Folding transformable stairs to the attic. Do-it-yourself attic staircase: standard dimensions and manufacturing process

The attic in the house can be used for different needs. Of course, comfortable access to it must be organized, for which a ladder is needed. It can be installed with outside building or inside it. The latter is easy to use and more popular. There are many ways to make an attic ladder with your own hands. Before describing how to make it into an attic or attic floor, you need to choose the one that’s suitable for your home. constructive solution.

Types of attic and attic stairs

Let's look at the most popular options for attic stairs.

The latter type is more often used temporarily or in case of rare use of the attic space. But the most practical and compact will be a folding design with a hatch.

What to pay attention to when making your own stairs?

The first thing that must be ensured when building an attic or attic staircase with your own hands is safety. The staircase system must have adequate strength and reliability.

The dimensions of the staircase are also important: the more inclined it is, the larger the space occupied. The most suitable angle is considered to be 60-70°. Although with constant use, it is recommended to make it 45°. Steps with a height of 20 cm and a depth of 30 cm are considered standard. The width of the staircase should be comfortable, as a rule, it is about 70 cm. It is not recommended to make such stairs more than 3 m in height, since a higher structure will not have the necessary rigidity and reliability.

It is advised to make a structure with a number of steps from 10 to 15, and leave the distance between them 19 cm. The recommended thickness of the steps is 2 cm. They should be positioned strictly parallel to the floor surface. For greater safety, anti-slip pads are glued to the steps.

Important!The ladder for climbing to the attic floor must withstand a load of 150 kg.

The hatch also has its own recommended parameters. The following dimensions are considered standard: width 70 cm, length 120 cm. Smaller sizes will make the opening not comfortable to use, and larger ones will increase heat loss in the room. For an unheated attic, it is recommended to make the hatch thermally insulated and vapor barrier.

Where is the best place to place the stairs?

The staircase structure should be located so as not to interfere with household members. Therefore, you should not install it in the kitchen; it would be more appropriate to use a corridor or hall for this purpose. It is also worth considering the size of the room. Sometimes a ladder can be used as an interior detail, then it is not hidden in a hatch.

Important! It is advised to first draw the future staircase, then it will be easier for you to understand which place will be the most suitable for its installation.

DIY one-section design

The easiest way to lift it to the attic floor will be a single-section structural solution that will be fixed in one place. In order to build a staircase with one section you need two wooden boards. The length must be suitable to obtain the appropriate angle of inclination, and the thickness must be at least 5 cm.

The steps can be secured with strings or stringers. Bowstrings are grooves made by a milling cutter in end board. A stringer is a horizontal platform cut out on a board, on which a step is then placed. The steps are fixed in place using metal screw pins. A comfortable climb to the floor is provided by handrails. For their manufacture, polished solid timber appropriate length. Depending on the location of your stairs, the railing may be on one side or on both. To make the structure more reliable, it is worth adding vertical connecting beams.

Manufacturing of a single-section attic ladder.

Making a hatch

Installation and manufacture of the hatch is also an important aspect of the work. It will prevent the penetration of cold air masses to the house. This is the main reason for equipping staircase structures with a hatch. To make it you will need 50x50 bars and a sheet of plywood.

Work order:

Define appropriate place taking into account a dimensional margin of 0.8 cm so that the hatch closes normally.
The bars need to be cut into four parts according to the size of the hatch, and holes should be cut along the edges.
You need to apply glue to each resulting groove and fasten the bars with self-tapping screws.
To maintain the diagonals, screw the gussets.
The next step is attaching the plywood.
The finished cover is tried on, and then the latch is installed on the opening.
To ensure that the lid opens without interference, a handle is installed in the opening.

Important!The resulting structure should open easily and unhindered.

Homemade example attic hatch with metal-plastic cover.

A staircase equipped with a hatch and leading to an unheated attic floor or attic has design features. The opening for the construction of such a structure with a hatch must be insulated. When making a hatch, a layer of thermal insulation and vapor barrier is placed on plywood. From above everything is once again strengthened vapor barrier film. After the work is completed, the final stage remains - decoration. It is made similar to the ceiling finishing. At your request, the color scheme can contrast with the walls. Sometimes, instead of plywood sheets, metal sheets are used, which must be painted with paint that matches the color and performance characteristics.

How to make a folding staircase structure from two sections?

The staircase design of two sections is quite simple to manufacture and does not involve the use of a complex mechanism. This design will be optimal for execution by a person without special construction skills.

The first thing you need to do is make a simple ladder. After manufacturing, it is carefully adjusted according to the dimensions, and precisely observing the angle of inclination. After which the finished structure is cut into two sections, which need to be attached to each other using canopies, and you get a folding staircase. All you have to do is install the folding structure to the cover of your hatch.

The folding ladder structure can be supplemented with an auxiliary cable mechanism, which will facilitate disassembly and assembly of the system. To prevent the folded structure from opening, install a fixing hook. To secure it, a loop is installed at the junction of the sections, and a hook is mounted on the wall at the required distance from it. The design is ready for use, but it will always be in your sight, which is considered its disadvantage. If this point is important to you, then you can use the following recommendations. Make a three-section ladder, which is made using the above technology. Such a ladder can be easily hidden in a hatch.

