I often attach a simple treated 2-by-4 to the face of the outer shed floor joist. This acts like a tiny beam to support the ends of the 4-by-4s that make up the supports for the ramp.

A four-inch rise from my shed to the ground may not seem significant, but it can be quite an annoying hassle to maneuver my lawn mower and snowblower in and out of. A ramp is definitely needed ...

The top of each 4-by-4 is flush with the beveled floor joist of the shed. This allows the ramp to be smooth and in the same plane. I space the 4-by-4s 2 feet on center.

Q: I need to build a ramp that will allow me to get my lawn tractor into an outdoor shed that has a wood floor. Can you help me? I want to make sure the ramp doesn't fail and is not dangerous.

I prefer to use treated lumber for the outdoor ramps I build. I frequently use 4-by-4-inch timbers for the ramp supports and then cover this with treated three-quarter-inch-thick plywood.