How To Build a Skate Ramp
How do you build a DIY skate ramp for the backyard?
The build is simpler than it looks. You cut a curved profile from 30 mm ply to make one bearer, trace it to make two more, join the three bearers with noggins at each end, then sheet the curve with 8 mm ply. Everything is glued with Selleys Liquid Nails and screwed. It is a neat design that does not take up much room in a garage.
The one thing that decides whether the ramp rides well is how accurately the three bearers match each other. Cut one carefully, then trace it — do not draw three curves freehand and hope they line up, because any difference shows as a bump under the deck.
Tools and materials
- 30 mm ply wood (for the bearers)
- 1 sheet of 8 mm ply wood (for the ramp surface)
- Selleys Liquid Nails Original
- 60 mm and 25 mm galvanised screws
- Jigsaw, and a circular saw if you have one
- Drill
- Tape measure and pencil
- Fine sandpaper
- Paint and paint brush
- Safety glasses
Why Liquid Nails Original suits this build
Liquid Nails Original is a high-strength multipurpose construction adhesive that forms a strong, lasting bond on most building substrates — timber, plasterboard, MDF, particleboard, masonry, concrete, tiles, ceramics, metals, plastics, rubber and glass. It comes in a 320 gram cartridge, a 100 gram tube or a 600 mL sausage, and it is beige. It meets Australian Standard AS-2329 (1999).
| Appearance | Thixotropic paste |
| Technology | Solvent evaporation |
| Open time | 20–30 minutes (weather dependent) |
| Cure time | 24 hours |
| Repositionable | Up to 20 minutes after fitting |
| Gap bridging | Up to 9 mm |
| Sag resistance | Not more than 6 mm (AS2329) |
| Bond strength in tensile shear (wet and dry) | Exceeds 1 MPa (AS2329) |
| Shelf life | 12–18 months |
Indicative data only, not intended for preparation of specifications.
The 9 mm gap-bridging figure is the one that matters on a ramp. Ply edges are never perfectly true, and the joint between a noggin end and a bearer face is exactly the kind of ill-fitting joint this adhesive is designed for — the guide notes you should glue the tops of the bearers specifically to ensure the bond is gap free. A screw pulls two surfaces together at one point; the adhesive fills what is left along the rest of the joint.
An open time of 20–30 minutes gives you room to apply glue to several noggins before you start screwing, and you can reposition for up to 20 minutes after fitting. Cure is 24 hours, though a strong bond is usually achieved in 24 hours and the adhesive continues to strengthen over 2–3 days, curing fully in 7 days. Expect longer times for thicker applications, less porous surfaces and cold weather. Do not let anyone ride it the same day.
How to build it
- Determine the size. Work out how long and high you want the ramp, taking the ability of the riders into account.
- Draw the shape of your ramp onto the 30 mm ply. This first piece is your bearer — the structural rib that carries the curve.
- Cut your bearer with a jigsaw, or a circular saw if you have one. Wear safety glasses.
- Trace the remaining bearers. Use the first bearer as a template, tracing its shape onto the sheet and cutting as many as you need. For this size, two more is the recommendation. A wider ramp simply needs extra bearers.
- Cut out the hand grips. On the two outside bearers, cut a small section out with the jigsaw for a hand grip. Drill a small hole first so you have somewhere to start the blade.
- Cut the noggins. Using offcuts of ply, cut noggins the same height as your ramp with the circular saw. You need two at either end, so cut four.
- Fix it all together. Apply Liquid Nails Original to the ends of your noggins and place them against the inside of the bearer, then screw-fix in place. Pre-drill the bearers first to help guide the screw and avoid splitting the ply.
- Cut the top. Cut the 8 mm ply sheet to the length and width of the ramp with the circular saw.
- Mark up the screw lines. Mark screw lines on the ply so you know the screws will land on the bearers — measure up and mark a line with a straight edge.
- Join the top to the bearers. Apply Liquid Nails Original to the tops of the bearers so the bond is gap free. Lay the first sheet of ply on top and screw down, working from one end to the other so the ply follows the curve rather than bridging it.
- Sand and finish. Give it a light sand to remove any splintery ends, then paint.
Applying the adhesive properly
Make sure surfaces are free from oil, grease and dust, and wipe off any pooled water from wet timber. Cut the cartridge tip, fit the nozzle and cut it to a 5 mm opening. Apply a bead along the length of each bearer; on broad flat surfaces the data sheet asks for beads every 40 cm. Position the pieces and press firmly together, then fix with sufficient screws to hold the load and achieve contact over the total bond area.
Limitations — what to know before you build
- Do not use the adhesive as the sole bonding agent for structural bonding. Every glued joint on this ramp is also screwed, and it needs to be.
