Heated Wheelchair Ramp Restores Winter Mobility for Hudson Homeowner

A radiant snow melting system was installed beneath pavers to retrofit a 30–40 ft. wheelchair ramp in Hudson, MA, restoring safe, independent winter access for a quadriplegic homeowner. This pro bono project eliminated the need for manual snow removal and highlighted the power of radiant heat to enhance accessibility.

Hudson, MA

Size: 214 sq.ft. Voltage: 240V Wattage: 10018 W Amps: 41 A Flooring: Paver Cost/hr *: $10.02

This heated accessibility ramp project in Hudson, Massachusetts, transformed winter mobility for Rob Butts, a quadriplegic homeowner. With help from WarmlyYours, who donated the snow melting system, and a team of generous contractors, a 25-year-old brick ramp was replaced with a heated paver ramp. The system melts snow automatically, providing safe and reliable access to Rob’s van—even during record snowfall.

A 3-day installation included sand bedding, 3” spaced heating cables, and new Patriot Place pavers—repurposed from the New England Patriots stadium. Now, Rob and his father no longer worry about icy conditions or the dangers of shoveling snow.

Notable Features:

Heated ramp improves safety for mobility-impaired homeowner
Full pro bono project led by local contractors
Uses recycled “Patriot Place” pavers for eco-conscious design
Smooth, direct path into garage eliminates former stair hazard
System activated automatically with snowfall

Design Your Own Heated Space Snow Melting

* The snow melting system installed over 214 sq. ft. operates at 10,018 watts. With Massachusetts’ average electricity rate of approximately $0.30 per kWh, the system costs about $3.01 per hour to run. For typical snow events, it may operate for around 4 hours, bringing the cost to roughly $12 per use. Over a winter season with about 30 snow events, the estimated annual operating cost would be around $360—providing safe, reliable, and maintenance-free access without the need for manual snow removal.