DIY attic stairs dimensions. How to make a staircase to the attic

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The attic is rarely used, but the staircase leading to this room should be comfortable, compact and safe. Typically, home owners use an extension or stationary ladder installed on the street. To save space in the house, comfortable use and safe lifting, a folding system is installed.

Features and Benefits

The folding staircase in the house is designed to use the attic as needed. It is easy to use, since it can be brought into working condition without special effort, and also eliminates the need to free up a large area. The main feature of this system is that the principle of its use is similar to the principle of operation of ladders. It is important to take into account not only a large number of advantages, but also some features.

Advantages.

Safety. The folding ladder is stable and strong. At any time, regardless of weather conditions, it is possible to safely climb into the attic. Some types of folding systems are equipped with steps and railings.
Compactness. The compact design system allows you to save usable space in the room and in the attic. The unfolded state of the staircase requires little space.
Ease of use. This type of product folds quickly and without much effort. There are ready-made electric drive design models.
Easy to install. The kit for installing a folding ladder includes simple instructions. Following it, even a person without experience will not have difficulty installing the model. The system does not require additional reinforcement of walls, floors and ceilings. The lightness of the design allows you to easily move and install the product in another place.

Economical. The finished system is cheaper than a stationary staircase. A folding model can be made at home.
Aesthetics. The ladder is placed on the hatch cover in the ceiling surface, and high-quality finishing will support appearance. The design is completely hidden, so it does not spoil the interior.
Folding system The attic is removed, this is convenient when there are children in the house or the room area is small. The design is visible only during use, so there is no need to match the design to the interior.

Peculiarities.

Some types of models are not always comfortable to use according to the following criteria: steepness of the climb, size and number of steps. If the climb is too steep, it is uncomfortable to move with bulky objects in your hands.
The presence of a hatch will compromise the tightness of the room. The attic must be insulated, which leads to additional costs. In some factory design models, the hatch is equipped with a seal.
The need for accurate calculations and skills for self-made stairs.

Varieties

The operating principle of the staircase consists of several simple actions: opening the hatch cover, pulling the folded unit towards you. All components will be fixed and motionless. If you push it a little bottom part up, then the ladder itself will fold back to its original position. Finally, you need to close the hatch.

Electrically operated stairs have a simpler method of operation. To put them into working condition, you need to press the remote control button.

A staircase leading to the attic has a number of advantages: functionality, compactness and ease of use. The range of designs allows you to choose a specific type that is ideally suited to the parameters of the house. There are folding installations in the attic different types. They differ in their design.

One of the common varieties is “accordion”. This type of product has a small size, the folding principle works like an accordion bellows. The ladder is made of light metal, since its parts are movable, so it is important to take into account its maximum load when using it. After a while, it is recommended to lubricate the fasteners. The “accordion” is universal in that it can be stretched to a certain size depending on the height of the ceiling.

The retractable ladder unfolds according to the telescopic principle. This product is characterized by ease of use. When folded, it is the smallest in comparison with other folding staircase systems. The structure is assembled from hollow metal (aluminum) tubes, which form sections with steps, which, when folded, fit into each other and are clamped with clamps. The model can consist of two, three or more sections.

Folding sectional staircase. It is popular among designs performed at home. The model is either folded like a book or booklet, or the sections overlap each other. Typically, the length of the first section matches the size of the manhole cover. The design is larger, but as reliable and safe as possible.

There is a staircase consisting of two sections. The first short part is fixed to the hatch, and the second - long - unfolds to the floor. This type of system is also called a transforming staircase.

The folding ladder system is the most complex. The folding staircase to the attic consists of steps attached to a string. The staircase is as large in size and reliable as possible. It is most comfortable to use, since the angle of inclination is no more than 45 degrees. To create it yourself you need equipment and skills.

It is important to pay attention to preparing the room with the hatch. The area potentially occupied by the stairs is vacated. For safety, install a fence around the hatch in the attic or frame the folded model with a box.

Materials

The choice of material depends on the folding technology. Stairs can be made of metal (aluminium, stainless steel), tree or combination.