Making a folding staircase to the attic.

Manufacturing of the hinge mechanism

When making a folding structure, the mechanism that opens it is important. You can make it yourself using following materials:

metal corner;
part of a sheet of metal;
two strips of different lengths;
bolts;
clamps;
set of drills;
drill;
jigsaw;
Teks;
small

Manufacturing procedure:

First, the staircase is drawn on a sheet of cardboard indicating the future angle of inclination when opened.
Then they cut out a mock-up from cardboard to check all dimensions.
On strips of metal, measure out the places for the holes where the hinge will be attached. The hole must match the size of the bolt.
The parts are assembled and pulled together.
Use a small tool to measure the desired angle. Then open the mechanism to the resulting angle.
Mark on the metal the part that will be covered by the corner during opening. Cut it out with a jigsaw.
Round the corners of the strips and remove unnecessary length so that the strips do not catch, which will allow you to operate the mechanism.
When the excess metal is removed, the corner will rest against in the right place. You have made the first hinge.
The second is made by fastening parts with clamps in pairs, special tools for better fixation. Drill a hole and place a bolt in it.
Then a second hole is made.
The blanks are twisted using two bolts. After which they can be aligned, giving them the same shape.

This is how all parts of the hinge are performed to obtain the same elements. The completed mechanisms are attached to the hatch and tested to see if it matches the opening. They do it this way: if, when fully opened, it does not touch the edges of the opening, then the dimensions were taken correctly, and the hatch is ready for installation.

Manufacturing of folding staircase structure

The construction of folding stairs has a similar technology to folding ones. At the first stage, an extension ladder is made using the technology described above. Then choose the more suitable of the two options:

The entire structure can be folded back.
The ladder folds out in parts, similar to a folding one.

This type of structure is not hidden in a manhole cover. Manufacturing of folding attic stairs.

Advice! If you decide to make a staircase for the attic or attic yourself, it is recommended to use materials that are light in weight, this will make the structure easier to operate. When making your choice, also consider the ease of processing of materials and their aesthetics.

In most cases, the attic is used quite rarely. For this reason, installing a massive stationary staircase is far from perfect option. More practical solution is a folding staircase to the attic, the small size of which allows you to maximize free space.

Compared to stationary models, folding attic stairs have the following advantages:

Among the disadvantages it is worth highlighting the following points:

Difficult to manufacture. Some models are quite difficult to make with your own hands. This will require complex and precise calculations, tools, and appropriate skills.
Lack of sufficient comfort during use. It is not very convenient to go up or down stairs with a large angle of inclination, and lifting massive objects along such structures is not the most reasonable option.
Low load capacity. Most models cannot support weights exceeding 150 kg.

Types of folding stairs

All folding lofts and attic structures can be divided into several types:

scissor;
telescopic;
sectional;
folding

Scissor models

Folding scissor-type products are also called “accordion ladders.” This name perfectly describes its essence: when folded, the product resembles a small block, and when unfolded, it unfolds like the bellows of an accordion. To straighten such a ladder, you should pull the bottom step.

The scissor model consists of many small sections fastened together. Therefore, the dimensions of the structure when folded are minimal. Perhaps the only drawback of this variety is that it is not very reliable fastenings between blocks. Therefore, you should handle the scissor ladder carefully and remember to lubricate the mechanisms between the segments. Working principle of electric scissor ladder

Telescopic varieties

A characteristic feature of this model is the retractable type of sections, like a nesting doll. That is, the smallest tubes are fixed into larger diameter pipes, which are inserted into even larger side pipes, etc. The sections are held in the folded state by special clamps located on the outside metal beams. To fold the structure, just loosen the “grip” of the latch.

However, despite the fairly simple device, such models are rare. The reason for the low popularity is problems with fasteners. After a short use, the metal clamps begin to “jam”, which prevents the structure from straightening.

Sectional stairs

The sectional folding model resembles the scissor type, only here the segments are not pressed together, but folded on top of each other. Accordingly, when unfolding, the parts are straightened and fixed in a certain position.

The advantage of such a staircase is its low cost. As disadvantages, it is worth mentioning the rather large size and massiveness of the structure.

Folding products

The most unusual option is a folding ladder. This model has a couple of interesting features:

Since the design is similar to straight marching varieties, the angle of inclination folding ladder about 45 degrees, which promotes maximum convenient use. As negative points it is worth highlighting:

high requirements for free space;
“specific” design (when folded, the folding ladder does not look very nice, since it is not hidden and is always in plain sight);
massiveness of the structure.

Material used

Material plays an important role for folding stairs. On the one hand, it must be durable, on the other, it must have a minimum cost. Only two materials fully meet these requirements - wood and metal.

