When building a house, many people include an attic in the layout. Naturally, you can’t do without a ladder. In order to make the descent and ascent as comfortable as possible for all inhabitants of the house, we suggest studying all the nuances of this design and the requirements for its construction. Creating an attic staircase with your own hands is not a difficult task; all you need is to have all the necessary materials, drawings, tools and allocate some free time.
Options for folding stairs to the attic
Stationary design(marching or screw) .
Built for permanent use. Reliable, safe, convenient, but takes up enough space.
Folding with hatch. Installed at the entrance to the attic hatch. It is compact, but has less reliability and safety compared to the previous one. Depending on the type of design, it can be folding, scissor telescopic or lever.
- Scissor - most often completely metal. The folding mechanism resembles an accordion. In the process of caring for the structure, lubrication is necessary, otherwise creaking cannot be avoided over time.
- Telescopic– usually aluminum, quite light and rigid. When unfolding, the sections of the ladder slide out from one another.
- Folding (lever)– two-, three- or four-section design. The first part is attached to the hatch opening and is equal to its dimensions. The remaining sections, connected by hinges and hinges, are laid out into a flight of stairs.
- Folding – when assembled it is fixed on the wall. Card loops are used to attach the steps to the string.
Attached (ladder). The least safe and extremely inconvenient for daily use.
Requirements for attic stairs
- Safety. The design must be reliable and durable. This applies to both the material used and the fasteners. In some cases, anti-slip pads for steps are recommended.
- Stair parameters. For comfortable use, steps with dimensions of 70 cm (width) x 30 cm (depth) x 20 cm (height) are considered optimal. From the point of view of safety and reliability, the total length of the entire structure should not exceed 3 m. The recommended tilt angle is 45°. Although options from 60 to 70° are possible. The classic design has 10 - 15 steps about 2 cm thick. The surface of the steps must be parallel to the floor. The structure must be able to withstand a load of at least 150 kg.
- Hatch dimensions. Most best option– 120 x 70 cm. If you make it smaller, it will be inconvenient to use; a larger opening will contribute to very significant heat loss. If there is no heating in the attic, you can provide heat and vapor barrier for the hatch.
Location of the stairs
Stairs to the attic can be external or internal. The latter, of course, are much more convenient; you can go up to the attic without leaving your home. The structures are usually located in the corridor or hall. It should be placed in such a way as not to interfere with the free movement of the residents of the house. It is important to remember that the area it occupies when unfolded is in inverse relationship from the angle of inclination. The smaller it is, the more space will be required.
Manufacturing and installation of a folding ladder with a hatch to the attic
Building a folding attic ladder with your own hands is not difficult; you just need to follow the instructions below.
Let's look at ways to make different types of folding attic stairs.
Simple two-section ladder
By custom sizes We make a simple extension ladder.
Next, the finished flight of stairs is sawn into two unequal parts (1/3 and 2/3). They are fastened together with card loops, and the structure takes on a folding appearance. It is attached to the wall under the hatch wooden beam. Using hinges, the staircase structure is secured to it.
In order not to open, the ladder is fixed to the wall using a hook, the loop of which is located at the point where the sections are connected.
The main disadvantage of such a ladder is that it cannot be hidden in a hatch. If it is important for the owners that the design does not spoil appearance, you can make a three-section ladder.
Staircase of three sections
To look like finished design will be as follows.
First of all, the hatch cover is made. We cut out a blank from a plywood sheet 10 mm thick. In size it should be 8 mm larger than the hatch itself along the entire perimeter. With such an allowance, the lid will close freely, maintaining its thermal insulation properties.
To make the hatch frame, we need 4 beams, equal in size to the length and width of the lid (section 5 x 5 cm). Cuts 2.5 cm deep are made at their ends, and they are coated with glue. The bars are fastened with self-tapping screws. To ensure that the diagonals are perfectly even, you can use temporary gussets made of thin plywood sheets. When the frame is ready, the gussets are removed and the cut-out blank of the hatch cover is fixed on it using self-tapping screws.