Wooden folding attic ladder eco-friendly and has an attractive appearance. It will look good in a house where the interior is made to look like wood. Positive traits installations are well tolerated temperature changes and exposure to moisture. TO negative qualities The product may be a fire hazard; insects can also live in the wood.

The folding version of the ladder is made of solid wood. The parts are connected using a special technology. At the edges of the steps there are protrusions that are inserted into the gaps of the guides, the connection is fixed with glue. For the manufacture of spans, timber from solid wood is chosen coniferous species, beech or ash, for steps - oak. The load capacity of the wooden folding unit is about 100 kilograms.

The metal folding ladder to the attic is made of metal that does not corrode. For the manufacture of complex design choose aluminum or steel. Main advantage aluminum system– simplicity of construction, such a light and durable metal will last long years. Steel products are offered with a corrosion-resistant coating. Load capacity metal structure– 200 kilograms, this figure is much more than that of a wooden ladder.

The disadvantages of a metal folding ladder include the difficulty of making it at home. To create it you need to have special skills, experience with welding and equipment.

Strength and lightness are the main characteristics of a folding staircase to the attic. The best option remains a combined staircase. This design consists of wooden steps and metal supports. This type of system is budget-friendly and reliable. Some models use rubber pads on the steps to reduce slipping.

How to determine the sizes?

To make the use of the stairs comfortable, it is necessary to determine the main dimensions of the structure and make calculations. It is important to take into account the parameters of the room in which the entrance to the attic will be located: the height of the ceilings, the area where the stairs will be laid out, the slope of the stairs. Usually a model consisting of 3 or 4 sections is installed for ceilings with a height of 3 meters.

Basic dimensions to be determined.

Ceiling height and staircase length. The higher the ceiling height, the more reliable and durable the structure should be. When measuring the height of the ceilings, the length, type of folding system and the number of sections are determined. At a height of 3.5 meters or more, it is recommended to install a stationary version of the staircase.

Opening and width of the stairs. The opening size can be from 0.5-0.6 by 0.7-0.8 meters. The optimal size is 0.8 by 1.20 m. The width of the step depends on the width of the hatch. It will be comfortable to climb stairs 60-70 cm wide.
Slope. A safe and comfortable slope angle is 30-55 degrees.
Pitch, number and width of steps. Average step and step characteristics that will be safe and easy to use: 15-17 steps 20 cm wide and 2 cm thick, step 18-23 cm.

After determining all of the above parameters, you can begin to select folding stairs. The safety and reliability of the product is characterized not only by the material and correctly calculated parameters, but also competent installation systems.

Installation

For safety reasons, please note the following restrictions:

do not use the product for plasterboard floors;
do not disassemble the constituent elements of the structure during installation;
do not loosen the fastenings connecting the ladder and the hatch;
Do not use the folding ladder until the work is completed.

Home installation of a finished folding staircase system begins in the attic, for this purpose the kit is lifted into the attic. First, the structure is placed with the hatch closed, then the ladder is attached to the open hatch cover in the unfolded state. The system must rest against the floor and be stationary at the time of installation. When the “rough” installation has been carried out, it is necessary to check how the system works: open the hatch cover from the room several times, disassemble and reassemble the ladder. If no problems are found with the operation of the installation, then installation continues.

Before starting work, you must carefully read the attached instructions and check the design for serviceability.

First, you need to place a box on the base of the opening and attach it with screws; the gap between the box and the opening is filled with foam. Then the upper section is installed. Unfold the ladder and make sure it is stable and forms a straight line. You can correct it by trimming the legs of the last section. Both sides of the structure must fit tightly to the surfaces.

IN ready set There is a fence for the hatch on the attic side. It consists of racks and crossbars. To create a more reliable and rigid structure, the racks are secured with metal struts. They connect the vertical bars to the floor.

Check the hatch for leaks. The lid should fit tightly into the opening. If the seal is poor, heat will escape from the room. Then it is carried out redecorating the bottom side of the hatch cover. When installation is completed, a control check can be carried out.