Wood products are mainly made from coniferous species wood, such as pine. Such models have good reliability and low price. In addition, creating wooden stairs does not require specific skills or complex equipment. The following points should be highlighted as disadvantages:

massiveness of the product;
rather low load capacity (maximum weight – 100 kg);
short service life.

Much more common are metal stairs made of aluminum and steel, which are in no way inferior to their wooden counterparts. In particular, the advantages of such products include:

reasonable cost;
good load capacity (up to 200 kg, depending on the type of structure);
high resistance to rust and mechanical stress;
durability;
low weight (for aluminum);
high strength.

The only drawback of metal varieties is the difficulty of making them yourself. The work will require welding knowledge and appropriate equipment.

Important points

Any staircase, regardless of its type, should be as convenient as possible for use. Therefore, when selecting or designing a product, it is recommended to consider the following parameters:

the optimal span width is 60-70 cm (excluding load-bearing beams);
the recommended tilt angle of the structure is 45-60 degrees, the maximum is 75 degrees;
average number of steps – 15 pcs.;
step thickness – 2 cm (± 2 mm);
“step” of steps – 17-22 cm (steps should be located at an equidistant distance from each other throughout the entire flight of stairs);
at frequent use stairs, the width of the tread (horizontal part of the step) should be at least 20 cm;

You should also pay attention to other important points:

attic stairs should not be higher than 3 m, otherwise the risk of injury increases significantly;
It is recommended to install anti-slip pads on metal steps;
wooden models should not be installed in too dry or damp rooms (service life is reduced);
fastenings and mechanisms must reliably connect sections of the product;
It is recommended to lubricate the construction mechanisms from time to time.

Making a folding ladder with your own hands

The process of creating a staircase structure is not particularly complicated. But for greater convenience, it should be divided into 2 stages:

preparation for work;
making stairs.

Preparatory stage

The production of a staircase begins with design - taking measurements and creating a drawing. It is recommended to perform the diagram in three projections: front, top and side views.

Important! In this case, the structure in the drawing should be shown in a “straightened” state.

The drawing must also meet the following requirements:

on the projection from above you should draw a floor plan on which to mark the location of the stairs;
for greater clarity, it is recommended to indicate the dimensions of elements in separate footnotes;
metal parts are displayed with diagonal lines, wooden parts - with curls (imitation of wooden “rings”).

After preparing the drawing, they purchase necessary materials. When everything is ready, it’s worth preparing the tools. So, to work you will need:

electric or hand saw;
drill;
drills of various diameters;
wood screws.

To make a metal staircase, the following tools are needed:

welding machine;
hacksaw for metal;
drill with metal drills;
fastening elements.

In order for the structure to fold, you need to purchase metal card loops.

Execution of work

The manufacturing and installation process itself is quite simple. For example, a two-section folding attic ladder is made as follows:

load-bearing beams are divided into 2 parts (and lengths) and connected using metal loops;
grooves for steps are made in each supporting beam;
steps are inserted into the holes made;
Rubber pads are put on the bottom of the supporting beams;
a wooden block is attached to the wall under the opening to the attic;
the upper part () of the structure is connected to the block using hinges;
the lower part () is pressed against the wall and attached to a hook.

Making a folding ladder

The procedure for manufacturing a folding folding ladder is completely different:

the first string is firmly fixed to the wall at the required angle;
the first step is marked on it (12 cm wide);
2 lines are drawn parallel to the edges of the supporting beam;
a line perpendicular to the end of the first segment is marked;
from the perpendicular mark, an indentation is made to the right by 1 cm and a vertical line is drawn;
the markings made mark the beginning of the second step (the following steps are marked in the same way);
the marking is transferred to the second string;
with the help of hinges, the steps are attached to the supporting beams (on a stationary string they should rise, on a movable string they should fall down);
A loop is attached to the movable bowstring and a hook is installed for it in the appropriate place on the wall.

Example of a folding ladder to the attic

Folding stairs for the attic are becoming increasingly popular in the CIS countries. This is facilitated by low cost, ease of installation and, most importantly, compactness of the products. However, it is worth considering that in comparison with conventional structures, using folding stairs is less convenient.

There is an attic in any country house. Very often this is an unused room, but in some cases some unnecessary things are stored here or even a room is being furnished. In any case, there must be access to it, and for this purpose stairs are made to the attic. They can be made from wood and metal - in this case, you can make them yourself. Or they can be beautiful forged - such designs are usually created to order.

Primary requirements

Before building an attic staircase, you need to consider several of its features. Firstly, it must be convenient and safe to use. Moreover, these two indicators depend on the design principle of the stairs and the attic itself. Important role takes into account the type of staircase, the width of its steps, and the height of the rise. The height of the stairs is calculated depending on what its design will be. If it is a folding type, then you need to carefully consider its dimensions when folded.

The steps must be of such a size that it is comfortable and safe for anyone to climb them. The correctness of the design also depends on the location of the steps: the distance between them should not be too small or large. Failure to comply with these requirements will violate safety regulations.

The width of the flight of stairs to the attic must be at least 0.8 m. It is important that the angle of inclination is maintained: this needs to be thought through at the stage of designing the structure.