The next stage is the manufacture of the staircase mechanism itself. This is a version with hinges without a spring. The entire set of parts for it can be purchased at the store, but we will tell you how you can make it yourself.
First, on sheets of cardboard, you should recreate the drawing of the planned staircase, taking into account the opening angle of the hatch. We try on the cut out model on site. This will help us determine the required length of the hinges.
To make one mechanism we need metal elements: rectangle, 2 stripes different sizes, corner. We drill holes for hinges for bolts No. 10. We assemble and tighten the parts. Using a small tool, we measure the angle at which the hatch will open and open the structure to the desired angle. On the rectangle, select the area overlapped by the resulting angle and cut it out with a jigsaw.
We cut off the excess from the metal strips and round them at the ends. Now the corner can be locked in the required position.
Next, we make a similar element in a mirror version. To do this, each pair of parts is secured to clamps. A hole is drilled into which the bolt is inserted. Next, a second hole is drilled. The blanks are twisted with two bolts and aligned in length. All elements are created in this way.
The resulting mechanisms are mounted to the lid. The manufactured structure is hung on the hatch.
Now let's start making the sections. Their dimensions will be: the first - 90% of the length of the hatch, the second - 90% of the length of the first, the third - the length of the flight of stairs minus the lengths of the first two.
We need 15 linear meters. m. boards (10 x 3 cm). We mark them according to the calculations, and the angle of the march is transferred to the bowstrings. Bowstrings are mounted in a mirror way, this must be taken into account when marking and drilling. Holes are made at the connecting points of the staircase parts - in a mirror image through one.
According to the calculated sizes of the sections, we cut the boards into strings. Using a file, we process the holes. Cut out the steps. All elements are polished, chamfers are rounded. Next, using a chisel, according to the marked marks, we cut out grooves for the steps.
Each part of the structure is tightened with self-tapping screws using wood glue.
We make loops from metal strips 2 cm wide. We should get four strips 16 cm long and four 12 cm long. The legs are welded to the short ones, in which a 0.8 cm hole is pre-drilled. The length of the short strips with legs should be equal to the long ones. Now we have eight elements with equal length, on four of them there is a step. We tighten the mechanisms with bolts.
Now we carry out the general assembly flight of stairs on manufactured hinges.
We do not recommend using self-tapping screws to attach the structure to the hatch cover. For this we need bolts - they are more reliable. Having completed the assembly, we conduct a test. If everything worked out and there is no need to adjust the mechanism, remove the ladder to paint it. For processing, varnish and spray paint on metal.
Long gone are the days when home owners had to climb a cumbersome ladder to get to the attic. Modern options for the attic they are good because they take up a minimum of space both when folded and unfolded, and it is difficult even for an attentive person to guess the presence of such a structure behind a beautifully finished attic hatch.
And such a wonderful alternative is definitely pleasing to the eye. screw structures and stepladders, like a folding attic ladder - you can make it with your own hands with correct fastenings, with a strong spring mechanism and no worse than modern expensive market products. And even better!
Advantages and disadvantages of folding stairs
A folding attic ladder should be easy to hide and fold under the ceiling, and therefore it is customary to make it shorter, with a small number of sections. After all, every extra step in this regard means additional weight and volume.
Such stairs are good primarily because they allow you to significantly save space. At the same time, they do not spoil the ceiling of the living space at all. After all, the entrance to the attic is often located in one of the habitable rooms of the house. At the same time, such stairs are quite functional, durable and compact. And using them is as easy as shelling pears: just pick up a special rod with a hook at the end and hook onto the ring.
Next, with your left hand, you easily reach the bottom step of the outermost section, reach the floor and straighten all the other components of the ladder. In the same way, by doing everything in reverse order, you can easily fold the ladder back and put it into the ceiling. Moreover, many modern attic ladders also fold and unfold using an electric drive, which is generally incredibly convenient:
Another advantage is safety. Going up and down such a ladder is much safer than using an extension ladder: it will not break under your feet and your legs will not unexpectedly “leave away.”
And finally, lightness. The lightest folding attic ladders are made from of stainless steel and aluminum, thanks to which attic floor there are no serious loads. As you understand, due to the design features, such a staircase can only be made of metal.
