Shoreline resident benefits from the generosity of others

Sophia poses with Irons BC crew
More sections of the railing were installed after this photo

On Saturday, May 18, 2019, Shoreline resident Sophia along with approximately 40 other families throughout King and Snohomish Counties were the recipients of a free wheelchair ramp built as part of the Master Builders Association’s Rampathon Event. 

 

Ramp Captain Joseph Irons, General Manager of Irons Brothers Construction and Past President of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties (MBA), along with his team of employees and skilled volunteers, designed and constructed a free wheelchair access ramp for the Richmond Highlands resident.

Sophia, who suffered a stroke in her late 20s, uses a power chair to get around her home. She lives at the home of her mother Erica, who is also her full-time caregiver.

Sophia originally had two makeshift ramps to get off the porch
and onto the brick walkway

 
Unfortunately, the entry to the residence had barriers which made it difficult to enter and exit safely using her power chair.

In April, the team from Irons Brothers Construction, including Production Manager, Cody Ross, met with Erica and Sophia and developed a design and construction plan to create a safe and accessible wheelchair ramp at their front entry.

Fortunately, Sophia has full use of the chair inside her home, and now, with a new ramp her Mother and other personnel can attend to her needs, especially in an emergency. 

Working and having fun, too.

To build her ramp, the IronsBC team began their staging and prep work for the construction on the afternoon of Friday, May 17th.

Sophia’s ramp consists of a two-step platform that transitions onto their existing brick walkway. On Saturday, the team completed the ramp by adding the platforms, a handrail, concrete landing, and other finish details. 

As the ramp is adjacent to their driveway, the team formed and poured a concrete landing pad for smooth transition. A portion of the ramp was built over their existing deck, which was used as a framing foundation and also salvage materials.

The ramp consists of cedar pressure-treated material and plywood. A handrail was added to one side and a curb on the opposite side for safety.

Joseph Irons takes a selfie!

 

Sophia and Erica maintain a joyful and positive spirit and are very appreciative of the work that Irons Brothers Construction is doing on their behalf. With this new access, Sophia is looking forward to enjoying the outdoors this summer.

This free wheelchair ramp is being built in cooperation with the Master Builders Association’s 26th anniversary philanthropic project, Rampathon.

The project was constructed out of easy to maintain and eye-pleasing materials donated by Dunn Lumber and Irons Brothers Construction.

Said Melissa Irons, "This project is just one small way that our craftsman and volunteers can help impact a local neighbor’s life for the better."

IronsBC maintains the highest commitment to philanthropy and giving back to the local community. At the end of the day, the reward is when Sophia can safely use her power chair outdoors. 

Joseph and Melissa Irons, along with the IBC family of staff and volunteers are passionate about helping others in their community and have been involved in Rampathon® over the past 13 years. 

Irons Brothers Construction is Committed to Enriching Lives in Our Community with Caring and Craftsmanship.

Special recognition to donors for the 2019 ramp include:

• Irons Brothers Construction, Inc. for volunteer labor and materials
• Dunn Lumber for lumber and concrete donation
• American Insurance Associates for volunteer labor and food

Irons Brothers Construction is celebrating 20 years of business in 2019 with their Design + Build Center showroom located at 1510 NE 170th St, in Shoreline's North City Business District. 

Here they showcase universal design, aging in place remodeling, and best construction practices. Company owner, Joseph Irons and team, have their Certified Aging in Place Specialist designations (CAPS) thru the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and Certified Living in Place Professional certifications (CLIPP) thru the Living in Place Institute. In each remodel they incorporate universal design principles and practices when possible.

Photos courtesy of Irons Brothers Construction.