Types of stairs: folding or stationary?

The choice between these two types of structures depends on how large the area of the attic is. Of course, a stationary staircase is more reliable and safe, but it is also solid, that is, it requires a lot of space. This is why many people prefer folding attic ladders: they are convenient, take up little space, due to the fact that they can be folded. Most often, such structures consist of several sections that overlap each other, thereby saving space. Moreover, they can always be adjusted depending on the required size.

Or retractable?

These designs are becoming increasingly popular, due to their advantages:

are cheap;
easy to install;
take up little space thanks to the accordion-shaped design;
reliable;
mask the structure with an attic hatch.

All these advantages make retractable stairs so popular. How to make it yourself?

Self-installation of a retractable ladder: main steps

The very first step should be a thorough analysis and check of the dimensions of the hatch opening. This is necessary to ensure that the parameters you choose coincide with the dimensions of the stairs. Then the location of the bars is thought out - first at the bottom, then at the top. Special spacers are located between the opening and the staircase - they will help better fix the structure. When it is laid, the spacers can be removed.

Or outside?

If space does not allow you to install retractable stairs, you can replace them external structure. It will provide communication between the outside world and internal space your house. The main thing is to remember the safety rules, since operation similar design has its own characteristics. When installing an external staircase, it is important to choose the right material: it must be resistant to sun rays, have increased abrasive wear, reliable and wear-resistant.

Wooden staircase

Wooden stairs to the attic are the simplest option, which you can create with your own hands. There are several ways to do this. Let's look at the simplest and most practical ones.

Method 1

To make an attic staircase, you first need to take measurements: we need parameters for the height of the room, the expected angle of inclination, which most often reaches 30 degrees, while the height is about 2.5 m. In order for the staircase to be reliable and correct from a design point of view, you need to think through and draw up the drawings correctly. The simplest wooden stairs are created on the basis of bars for stringers, bars corresponding to the width of the stairs for fastening, overhead hinges and boards from which we will make the steps. Yes, and don’t forget about the folding hangers - the hatch cover will be fixed on them. The installation process itself is as follows:

Steps are installed and securely fastened between the stringers. This is done either using a tongue-and-groove type of fastening, or with self-tapping screws, or with glue. It is better to treat the steps with anti-slip pads - they will increase the safety of the structure.
The staircase is first secured under the ceiling opening using two bars that are equal to the width of the staircase. Their connection is made with loops.
We check how efficient the hinges are, and then finally tighten the fasteners.

This is the easiest way to create a staircase to the attic.

Method two

This is a more labor-intensive method of making a staircase, which can easily be installed even in a country house. It looks more aesthetically pleasing and has more reliable design, which is important in conditions of heavy load on it. The structure itself will be movable on one side, and the other half will be attached to the wall. To create such a staircase to the attic we will need:

two boards of length corresponding to the height of the ceiling and the angle of inclination;
boards for creating steps at least 0.5 m wide and about 3 cm thick;
bolts, self-tapping screws as fasteners;
card loops that will attach the steps.

It is important to arm yourself with a drawing - it will allow you to complete all the work efficiently and accurately. After determining the angle of inclination, you need to saw off the bars at the top and bottom so that they rest firmly on the floor. The boards along their entire length are divided into equal sections - here the steps will be located at the distance you need. The steps are fastened with card loops, and after the structure is completed, you can make it elegant by varnishing or painting it.

Metal stairs

Attic stairs made of aluminum look very beautiful, especially if your country house is decorated in the style of “minimalism” or “high-tech”. What's good about metal? Firstly, it is more reliable. Secondly, such structures are processed special compounds, which protect the surface from mechanical stress or corrosion. Third, metal constructions able to withstand heavy loads.

The most popular among buyers are retractable metal stairs, which take up little space. They are relevant for rooms that are small in size, that is, where rational use of space is required.

How to do it yourself?

Despite all the difficulty technological process, do metal staircase You can do it yourself. Moreover, it can be made of either metal or a combination of materials. To make the simplest metal staircase we will need to prepare:

welding machine;
mechanical saw;
an emery wheel, which we will use to remove burrs on the metal;
a circular saw and a clamp for joining parts if the staircase has wooden parts;
pipes;
steel sheets.

Please note that the quantity of materials is calculated based on the drawing. Welding machine we will make strong seams, so the staircase will be a monolithic and durable structure.

Such an aluminum or steel staircase will be constructed on the basis of a channel (size 8-10). The steps are made of sheet steel; if they are without additional finishing, you will need a grating on the steps that will protect against falling. The fences are made of angle steel, and the supports for the treads are made of reinforcement. First, support devices are installed and welded onto the beam, then brackets for fastening are welded.

Metal attic stairs can have wooden treads, but first you need to think about where the additional fasteners will be located. On metal steps The holes for the screws should be located at a distance of 15 cm from each other. A plywood backing is mounted to the metal treads - it is attached to assembly adhesive, which after hardening retains its shape.