Why is it better to make the stairs yourself?
Ready-made industrial stairs, which the market is actively offering today, are quite convenient, as far as can be judged from the available reviews on them. But we do not recommend placing them in attics that you often have to climb into (for example, our workshop or mini-library is located there).
Why? Because such stairs often turn out to be quite flimsy in practice - this is not hand-made production, but mass production, and no manufacturer needs to make them too strong. For any product, the maximum limit load is always calculated, which often does not take into account many factors and force majeure. And this is the same case when you, in a calm state and with almost no additional weight in your hands, carefully descend or ascend. You slip, fall, or a fairly overweight relative decides to take you up to the attic. heavy box- expect trouble.
And such stairs are often quite steep, and it is inconvenient to go down them with something in your hands - you need to stick to one. And go down only backwards. Therefore, it is quite natural that many home craftsmen who built their own house or bathhouse do not see any point in buying fragile and expensive folding stairs to the attic. Why, if you can make them yourself, and of excellent quality and much greater reliability?
Moreover, in this case, you have much more choice both in terms of the material for making the stairs and the fasteners themselves. The main thing is to calculate the dimensions correctly future design so that later it can be easily and compactly folded over the hatch, nothing will touch the opening and create a problem.
Another one common reason the reason that many undertake to build such stairs on their own is that most industrial options Usually the steps are very thin and fragile - they literally creak underfoot.
So, in order to make such a ladder for the roof with your own hands, you will need wooden scraps. First decide on the dimensions of the future attic opening, and the second step is to make the hatch cover and frame. You will then attach the ladder to it. It is advisable to leave gaps of 7-8 millimeters on each side. Technical specifications here they are:
So, now let’s figure out what types of attic folding stairs there are.
Design #1 – sliding stairs
Sliding ladders usually consist of two sections, one of which is attached directly to the hatch cover, and the second is extended vertically using special guides. When you fold such a ladder, one section seems to creep onto the other, which is quite convenient. The only negative is the bulkiness of the entire structure, which requires a wide opening in the attic floor.
Design #2 – folding with a spring mechanism
The most popular today - folding stairs, otherwise called sectional. These consist of three or four sections that can easily be straightened into a flight of stairs. They are connected to each other by a special spring mechanism.
Folding structures are considered the most complex in their design, since they have many fasteners and must be correctly attached to the hatch opening. Such stairs are made of both wood and metal.
Design #3 – telescopic ladders
The next type is a telescopic design. It performs remarkably well in cases where the attic is visited quite often. For example, when it was specially insulated to make it residential, although it had not yet reached a full-fledged attic. That is, we are talking about a technical attic, like a dressing room or a workshop, but in this case, a residential attic is better to install a spiral staircase made of wood or metal and always with railings.
In a telescopic design, the blocks are pulled out one by one, taking up as much space as possible. less space. And such stairs are especially good because they can be extended to almost any length, which is especially valuable for high ceilings. But such devices are not suitable for children and the older generation in the house, for whom it is quite difficult to reach the lower section and generally cope with the entire structure.
Design #4 – simplified folding stairs
These types of folding ladders do not hide behind an attic hatch, but they can easily be tucked into a corner or behind interior decoration. For example, this rarer species, which is usually made independently, also has the right to life:
And these options for folding stairs are quite popular abroad:
But both of these options have considerable disadvantages, some of which can bring discomfort to the interior of the living space, from where there is access to the attic, and after a month or two, such designs already bore the owners with their stupidity to the point of setting their teeth on edge. And therefore, we still suggest that you take a closer look at the more practical folding ladders, which can be easily folded and hidden behind a hatch cover.
How to determine the parameters of the future staircase?
So, we will give you some tips on choosing an attic ladder.
- Tip #1. When you choose the parameters for a future staircase, consider the mechanism of the hatch: when it is opened and closed, it can move slightly forward and backward.
- Tip #2. If the ceiling in the room is high enough, and exceeds 3.5 meters, it is better to install a marching or attached structure, or a spiral staircase, which will be safer in this case.
