Truncated Domes for Sidewalk Curb Cut Retrofit (2026 Guide)

A sidewalk curb cut retrofit is the most common reason an Oregon property owner installs truncated dome panels. Older sidewalks built before the 2010 ADA Standards revision routinely have ramps without detectable warnings, and any path-of-travel upgrade — a tenant improvement, a sidewalk reconstruction, a code-enforcement notice — triggers a dome retrofit. Surface-applied panels with epoxy and mechanical anchors are the standard product for this work because the existing concrete stays in place. This guide is the retrofit playbook Cojo uses on city right-of-way and private parking-lot curb cuts across Oregon.

For the new-construction install method, see our cast-in-place vs surface-applied comparison.

> Compliance disclaimer: Always verify current detectable warning requirements with your local jurisdiction. This article reflects 2026 federal ADA Standards (28 CFR Part 36, Appendix B), ADA Accessibility Guidelines 705 and 406, and Oregon Public Right-of-Way coordination guidance.

When Does a Sidewalk Curb Cut Need a Retrofit?

Three triggers force a retrofit:

1. Code-enforcement complaint or audit failure. A pedestrian or advocacy organization files a complaint, the city or DOJ inspects, and the property is given a compliance window.
2. Path-of-travel trigger from a building alteration. ADA 28 CFR 36.403 requires path-of-travel upgrades when alteration cost exceeds 20 percent of the primary alteration value.
3. Voluntary upgrade during sidewalk maintenance. Owners coordinating concrete repair, ADA path striping, or driveway resurfacing add domes as part of the same scope.

Whichever trigger applies, the result is the same: an existing curb-cut ramp needs a detectable warning surface added without re-pouring the slab.

Identifying a Non-Compliant Curb Cut

Walk the path from the parking-lot accessible aisle to the building entrance. Stop at every elevation change between sidewalk and drive lane. If the ramp surface is plain concrete with no dome field, you have a retrofit candidate. Confirm with ADA 406.13 (detectable warnings at the bottom of curb ramps) and 705 (dome geometry).

Why Surface-Applied Is the Standard Retrofit Product

Three options exist for adding domes to an existing slab:

Method	Best for	Lifespan	Risk
Surface-applied panel	Most retrofits	8 to 15 years	Adhesive joint failure
Cast-in-place (slab demo + repour)	Major reconstruction	30 to 50 years	High cost, traffic closure
Replaceable cast-iron	High-traffic transit	25+ years	Heavy, custom-frame install

For 90 percent of retrofit jobs, surface-applied is the right answer. The panel installs in 30 to 90 minutes with hand tools, locks to the slab with epoxy and stainless anchors, and meets ADA 705 dimensional and contrast requirements as long as the right product is specified.

Industry Baseline Range

Item	Range
Single 24 in by 48 in surface-applied panel	$260 to $480
Labor per single curb-cut retrofit	$180 to $420
Single curb cut, installed	$440 to $900
Pair of curb cuts at one intersection	$820 to $1,700
ODOT or city right-of-way permit	$0 to $250
Traffic control day rate	$400 to $1,200
6-curb-cut block-face retrofit	$3,200 to $6,600

These figures reflect published industry averages. Current market pricing varies significantly and actual quotes may fall well outside these ranges based on site-specific conditions, material costs, and project complexity.

Current Market Reality

Material costs lifted 12 to 18 percent in late 2025 from polymer feedstock pressure. Permit fees on Portland Bureau of Environmental Services (BES) and ODOT right-of-way work added a 6 to 10 percent line item that did not exist on private-property retrofits five years ago. Traffic control day rates climbed sharply on city-corridor work where flagging crews are scarce during the May-to-October paving window.

Step-by-Step Retrofit Workflow

Step 1 — Site Assessment and Measurement

Confirm ramp width, ramp slope (must be 1:12 maximum per ADA 405), and the available depth at the bottom of the ramp (24 inch minimum per 705.3). Photograph the existing concrete and note any spalling, cracks, or oil contamination that will affect adhesive bond.

Step 2 — Permit and Right-of-Way Coordination

Public-sidewalk work in the right-of-way needs a permit. Portland routes through PBOT, Salem through Public Works, Eugene through PWA, Bend through PWA, Medford through Public Works. Lead times run 1 to 4 weeks. Private-property retrofits often only need a building permit if part of a larger alteration.

Step 3 — Surface Preparation

Diamond-grind the existing concrete in the panel footprint to remove sealer, paint, oil residue, and weak surface paste. Vacuum debris. Wipe clean with isopropyl alcohol. Verify a chalk-line layout matches ADA 705.3 placement (set back no more than 8 inches from the curb edge for diagonal ramps; flush at bottom for perpendicular).