Finished aluminum staircase

Very often many people prefer to buy ready-made designs rather than installing them yourself. But even in this case you will have to work hard, since they are delivered disassembled. How to assemble? General scheme the work is approximately as follows:

First, a sketch of the future staircase is created.
From metal profile or pipes are cut into 4 identical sections.
The pipe is secured in a vice and thoroughly cleaned of rust.
From metal sheet steps are cut out - they must be the same length.
The steps are tried on a flat surface and adjusted to size.
The steps are attached to the supports by welding - this is a more reliable option than angles and bolts.
The bottom of the staircase is finished with rubber heels.

Forged structures: beautiful and modern

Very often in country houses The rooms are connected with the attic or attic by wrought-iron stairs. Moreover, they can be simple screw ones, or they can have ornate designs, which allows them to fit into any room stylistically. All spiral staircases can be divided into several types:

in the first version, the staircase is supported by a central pillar and walls;
in the second, the spiral staircase is removed from the walls and mounted on support pillar steps;
in the third case, the staircase with a turn does not have a central pillar, but rests on spirally curved strings;
the fourth option is a reliable metal staircase, which rests on a monolith pillar based on a steel pipe.

The most convenient are stairs, the span width of which is up to 900 mm with a diameter of the entire staircase structure of up to 2200 mm.

What if you buy it?

If you don’t want to do the installation yourself, you can always buy the same forged stairs, which are quite difficult to install yourself, much less come up with and make. Many brands offer a large selection of attic stairs, not only in Russia, but also in other countries of the world. Let's look at the most popular:

STANDART ISO PLUS (MINKA, Austria). This folding wooden ladder is made of quality MDF and is designed to maximum load 150 kg. There are special protective attachments on the legs, and the metal handrail ensures maximum safety. This is a compact staircase, the price of which is on average 8,200 rubles.
The Danish company VELTA offers economy-class structures that can be installed in the attic or attic. For 6000 rubles you get simple stairs, which is compact: it consists of three sections that are conveniently assembled and retracted into the ceiling.
FAKRO stairs are made from winter-harvested pine, therefore they are reliable and durable in use. This company offers a wide range of products that are compact and have a wide price range. The insulated hatch cover is the most important advantage that this ladder has. The price of models starts from 8,000 rubles. It is also important that all connections of the structure are reliable and durable, the steps are supplemented with anti-slip grooves, making operation safe and comfortable.

conclusions

Now you know how to make a staircase to the attic with your own hands. Having the most at hand simple materials, you will create a laconic but comfortable wooden or aluminum structure.

1 Design requirements
2 Varieties
3 Dimensions
4 Selecting a location
5 Measurements
6 Material selection
7 Form
8 Getting started
9 Two-section ladder
9.1 Manufacturing technology
10 Making a folding ladder on bowstrings
11 Videos
12 Photos
13 Schemes

If in the near future you intend to convert the attic into functional room, then before starting work you should think about where to install the ladder and how to make it. A ceiling door or hatch will also be installed here. This design can be ordered or purchased, but let's find out how to make a staircase to the attic with your own hands. So, you will save a fair amount of your family budget and acquire new skills that may well be useful to you in the future.

Previously, attic stairs were made from the outside, but hardly anyone would be pleased with the prospect of climbing into this room across the street in frost or rain. Many people have a ceiling door in their attic, most often in the hallway, and if they need to climb into the attic, they use a ladder. But this is also inconvenient if you have to create, for example, a study or a recreation room in the attic. For a civilized person, a better choice would be to install a stationary or folding ladder. If you don't have room for the first option, then the second one will suit you very well.

Design requirements

Design requirements

Whatever staircase option you choose, it must meet safety requirements. The structure must provide safe passage into the attic and be strong enough. Spiral staircases take up relatively little space and are highly attractive, however, it will be very difficult for older people to climb such a structure.

If the area of the corridor or hallway where the staircase will be installed allows, then it is better to make an opening wide enough so that a good stationary staircase can be installed.

The larger the opening under the stairs to the attic, the greater the heat loss will be, unless, of course, we are talking about a heated attic space.

Stationary ladder

Handrails and railings provide sufficient safety for a person climbing stairs. Therefore, if possible, make a design with these elements. Since in our case we are talking about making a staircase ourselves, it is also important to process it by special means, increasing the fire resistance of the structure. This is especially true in the manufacture wooden stairs.

The load capacity indicator should not be small, since if it is necessary to lift a heavy load into the attic, one must also take into account its own weight. So, the optimal load capacity is 260 kg.

Varieties

Varieties

Attic stairs are divided into the following types:

Monolithic. They can be marching or screw.
Foldable. They can be lever, scissor, folding, sliding or telescopic.
Portable stepladders or ladders.

Portable types of stairs are a temporary option for connecting floors. If you plan to use the attic on rare occasions, then an attached structure is the best option. But when arranging an attic space for a recreation area or for children to play, you need to make a more reliable staircase.

Ladder

Most often, there is no room in the building for arranging a massive structure. residential buildings. Therefore, it is not surprising that retractable stairs and their folding counterparts are in greatest demand when arranging an attic. They take up little space, are safe and convenient, and easy to use.