Equipment modern designs and the functions of a folding ladder can be varied. This includes railings, protective covers, electronic system And remote control. The simplest option is to design a folding wooden system. Wood is the most available material, which is easy to operate.

Before completing the work, a drawing of the designed staircase is created. The height from the floor to the place where the hatch is located is measured and calculations are made. The easiest way is to create a sectional staircase that opens up like a book.

The attic for each person can serve as any room, for example, a workshop or a living room. It all depends on imagination and size attic space. One thing is clear for sure, this room needs to be equipped, and begin this work follows from the stairs.
Very often it is difficult to get into the attic, and you have to use a stepladder, which requires a lot of space. To fix this, you can make the stairs yourself.

Equipment for space under the stairs

Before you start equipping your attic, you should first decide on a place for the stairs. This staircase involves the installation of a hatch, that is, a ceiling door.

It will take a little time to create such a staircase; you will need the following materials:

Hacksaw for wood;
Roulette;
Any staircase made of wood;
4 card loops, stringer width;
Bars - 4 pieces with a thickness of 2-3 cm, 2 bars the width of the hatch, and 2 bars 20 cm longer than the hatch;
Self-tapping screws, anchors, loops and hook.

The stringer is the main beam; it is on it that the steps will be attached.
First, short bars are used. One is attached with hinges to the top of the ladder. And the second block is attached to the bottom using a rigid fastening.
For reliability, 2 slats are screwed with inside, but they should not interfere with unfolding.
2/3 is measured from the bottom and a cut is made in this place. After which they are attached to each other with card loops. The fastening is done so that it folds easily

The first bar is screwed to the hatch, after which a hook is attached to the wall, and a loop is attached to the bottom bar, all this is done to firmly fasten the structure when closed.
This type of staircase is considered the easiest.

Attic ladder on hinges

It is created from three sections and an additionally equipped hatch.

From the beginning, the hatch opening is determined. For the right size hatch, you should add 0.7 cm on each side.
For this staircase you will need:

4 bars measuring 5x5, 2 long and 2 short;
Plywood sheet 1 mm thick;
2 metal corners;
Sheet metal;
4 metal strips 2 cm wide.

Cuts 25 mm deep are made from the edge of each block, after which they are fastened with glue and self-tapping screws into an even rectangle. A sawn sheet of plywood is attached to it.
The locks are replaced with a door latch.
For the mechanism that will open the hatch, you can buy everything in the store, or you can make it yourself.
To create the mechanisms yourself, you need to make models from thick paper, that is, create corners with the required dimensions.

Using a saw, the part that will be covered with a corner is cut out on a sheet of metal. Unnecessary strip lengths are removed and the edges are rounded. After which the corner is assembled. It is necessary to make two absolutely identical corners.

The staircase is assembled from three elements; you should not be mistaken with the size of each part. The first is the size of the hatch, the second is shorter, and the length of the third is the remaining length.
The angle of inclination, which was measured on the hatch, is transferred to the board; this will be the inclination of the steps.
Then the boards are marked with the length of each section. The boards are pressed down with masking tape, the steps are marked and the slopes are made.

You can make a staircase to the attic with your own hands without extra effort and serious costs. The cost of such stairs is significantly lower than those made to order. And the view is not inferior to them at all.

The drawings of the attic staircase are not particularly complex. But a number of features for calculation and design should be taken into account. Then the resulting design will meet the basic requirements for safety and ease of movement between levels.

Name of elements of folding stairs to the attic

Before choosing a ladder, you should pay attention to a number of important points:

All these points will help you quickly navigate the choice of design type. There are the following classifications of attic stairs:

More common aluminum structures. Metal and wood can be combined.

Technical requirements. Data and formulas for calculation

Attic stairs must meet the following characteristics:

The stairs to the attic are easy to make. You should start with calculations of parameters and a drawing. To draw up a diagram not “by eye”, you will need the following data:

Schemes of folding stairs

Such designs do not require more space for arrangement; they can be organically integrated into the interior or hidden in the attic. The suggested options will help you arrange your home ergonomically.