- Tip #3. When making a hatch, keep in mind that the larger the opening, the more heat will escape into the attic.
- Tip #4. Another point you should pay attention to is how the hatch will open. For example, in ready-made market versions, most often it opens slowly, thanks to special springs, and certainly does not fall on anyone’s head. Be sure to work on this point, especially since special parts are not difficult to purchase today.
- Tip #5. The steepness of a staircase is always determined only by its angle. The larger the protrusion of the step, the greater the number of these steps and the smaller their height. But this does not mean at all that it will be convenient for you to climb and descend such stairs. Therefore, we will call the most convenient step height 20 centimeters, which is most suitable for a standard human foot.
Here is a very useful video that will help you avoid many mistakes when installing such a staircase:
What fasteners and materials are needed?
As for the main material, a wooden staircase will be the most affordable, but here it is important to pay special attention to the strength of the fasteners. To make such a ladder, you will need two long and two short bars, as well as a piece of plywood 10 millimeters thick.
Let's take a closer look at this point. All designs that help open a staircase with a hatch at the bottom differ only in the presence of additional mechanisms and shock absorption. The shock absorption, in turn, makes it easier to close and open the stairs. And you can buy all the necessary hinge elements at any store. But simple metal strips drilled in several places are quite suitable for constructing such a staircase, and the most expensive thing for arranging a staircase is an aluminum sliding system.
Simple and practical fastening:
More a complex system:
But what are the requirements for fastening the entire staircase? The first is the ability to withstand the weight of the entire structure, as well as the weight of the person who will climb and descend along it. And not only the static loads of a person standing on it with his certain weight, but also dynamic ones, which are much greater than static ones. For example, a person stumbled and suddenly stood on a lower step, or staggered and leaned on the stairs with all his weight, but abruptly and suddenly.
And finally, we note the ability to easily control the structure. As you understand, such a ladder weighs a fair amount and it is important that you then make sure it is easy to open. And when closing, you will have to lift all the weight at once, so provide special springs that will make the whole process easier for you over time - you will be grateful for this trick.
Instructions for making a folding ladder
So, let's figure out step by step how to make a folding ladder for your attic. You will need the following tools: a hacksaw, a ladder, hinges, two timbers, bolts, self-tapping screws, a screwdriver and a metal hook.
The process itself can be divided into several steps:
- Step 1: Secure top beam to the opening using hinges, and the bottom one using self-tapping screws. The fastener itself should be with reverse side stairs.
- Step 2. Now we connect everything using the most ordinary bolts, with a diameter of 6 or 8 millimeters. A smaller diameter may not withstand the load, a larger one is simply not needed. Remember that self-tapping screws cannot be used here at all - they will not withstand the load and on a certain day they will simply tear out the entire fastening of the system.
- Step 3. Now we divide the stairs into three parts, measure 2/3 and make a cut, just between the steps.
- Step 4. We connect the sawn parts again, but with loops.
- Step 5. Nail longer bars on the back side so that they turn out diagonally for strength.
- Step 6. Now the ladder itself is delivered under the hatch and is pressed against the wall with the top bar. Secure this block with bolts.
Believe me, in practice everything will be much easier!
The staircase to the attic is a simple design that you can easily create yourself. It can be solid - made of wood or metal, or it can have a light and convenient folding shape. What options are suitable for your attic and how to make and install an attic ladder with a hatch with your own hands, read our material.
Stepladders for the attic? It's in the past!
The exit to the attic is almost always located in one of living rooms top floor Houses. Therefore, you have to either sacrifice space and spoil the interior, or use a portable stepladder. The last option is not only troublesome, but also quite risky, since unstable steps can break off, and in order to hold the stepladder itself, you often need to invite family members to help.
We suggest you make a choice in favor of a more reliable option - designing and implementing a new modern attic staircase. Types and recommendations for creating a good-quality staircase to the attic with your own hands, which we give below, will help you make your choice.
Attic stairs: overview of options
The main elements of the staircase are the bowstring and the stringer (side parts); tread (steps) and riser (for stationary stairs).