Dimensions

Attic staircase It has standard parameters, following which you will be able to produce a truly reliable and easy-to-use design:

The width of the march should be 65-110 cm.
The height of the stairs is up to 3.5 m. This is due to the fact that a fall from such or greater heights is fraught with injury, and the rigidity high design will be significantly less.
The average number of steps is 15.
The height of the risers is 19 cm.
The thickness of the steps is 1.8-2.2 cm.
The tilt angle ranges from 60 to 75º. This is due to the fact that an angle less than 60º will require a lot of space, and an angle greater than 75º is dangerous to use.
If you have to make a folding ladder, then it must withstand a weight of up to 150 kg.
The steps should not be slippery. They are installed parallel to the floor.

Selecting a location

Selecting a location

If you have to make the stairs yourself, then it is important to determine the installation location of the stairs - inside or outside; if you choose the first option, then in which room will the opening be made to climb to the attic? It is important that the stairs do not interfere with household members. Therefore, installing it in the kitchen or bedroom is not cost-effective.

If attic space will not be used intensively, then a ladder to climb into it can be made in the living room. It is better that the staircase to the attic in this case is closed or autonomous. In such a situation, a folding ladder is very a good option.

Measurements

If you are making a folding ladder, then take into account its dimensions when folded and unfolded. Take a measurement from the floor of the room in which the stairs will be installed to the ceiling. Decide on the width of the stairs, the number of steps, and the angle of inclination. Record all data on paper, which will help you make the most exact drawing. Errors in calculations can lead to undesirable consequences. For example, the stairs will be inconvenient to use and the risk of injury will increase.

The steps should be parallel to the floor. Doors should not open onto a flight of stairs.

Material selection

Material selection

When making a staircase from wood, all parts should be treated with antiseptics to prevent rotting finished product. After assembly, you can paint the structure with any suitable color varnish/paint. Typically, attic stairs are made of pine. This material is chosen by most homemade ones, since wood is easier to work with than metal.

If you decide to work with metal, then use galvanized materials. This type of metal does not rust. Such structures are very durable. So, you can save space; galvanized elements are thin and therefore do not take up much space.

To metal elements do not rub against each other, plastic parts should be used. Thus, due to the replaceable side plastic inserts, slipping will be prevented.

Form

The peculiarity of the attic staircase is its shape. It should be ergonomic, compact, comfortable and convenient. IN small room the overall design will look ridiculous. In a fairly large room there are no restrictions; if you want to install a compact staircase, but if you want to make a stationary massive one.

It depends on the available space and personal preferences whether the staircase will be one-, two-, or three-flight. If the distance from floor to ceiling is no more than 3 m, then it is quite possible to get by with the simplest one-flight design. But, if you want to be more original, then make a staircase consisting of two flights.

To make a single-flight structure look more interesting, make it arched. The steps can be made in the form of diverging rays.

Beginning of work

Beginning of work

If you have made the measurements and outlined the drawings, then it’s time to create an estimate for materials. So, so that you can make an attic wooden staircase yourself, you should stock up on:

Screws.
Screwdrivers.
Roulette.
Wood saw.
Kit wrenches.
Polyurethane foam.
Goniometer.
Hinges.

Side and vertical beams are used as the base to support the stairs. The amount of permissible load on the structure depends entirely on the strength of the base.

Two-section ladder

Two-section ladder

One section of this design folds upward. IN assembled form The two-section staircase is not hidden, but remains in plain sight. This is allowed if access to the attic is installed in a garage or other work space. When decorating the house in the appropriate style, a two-section staircase will also look good in the hallway. To make it you will need the following materials:

Roulette.
Ordinary wooden staircase.
Wood saw.
4 bars with a thickness of 2-3 cm, 2 of them must correspond to the width of the hatch, and 2 must be 20 cm longer than the hatch.
4 things. card loops corresponding to the width of the stringer.
Fastening elements.

The stringer is the base of the staircase on which the steps are laid.

Manufacturing technology

Manufacturing technology

First you need to connect a short block with the help of loops to the upper end of the ladder, another similar block should be rigidly fixed to the bottom of the ladder. To make the structure reliable in the end, take 2 slats and nail them diagonally with reverse side flight of stairs. In this case, these actions should be carried out so that these reinforcing slats do not interfere with movement along the stairs.

After this, you need to measure 2/3 of the total length of the structure. Measurements are taken from below. The ladder should be cut in the designated location. These parts of the structure will subsequently be connected by card loops, which are attached to the back of the stairs. Thus, the structure can be easily folded.

The top bar is fixed under the hatch. Thanks to the hook and loop, your staircase will not open randomly. So, the hook needs to be attached to the wall, and the loop to the block.

Making a folding ladder on bowstrings

Making a folding ladder on bowstrings

The manufacturing process of a folding ladder consists of the following stages:

Divide the height from the floor to the attic hatch into 3 parts. In this case, the first part should be the same size as the hatch, the second should be slightly smaller, and the third should cover the remaining distance to the floor.