Step 4 — Adhesive Application

Mix two-part epoxy per the manufacturer data sheet. ASTM C881 Type IV (high-modulus, structural) is the typical spec. Apply to the back of the panel and to the prepared concrete using a 1/4 inch notched trowel. Working time at 70 degrees F is 30 to 45 minutes; cold-weather installs require accelerator additive or canopy heating.

Step 5 — Set the Panel

Position the panel and press into the adhesive. Walk the panel to seat fully — no rocking, no air pockets at the perimeter. Squeezed-out adhesive at the edge gets tooled flush with a putty knife.

Step 6 — Mechanical Anchors

Drill anchor holes through the panel into the concrete per the manufacturer pattern (typically 4 to 8 stainless steel sleeve anchors per panel). Set anchors to the specified torque. Anchors are the redundant retention path that holds the panel if epoxy bond fails over the lifecycle.

Step 7 — Joint Sealant

Tool a 1/4 inch bead of polyurethane sealant around the panel perimeter to prevent water intrusion under the panel. Water intrusion is the failure mode that ends most surface-applied panel lives at year 8 to 12.

Step 8 — Cure and Reopen

Barricade the area for 24 hours minimum (epoxy full cure). For cold weather (under 50 degrees F) extend to 48 hours. Pull barricades, photograph the install for the compliance file, and verify against ADA 705.1 dimensions, 705.2 contrast, and 705.3 placement.

What Permits Does ODOT or a City Require?

Jurisdiction	Permit office	Typical lead time	Notes
ODOT (state highway)	District office encroachment permit	4 to 8 weeks	Required for state-route sidewalks
Portland (city)	PBOT Right-of-Way Use	2 to 4 weeks	Coordinated with BES if drainage
Salem (city)	Public Works Engineering	1 to 3 weeks	Plan check on ramps
Eugene (city)	Public Works Administration	2 to 4 weeks	EPP standards apply
Bend (city)	Public Works Engineering	1 to 3 weeks	Snow-region considerations
Medford (city)	Public Works	1 to 3 weeks	Standard right-of-way permit

For private parking-lot work where the curb cut is on private property, no right-of-way permit is needed — only a building permit if the work is part of a larger alteration.

How Does Surface-Applied Compare to Slab Demo and Repour?

A surface-applied retrofit costs $440 to $900 per curb cut. A demo-and-repour with cast-in-place costs $1,800 to $4,500 per curb cut and adds 7 to 14 days of traffic closure. Use demo-and-repour only when:

• The existing slab is structurally failed (cracked, settled, frost-heaved)
• The ramp slope itself is non-compliant (>1:12) and needs reforming
• Long-term durability is a hard requirement (transit station, federal building)

For most retail, medical, HOA, and city-corridor retrofits, surface-applied is the right answer.

What Failure Modes Should I Plan For?

Edge Lift

Adhesive joint at the panel perimeter fails after 8 to 12 years from water intrusion and freeze-thaw. Symptom: panel edge curls up. Fix: re-bed the edge with new adhesive or replace the panel.

Anchor Pull-Through

Hollow-set or under-torqued anchors loosen over time. Symptom: panel shifts under foot. Fix: replace anchors with the next-size-up sleeve.

Color Fade Below 70 Percent Contrast

UV degradation drops dome LRV by 4 to 8 points over a decade. Symptom: dome and walking surface look closer in tone. Fix: replace panel. See our truncated dome color selection coverage for LRV math.

Cracked Dome Field

Snowplow or heavy-vehicle impact cracks the dome top. Symptom: visible cracks, sometimes broken-off domes. Fix: replace panel. Use a thicker composite or cast-iron in plow zones.

From Our Crew — Salem Capitol Mall Block-Face Retrofit

In a 2026 sidewalk retrofit on a Salem Capitol Mall block face, Cojo retrofitted 9 curb cuts across both sides of the corridor. The original concrete dated from 1986 and had no detectable warnings. We ran a 4-day install with a 2-person crew plus 1 traffic-control flagger, set safety-yellow surface-applied panels with ASTM C881 epoxy and 6 stainless anchors per panel. Total project cost ran in the upper end of the baseline range because of the right-of-way permit, traffic control, and a pair of damaged sub-base patches that needed correction before adhesive went down. All 9 curb cuts passed Salem Public Works ADA verification on first inspection.

For a Portland-specific retrofit see Portland truncated dome installation.

Need a Sidewalk Curb Cut Retrofit in Oregon?

Cojo runs surface-applied truncated dome retrofits across Portland, Salem, Eugene, Springfield, Bend, Medford, and Hillsboro. We coordinate right-of-way permits, traffic control, and ADA verification as part of the install. Contact Cojo for a site walk-through.

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