- Avoid use in tightly clamped joints. Liquid Nails Original cures by solvent evaporation, and a joint clamped shut with no gap gives the solvent nowhere to go.
- Not for styrene foam. If you were tempted to pack a void with foam, use Liquid Nails Fast Grab instead.
- Not for mirrors, and not for metals heated by direct sunlight — bonds weaken at higher temperatures.
- Not for permanent water immersion. The ramp should live under cover or be painted and kept out of standing water.
- Pre-test plastics to determine compatibility.
Clean up
Uncured adhesive comes off with mineral turpentine. Cured product has to be scraped or sanded, so wipe squeeze-out from the ply face before you paint. Use the product in a well-ventilated area, avoid contact with skin and eyes, and do not swallow it.
Common questions about building a skate ramp
How many bearers do I need?
Three for the size described — one cut from the drawn shape and two traced from it. A wider ramp needs extra bearers cut the same way.
Why trace the bearers instead of drawing each one?
So the curve is identical across the width. Any difference between ribs telegraphs through the 8 mm ply as a bump.
Do I need to glue as well as screw?
Yes. The glue fills the joint across its full area and makes the bond gap free; the screws hold the pieces together while it cures and carry the load. The data sheet says the adhesive should not be the sole bonding agent for structural bonding.
How long can I take between gluing and screwing?
Open time is 20–30 minutes depending on the weather, and pieces can be repositioned for up to 20 minutes after fitting.
When can the ramp be used?
A strong bond is achieved in 24 hours and continues to strengthen over 2–3 days, with full cure at 7 days. Give it at least a day, and longer in cold weather or where the glue lines were thick.
Will the adhesive fill a gap where the ply does not sit flat?
Up to 9 mm. That is one of the reasons this adhesive suits ill-fitting timber joints.
Should I pre-drill?
Yes — pre-drill the bearers to guide the screws. Ply splits readily near an edge.
Can I leave the ramp outside?
Liquid Nails Original is water and weather resistant but not rated for permanent water immersion. Paint the ramp and keep it out of standing water; under cover is better.
Can I use a different Liquid Nails?
For a heavier or more demanding build, Liquid Nails Heavy Duty is the higher-strength option for timber and MDF, with an 8 hour cure. Check its own limitations before you switch.
What screws should I use?
60 mm and 25 mm galvanised screws — the longer ones for the noggin-to-bearer joints, the shorter ones for fixing the 8 mm ply down.
How do I get glue off the ply before painting?
Mineral turpentine while it is still wet. Once cured you will have to scrape or sand it, and sanded adhesive shows through paint.
Do I need safety gear?
Safety glasses for cutting, and work in a well-ventilated area when using the adhesive.
How many bearers do I need?
Three for the size described — one cut from the drawn shape and two traced from it. A wider ramp needs extra bearers cut the same way.
Why trace the bearers instead of drawing each one?
So the curve is identical across the width. Any difference between ribs telegraphs through the 8 mm ply as a bump.
Do I need to glue as well as screw?
Yes. The glue fills the joint across its full area and makes the bond gap free; the screws hold the pieces together while it cures and carry the load. The data sheet says the adhesive should not be the sole bonding agent for structural bonding.
How long can I take between gluing and screwing?
Open time is 20–30 minutes depending on the weather, and pieces can be repositioned for up to 20 minutes after fitting.
When can the ramp be used?
A strong bond is achieved in 24 hours and continues to strengthen over 2–3 days, with full cure at 7 days. Give it at least a day, and longer in cold weather or where the glue lines were thick.
Will the adhesive fill a gap where the ply does not sit flat?
Up to 9 mm. That is one of the reasons this adhesive suits ill-fitting timber joints.
Should I pre-drill?
Yes — pre-drill the bearers to guide the screws. Ply splits readily near an edge.
Can I leave the ramp outside?
Liquid Nails Original is water and weather resistant but not rated for permanent water immersion. Paint the ramp and keep it out of standing water; under cover is better.
Can I use a different Liquid Nails?
For a heavier or more demanding build, Liquid Nails Heavy Duty is the higher-strength option for timber and MDF, with an 8 hour cure. Check its own limitations before you switch.
What screws should I use?
60 mm and 25 mm galvanised screws — the longer ones for the noggin-to-bearer joints, the shorter ones for fixing the 8 mm ply down.
How do I get glue off the ply before painting?
Mineral turpentine while it is still wet. Once cured you will have to scrape or sand it, and sanded adhesive shows through paint.
Do I need safety gear?
Safety glasses for cutting, and work in a well-ventilated area when using the adhesive.