Now you need to measure the angle of the hatch using a small tool.

Transfer the angle to the blanks under the stairs, which will allow you to mark the steps.

Drill holes between the sections for subsequent installation of the hinge.

Sand all elements.

At the places where the hinges are installed, the boards are sawn.

Cut and sand the steps.

Make notches in the strings to install steps.

Insert the steps into the strings, placing them on glue, and then tightening them with self-tapping screws.

Connect the sections with loops. To perform this stage of work correctly, place the sections on a flat surface.

Check the functionality of the sections.

Assemble the structure and temporarily install it in the hatch. If it turns out that the ladder needs to be adjusted slightly to fit the hatch, then do it.

Now sand the staircase and paint it with several layers of varnish. In this case, the next one can be applied only after the previous layer has completely dried.

After the varnish has dried, install the ladder into the hatch.

To speed up the process of making an attic ladder, carry out all work with a partner. This will also help avoid injury when working at height.

The main points for making a wooden attic staircase were described in this article. If you have questions on the topic, be sure to ask our expert. Would you like to supplement the article or provide useful additional recommendations? Leave your comments.

In the video provided, you can learn about other intricacies of making attic stairs:

The photo shows several options for attic stairs:

Stairs to the attic from the street

Staircase above the entrance

Original staircase

Folding ladder

Stationary ladder

Types of folding stairs

Calculation spiral staircase

Staircase drawing

Wooden staircase diagram

Staircase diagram

Scheme for determining the height and slope of the stairs

For dachas, country houses and cottages with attic rooms A compact and lightweight folding staircase to the attic becomes a vital necessity. It should not take up much space, because country house everyone is important square meter. In addition, a big advantage of the ladder will be its mobility. Folding designs save space and are easy to install. To complete all the related tasks of constructing such a staircase, you can do it yourself.

Types of attic stairs

Attic stairs can be located both indoors and in the attic itself. The second option is more profitable in terms of saving living space. According to the design of the stairs there are:

monolithic (flight or screw);
folding (lever, telescopic, scissor or folding);
portable (additional or stepladders).

Portable structures are used very rarely, mainly when performing construction work. Most convenient option- monolithic products that have wide flights and are equipped with railings. However, they are not suitable for access to the attic due to their large dimensions.

Better to use retractable structures, which are safe to use and easy to install. In addition, when folded, they do not take up space in the room. Thanks to the variety of possible designs, you can choose the staircase that best suits your home.

Transformable stairs

Wood and metal (most often aluminum) are used to make folding attic stairs. This combination allows you to get best results. Wood is needed to create flights of stairs(the weight of the structure is reduced), and metal parts are most often corners, fasteners and mechanisms that ensure the rigidity of the structure.

For stairs, choose hard wood (birch, ash, larch, beech, maple). The timber must be at least 2 cm thick. If the staircase will be used quite often, it is worth thinking about a metal structure.

The hatch cover should be filled with foam for greater thermal insulation. Dimensions of stairs to the attic:

the optimal march width is 65 cm;
average number of steps - 15;
the optimal step width is considered to be 19.3 cm;
the thickness of the steps is not less than 18 mm;
The optimal angle of inclination of the structure is 60-70 degrees.

To prevent the ladder from sliding on the floor, it is worth putting special pads on each string.

Scissor

These stairs are made entirely of metal. Their other name is accordion stairs. They are light, compact, and easily attached to the hatch. However, scissor ladders have one drawback - over time, squeaking appears during their use. They need to be lubricated periodically.

Telescopic

In this case, a folding ladder has several sections that fold into one another. They are usually made of aluminum. Domestic summer residents are wary of such stairs and prefer transformers to them.

Sectional hinged products are more in demand. They are more bulky and difficult to install, but are highly durable and durable. How a retractable staircase to the attic is made is described below.

Location

There is one main requirement for the location of the stairs - it should not interfere with residents when moving around the house. That is why it is not installed in the bedroom or hallway. Sometimes you can install a staircase as a piece of furniture - if the size of the room allows. In this case, there is no need to hide it.

Manufacturing a two-section ladder

If you need to make a simple and practical design, you should take a closer look at the option with two sections. To make such a staircase you will need a small number of tools and materials:

hacksaw;
ladder;
roulette;
timber 2-3 cm thick.
loops along the width of the stringer;
hook, screws, anchors and loops.

First you need to carry out preparatory work, then make a ladder, and then install it correctly.

Preparatory work

First they dismantle old design, consisting of a staircase and a decorative frame equipped inside the passage. Then you need to select bars for the flights of stairs. Each string must have a cross-section of at least 30*50 mm. Optimal inclination attic stairs in a small room is 60-70 degrees. It must be taken into account when calculating the length of the stairs and the angle of inclination of the steps relative to the staircase posts.

It is worth installing two-section stairs when the attic passage is located in close proximity to one of the walls. The folding structure will hang directly on the wall. The presence of only 2 sections does not allow it to be hidden in the attic directly above the passage.

