Pond Ramp

A 16 x 48 in plywood ramp with cleats, rising 12 in, for ducks to enter a pool or tub.

Draft plan, generated from the model. Not yet build-tested.
12 inRise
48 inRun
16 inWidth
1 hrBuild time
$55.13Materials

Drawings All dimensions in inches

3D viewfinished
3D view
Front elevation
Front elevation 48 in 12 1/2 in
Right elevation
Right elevation 16 in 12 1/2 in
Plan viewfrom above
Plan view 48 in 16 in

Cut list: lumber Long-point lengths; angles noted

QtyStockLengthPartCut
72x216Cleatstrip of 2x2 ripped in half, or 1x2
12x453Stringer lefton edge, ends cut to the slope
12x453Stringer righton edge, ends cut to the slope

Cut list: sheet goods

PartStockSizeNote
Ramp deck1/2 ply49 1/2 x 16cut to 48 x 16

Lumber cutting diagram Lengths chosen for the lowest cost; 1/8 in kerf, 1/2 in end trim

2x2 x 8 ft
Cleat 1 16Cleat 2 16Cleat 3 16Cleat 4 16Cleat 5 16
2x2 x 8 ft
Cleat 6 16Cleat 7 16
2x4 x 10 ft
Stringer left 53Stringer right 53

Sheet cutting diagrams Dashed = openings to cut out

Sheet 1: 1/2 in plywood, 4 x 8 ft
Ramp deck16 x 49 1/2

Shopping list $55.13 checked / $0.00 estimated

ItemStoreQtyEachLineNote
2x2x8 furring stripHome Depot2$2.97$5.94see lumber cutting diagram
2x4x10 stud, SPFHome Depot1$5.46$5.46see lumber cutting diagram
15/32 in (1/2 in) sheathing plywood, 4x8 sheetLowe's1$32.26$32.26see sheet cutting diagrams
Exterior wood screws #9 x 2.5 in, 1 lb boxHome Depot1$11.47$11.47
Total before tax$55.13
Filled dot: price read from a store listing on Oct 20, 2026. Hollow dot: estimate. Prices come from the master price list, so they change when it changes.

Build steps

  1. Cut the two stringers from a 2x4 with a slope of 12 in over 48 in, and the plywood deck to 16 x 48 in.
  2. Screw the deck to the stringers every 6 in.
  3. Screw cleats across the deck every 6 in. Ducks have flat webbed feet and slip on bare wood.
  4. Set the low end on the ground and the high end on the rim of the pool, or sink the ramp into the pool edge. Wedge it so it cannot slide.

Before you start