I. Capital steps
If there is enough space in your house, then we recommend building a stationary staircase to access the attic or attic. This option is reliable, practical and durable. Capital steps can be performed on the basis metal frame or quality wood.
Monolithic stairs can be marching, with one or more bends, or spiral (spiral). Marching options have steps in the form of rectangular plates (boards), which evenly move upward at the same distance. Spiral staircase folded around a central base, has steps narrowed towards the inner edge and is arranged in a spiral. The latter option is more compact and can be built even in small rooms, without compromising space.
The “advantages” of the capital option include durability, reliability and ease of use.
A capital staircase, in most cases, does not provide a hatch for access to the attic, therefore it is more suitable for houses with warm roof. For cold roof The exit to the attic must be closed with a sealed hatch. The standard dimensions of the hatch are 120x70 cm. It makes no sense to make the passage smaller, as this will complicate both getting into the attic and installing steps.
The material for the hatch is wood, metal or plastic. You can order a blank for the hatch at the metal-plastic structures factory with installation or self-installation. The hatch can be automatic or manual opening. With the latter option, a special pole is used to open the latch (lock) and lower the door with a ladder.
II. Portable ladders
Portable steps are the closest analogue of the “good old” stepladders. Such a ladder will only be reliable if you make a folding version with a platform. However, it is difficult to call such a design convenient. You will have to make extra efforts to get into the attic hole, and the issue of storing such a ladder will cause a lot of trouble.
III. Folding attic ladders with hatch
A very convenient and easy-to-implement type of attic ladder is folding steps connected to a hatch. Thanks to its convenient design, this type of steps has become the most popular among professional craftsmen.
Today there are many types of folding stairs, from which you can choose the most suitable option(telescopic, scissor, folding, etc.).
The folding mechanism is suitable for any attic spaces with a hatch onto which the staircase structure can be attached.
- Scissor steps. This type is made of metal. The steps themselves can be wooden. The ladder is a compressing mechanism. When folded, the design takes on a very compact shape and size, so it’s perfect for small children. attic hatch;
- Telescopic steps. They are a system of retractable sections (similar to a folding telescope). This option is made of aluminum and also looks very compact on a small attic door;
- Folding (folding) stairs. This type is the most popular, as it is characterized by practicality, durability, cost-effectiveness and ease of installation. Below we will describe it in more detail.
In general, most stairs schematically look like this:
Before we begin designing an attic staircase, let's consider some standard design characteristics:
- The width of the march for attic steps should not exceed 60-65 cm;
- The height of the entire structure (taking into account the slope) is allowed up to 300 cm. Anything that exceeds this length becomes less stable and less strong. The higher the ladder, the less load it can withstand;
- Based on the recommended length of the stairs, the number of steps is selected - 13-15 pieces, with a distance between them of up to 20 cm;
- The most convenient and safe angle of inclination of the stairs is 60-700 degrees;
- Steps are a direct recipient of the load when climbing, so they must have a dense structure and a thickness of 18 mm, and be positioned strictly parallel to the floor.
The choice of material for a flight of stairs should be determined by the frequency of operation of the structure. Wood wears out faster than metal. So, if you go up to the attic every day, it is better to design the steps from metal. In other cases, the tree is like light material, environmentally friendly and easy to install, is very popular.
So, let's get started and create a modern attic staircase with a hatch with your own hands according to the drawings that our specialists have prepared for you.
Stages of design and installation of a staircase of three sections with a hatch
Any work must begin with a project. Determine the height of your future staircase, taking into account the height of the ceiling and a slope of 60-70 degrees. It is also worth accurately measuring the attic passage and drawing corresponding diagram. The drawing must contain the following information: length of the staircase, angle of inclination, height of the ceiling of the room, dimensions of the passage and attic hatch, width of the flight, number and dimensions of sections, number, distance and dimensions of steps.