Making stairs

First, assemble the lower and upper parts of the stairs. To do this you will need 4 strings and steps. The bottom should be 1/3 of the total length. Then it is necessary to strengthen the upper part with diagonal slats to give it greater rigidity. The structure is then connected together using hinges. A block is attached to the top of the stairs, which will later be screwed to the wall.

The ladder is attached to the wall using a pre-screwed block. It should be installed directly under the hatch. The advantages of this design are obvious - a minimum of parts and effort in manufacturing, ease of installation, lightness of construction. The disadvantage of a two-section ladder is that it remains in plain sight.

To avoid such a situation, it is worth building more complex design. The best option- staircase with 3 sections. It can be easily hidden in the attic, used only when necessary.

Three-section

Most compact version stairs to the attic - a hatch with a folding structure of 3 sections attached to it. Such products are sold in stores. They are made of steel, are small in size and are made of steel. You can also build them yourself. The material most often used is wooden blocks. To build a staircase to the attic with your own hands, you will need to follow a certain sequence of actions.

How to make a hatch

Before constructing a hatch, it is worth calculating its dimensions. If the hatch to the attic measures 125*70 cm, then the passage should be cut 7-8 mm larger on each side. This will make it easier to open and close the hatch. The level of thermal insulation due to such a gap will not decrease.

The materials you will need:

Bars 50*50 mm - 2 long and 2 short.
Plywood 10 mm thick.

Now you need to build a hatch. To do this, 4 bars are fastened together, and then a sheet of plywood is nailed to them. Before attaching plywood, check the diagonal. To prevent the structure made from bars from “driving,” you need to nail gussets to the corners. After the hatch is completed, it needs to be fitted into the opening.

To ensure that there are no locks on the outside and the hatch closes well, you should embed a door latch into the lid. It will hold the hatch perfectly and open comfortably.

Opening mechanisms

Now it’s time to tackle the most difficult part - creating opening mechanisms. In order not to complicate or delay the process, you can buy them at a hardware store. However, if you want to do everything yourself, you should adhere to certain rules.

To begin with, make drawings future design, taking into account the opening angle of the hatch. To make a hinge on which the hatch will open, you will need:

pieces of sheet metal;
one corner;
two metal strips of different lengths.

Holes are made on the hinges according to pre-made drawings. Then they connect everything together without tightening the bolts too much. The opening angle can be determined experimentally. To do this, open the hatch to the desired angle and make marks on the metal. Then the area that interferes with the movement of the corners is cut out with a jigsaw.

Now each corner locks in the desired position. To make the mechanisms identical, first one is completely manufactured, and then all the parts of the second are made according to the finished sample.

For greater strength, the hatch is connected to the opening with a supporting structure made of corners and metal strips. Pieces of metal are welded to the end of the upper strips, into which the lower strips will rest. The corner becomes support platform. The result is a hinge mechanism that becomes half-bent when the hatch is opened.

Ladder

The staircase itself is made of wooden planks. For the bowstring and steps, a 100 mm inch board is suitable. The first section is made according to the size of the hatch. The length of the second section can be equal to the first section, provided that it does not touch the ceiling during folding.

For the third section, select the length that remains to the floor. The angle of inclination is measured with the hatch open. Then it must be transferred to the board, marking the steps. Then the length of the sections is marked. All markings that were made on the first board should be transferred to the second. All lines must be a mirror image.

It is worth drilling holes where the hinge hinges will be located. The upper one is drilled directly at the junction of the fastened boards, the lower one - at their external sides. To make the holes look more aesthetically pleasing, you should additionally go over them with a router.

Then the boards are sawn at the junction of the segments. Afterwards, the steps are cut and all elements are polished. Small recesses are made on the bowstrings into which the steps will be inserted. Once all structural elements are ready, you can begin assembly.

Loops for marches

The next stage in the manufacture of stairs is making loops to connect the flights of stairs. To do this you will need to find 8 metal strips 25 mm wide. On 4 of them you need to weld a small piece of the same strips. 3 holes are drilled in each. One will serve as a connection point to the hinge, the other will be used for screwing to the ladder.

To connect the stair segments, they must be placed on a flat surface. The hinge must be screwed so that the bolt fits into a groove specially cut for it - in the center of the connection of the sections. After screwing the hinges, it is necessary to check the section for flexion and extension. Only after the check has been completed can section 3 be screwed on. After all the procedures have been completed, you can remove the hatch and screw the ladder to it.

Every staircase, regardless of type, should be comfortable. In addition, when implementing an attic structure, you should adhere to the basic rules:

attic folding stairs should not be more than 3 meters;
metal steps should be equipped with anti-slip pads;
wooden models are not installed in very dry or damp rooms;
mechanisms and fastenings must be strong and reliable;
From time to time, the rubbing parts of the product should be lubricated.

Such rules will be useful in the manufacture of attic stairs.

As you can see, making an attic ladder with your own hands is easy. During its manufacture, certain recommendations should be followed, and before starting work, make detailed drawing. During the work you should be careful, especially when working in the attic near the opening.