Introduction
After years on-site, I’ve seen how fast big jobs move and how easily things get damaged in the process. One of the biggest frustrations for me has always been sliding door tracks. They take a hammering from wheelbarrows, trolleys, bins, and constant foot traffic. I always wanted to do more to protect them, but the reality was I just couldn’t build ramps fast enough. My labour was tied up with safety duties and general site work, and there were always more urgent things to deal with. Still, it really bugged me that I couldn’t protect the job the way it deserved.
The truth is, timber ramps and makeshift boxes just don’t cut it. They’re slow to build, inconsistent, and often end up doing more harm than good. What we really need on-site is something quick, tough, and reusable that protects sliding door tracks and keeps everyone safe.
That’s exactly why I came up with TOUGHTRACKS. It’s a simple, foolproof solution that I designed based on what I needed as a builder. It’s the first and only ramp system made specifically for construction sites. It protects sliding door sub-sills, removes trip hazards, and helps keep the job moving. It’s strong, portable, maintenance-free, and you can use it again and again across different sites.
And the cost? Honestly, it’s nothing compared to what you lose without it. You’re wasting hours of labour building dodgy timber ramps, paying for window repairs later, and risking injury claims that could blow out your budget. Just preventing one slip or fall could pay for TOUGHTRACKS across an entire site.
The Pain Points
Track & Frame Damage
Sliding door tracks and sub-sills are left exposed during construction, and they get smashed by trolleys, bins, and foot traffic. Timber ramps often sit directly on the door frames, which leads to scratches, bent tracks, or crushed aluminium. Then you’re stuck doing repairs at the end of the job, right when you’re trying to wrap things up and hand over.
Labour Time Waste
We’ve all seen labourers spending hours building temporary ramps out of timber and plywood. It’s a waste of time and never consistent. On big jobs, especially multi-storey ones, labour is already stretched. There are more important things to focus on like safety fencing, preparation, and cleaning. And when access is poor, trades get slowed down and the whole job suffers.
Safety Hazards
Let’s be honest, those timber ramps are a safety nightmare. They’re slippery, unstable, and a trip hazard waiting to happen. These kinds of incidents make up over a quarter of serious injuries in construction. According to Safe Work Australia, the average claim costs over $18,000 and leads to more than two months off work. One accident like that could cost more than buying 50 TOUGHTRACKS systems.
Cost Blowouts at Handover
Trying to fix damage and defects at the end of a project is the worst time to do it. Clients are ready to move in, and you’re scrambling to patch things up. It delays settlement, adds labour costs, and can really hurt your reputation. Jobs that don’t protect things early on always end up paying more at the finish line.
In summary, what’s going wrong?
Sliding door tracks and tiled hobs are getting damaged when they don’t need to be. Trades are dealing with unsafe, unreliable access. We’re wasting time and money building makeshift ramps. Injury claims and downtime are costing more than they should. And defect repairs at the end of the job are blowing out budgets.
I created TOUGHTRACKS because I was sick of dealing with the same problems over and over again and no one else seemed to be talking about. It’s a solution that’s been tried and tested by some of the biggest builders in the industry, with outstanding results and real satisfaction on-site.
Tedd Poulos
Founder & Creator | TOUGHTRACKS
info@toughtracks.com.au
www.toughtracks.com.au