I. Preparation of the drawing
At this stage, the design is calculated. The length of the stairs is easy to calculate. Let's use a simple mathematical formula: D = B/, where α is the selected angle of inclination, B is the ceiling height. So, with a ceiling height of 3 m and an inclination angle of 60 degrees, the length of the staircase will be 3/0.867 = 3.46 m. Craftsmen advise adding a few centimeters to the resulting figure in order to then more accurately measure and cut the required length:
The dimensions of the hatch should be slightly smaller than the opening itself. For the calculation, 6-7 mm is left on each side of the door.
We calculate the length of the sections according to the following scheme: the first section is the length of the hatch minus 10%; second section – length of the first section minus 10%; third section - the sum of the lengths of the first two sections is subtracted from the total length of the stairs.
Now you need to transfer the calculations to paper and start preparing necessary materials and tools.
II. Selection of materials and tools
To implement the project, you need to prepare carpentry tools: tape measure, chisel, hacksaw, screwdriver, welding machine(or capital connections for a metal frame), square, hacksaw, clamps, wood glue, masking tape, electrodes, wood glue.
The main materials that we will need: 50x50 mm bars for finishing the hatch (about 4-5 pieces); two boards for the bowstring 100x25 mm long, equal to the selected length of the ladder; board for steps 100x20 or 100x25 mm; plywood or material with similar characteristics (for the hatch door one is enough standard sheet); plates and angles for opening and hinges; nuts, bolts, screws, washers, etc.
III. Making a hatch door
Step I. Prepare the bars for the hatch. At the ends of the beams, make cuts-grooves to tightly connect the structure into a regular triangle using mounting adhesive and fastenings. Protect the corners of the frame with temporary plywood plates to prevent the rectangle from moving.
Step II. Attach a sheet of plywood of the appropriate size to the base of the bars. Now you need to try on the hatch to the passage to the attic. It should be 6-7 mm smaller on all sides.
Step III. Provide a lock for the attic door. This can be an automatic mechanism, or a very ordinary latch, which can be opened with a pole with a tip.
Step IV. We install hatch opening/closing mechanisms. If you don’t want to buy ready-made mechanisms, you can make them yourself. There should be two fastenings - left and right. For work, purchase a 4x20 mm steel plate and a corner. The photo shows a drawing of the left fastening part. The right one is performed in a mirror image. Dimensions are given arbitrarily. For more accurate calculations, consider your parameters. Before fastening, be sure to check the mechanisms in operation:
IV. Assembling the stairs
You can always order a ready-made sectional staircase from the craftsmen, which you can fasten according to the finished scheme yourself. But if you decide to complete the work yourself, you can assemble the stairs from prepared materials.
Step 1. Mark on the strings the places where the steps will be installed. To do this, mark each part with a pencil, according to the selected angle of inclination of the stairs and the previously made calculations. Now press the ends of the boards tightly together and fasten them together masking tape. This is necessary to drill through holes at the junctions of sections. Drill a hole for the hinge with a diameter of about 25 mm at the junction of the first and second sections. Next, you need to remove the tape and turn the boards over, fastening them again. Now we drill a similar hole at the junction of the second and third sections:
Step 2. Cut the bowstrings along the marked lines. Next, grooves are made for the steps with inside bowstrings using a chisel. The depth of the grooves must be at least 5 mm (this should also be taken into account at the first design stage). The lower section of the bowstrings should be beveled according to the angle of inclination of the stairs.
Step 3. We cut the steps according to the markings and attach them to the left bowstring. We put the steps on glue and secure them with self-tapping screws. We attach the right bowstring and also fasten it with self-tapping screws.
Step 4. Attach the hinges for the sliding mechanism of the stairs. Hinges, like hinge mechanisms, can be bought in a store, or made independently from metal tape. We need eight strips of metal (you can use leftovers from the door mechanisms). Weld small pieces of the same strip to the four strips. We drill two holes in each part (for fastening and hinge). We connect the hinge with the hinges. Now we join the cut sections and attach the hinges so that each hinge fits into the groove (25 mm holes drilled before cutting the sections). We fasten the loops on the bowstrings:
V. Final assembly
Now the top of the finished ladder needs to be secured to the hatch, having first checked the operation of the hinge mechanisms. The staircase should also be checked after installation. After making sure that all parts are in good working order and functional, open the steps with varnish:
One more thing step by step guide for installation:
You can insulate and seal the hatch using foam rubber or construction wool. The edges of the hatch should be covered with rubber sealant tape.
That's it, your staircase with hatch is ready! This is exactly the option that is completely feasible “with one helmet.” We wish you fast and easy work.
An attic is a special room under the roof of a house that can be used in different ways. Naturally, you need to somehow get to the top. For this you will need an attic ladder. Making it with your own hands is quite simple. All you need is material, tools, drawings and a little time.
Attic staircase designs
Naturally, the presented structure should be convenient and take up very little space in the house.
There are quite a few types of such structures:
- Folding. Most often it consists of 3 parts that are fastened together. They can be easily folded. That is, if not needed, such a staircase will be located in the attic and will not take up space. You can adjust the height of this structure manually. Do-it-yourself folding attic ladders are very easy to set up.
- Sliding. This product most often consists of 2 parts that are attached to the hatch. Such a staircase must be equipped with handrails. However, keep in mind that in this case you will have to think about how to install it correctly in the opening.
- Scissor. Most often they are made from metal. The operating principle of this design is simple. The stair sections fit together like scissors. In a calm state, such a staircase looks like a spring. You can also equip it automatic drive, which will be controlled by remote control.
What are the requirements for the building?
If you need an attic ladder, even an amateur can construct it with his own hands. However, certain requirements must be met:
1. Special attention should pay attention to the safety of the product. That is, all fastenings must be reliable and the materials used must be durable. And the stairs should not block the passage.
2. Please note that functionality is more important than external beauty. Although this is not the last detail. For example, you should be comfortable walking up stairs. The design should be chosen taking into account all family members living in the house who will use it.
3. It is better if the stairs are equipped with railings, handrails and pads that will prevent slipping.
4. The structure must respond especially to wood.
5. Consider the load capacity of the product. The optimal figure is 260 kg.
Attic staircase(it’s quite easy to make it with your own hands) must fully meet the specified requirements. With this you will save your health, space and money.
Necessary materials
If you need an attic ladder, you should make it yourself only after you decide what you will build it from. For example, you can build it from wood or metal. In the first case, unpainted material should be used. This way you can design the staircase according to your interior in the future. Moreover, such a design is made faster and easier.
4. Metal elements should be prepared for the hinge mechanism: sheet steel, thick corner and strip.
5. Bowstrings and steps should be thoroughly sanded. Otherwise you may get hurt. Next, recesses are made in the bowstrings for inserting steps. Please note that the last elements must be located strictly parallel to the floor.
Features of manufacturing a metal structure
There are other types of structures represented. Do-it-yourself attic stairs made of metal are much more difficult to make than made of wood. For example, here you must strictly observe the slope of the marches within 25-45 degrees. The height of the steps should also be in the range of 60-64 cm. These are standard indicators that you should focus on.
Stringers can also be different. For example, there are stairs with a string made of sheet metal, sawtooth, with a jagged section, without brackets or with them. In principle, if you have a suitable drawing, you will quickly assemble the right option stairs.
Installation of the structure
It should be noted that the manufacture of the structure is not the most difficult stage. Installing an attic ladder with your own hands must be done very accurately, so as not to redo all the work later. During installation, certain rules must be followed:
1. First of all, you don’t need to do everything yourself. You need an assistant.
2. You must have exact dimensions opening to which the structure will be attached.
3. Please note that the ladder should be easy to operate. That is to sliding mechanism need to reach out. At the same time, it must securely fix the structure in the assembled state.
4. The structure must be fastened very, very firmly so that at one point it does not fall on your head. To do this, use large bolts and metal inserts.
5. To facilitate the operation of the structure, you can equip it automatic mechanisms, which will raise or lower the product using a remote control.
Before screwing, test the ladder to see if all mechanisms work correctly.
In principle, you have learned all the features of manufacturing and installing an attic ladder. Naturally, all actions should be performed accurately and carefully. Provided you follow all the technology, your product will last a long time and be of very high quality. Good luck!