Drawing No. 1

This type is a device of two folding sections.

This option is suitable for attic openings located near the wall.

When developing a drawing, take into account the following points:

This staircase is not particularly aesthetically pleasing, but assembled form takes up virtually no space.

Drawing No. 2

This option, like the first, is attached to the wall, but through one bowstring. The requirements for it are slightly different:

This staircase is a little more complicated than the previous version. But the following type of device has gained great popularity.

Drawing No. 3

This type of design is retracted into the hatch when folding and closing. Most convenient option, since it does not take up space in the residential part of the house. If the width for the previous design could be arbitrary, then for this type of staircase this parameter is related to the dimensions of the opening. Main subtleties during design and assembly:

A do-it-yourself attic ladder, the drawings of which are presented, is easy to make. Some craftsmen even make hinge mechanisms for the hatch themselves.

Having a private house with an attic, there is often a need to install an additional structure with which you can easily climb up to work on the second floor of the house. Making an attic ladder will be the easiest and most successful way to do this. Using a hatch will allow you to hide the structure when it is not needed, and making the staircase itself with your own hands will not allow you to doubt the quality and reliability of the structure.

Purpose

In a good private house, an attic is most often installed during design. This non-residential premises, where most often all unnecessary things are stored for which there is not enough space in the house. If desired, you can make a full second floor out of it. In any case, no matter how this room is used, you need to be able to get into it. The simplest and most reliable option is a ladder.

Initially, private houses were built with external iron structures on the side, along which it was possible to get to the attic quite comfortably in good weather. If initially the staircase was not made, then the household used a simple attached wooden structure, which was installed only at the necessary moment. The disadvantage of any of the above methods is seasonality - only in the summer, in good weather and daylight hours, you can safely get into the attic and do all the necessary manipulations in it.

Due to such features, many owners of dachas and own houses constructing an attic staircase indoors. In order for it to take up little space and not disturb residents, most often the design is foldable. An attic ladder can be either metal or wooden; you can buy it or make it yourself. Each owner decides this moment for himself. To prevent a draft from blowing from the attic, dust not getting in, and simply not having a hole in the ceiling, it is closed using a hatch.

If the attic is equipped for living space, then most often a stationary staircase is erected so that you can quickly go up and down. For a non-residential area, the most logical thing would be a folding structure, which is hidden behind a hatch under the ceiling and can be accessed at any moment. Having the option of going upstairs inside your home means you don't have to worry about weather conditions or darkness if you need to take something from the attic or carry something you don't need away.

Types of structures

If you are concerned about buying or making a staircase to the attic, then first of all you need to understand what type of structure is right for you. Having determined the place where you will install the ladder, you can understand how large it can be, how much space it will take up, what type it will be, and only after that you can take some more serious steps.

The main options for attic stairs are:

foldable;
folding;
retractable;
spring;
telescopic.

Folding stairs are most often made of metal, because this material allows you to create a small-sized and easily folding structure. The main material for this is aluminum, due to its lightness and good strength characteristics. The advantage of this type is the versatility of the device, which is suitable for almost any type of house structure with a wide range of ceiling heights.

If this option is folded, the structure turns out to be small, and does not go beyond the box made for it. The only downside is the difficulty of folding and unfolding the mechanism, because these actions require a certain amount of physical strength. In addition, it is very difficult to make such a staircase at home. Here, each part must have a certain length and be fixed using the necessary hinge mechanisms, so it will be easier to purchase it in a store.

You can make a folding ladder from wood, but it will have a completely different appearance. You can do it yourself without much difficulty. It will consist of two parts. During folding, it will be attached to the longer part, and the entire ladder is not hidden anywhere, but is placed or attached to the wall. In the case of mounting, you need to make fasteners on the wall.

If there is a need to have a portable ladder, then you can make a very simple but reliable mechanism using beams and a cable. Two bars are selected based on the height of the ceiling, steps are prepared - there should be no more than four of them, between two wooden ones there will be one step made of cable, which tightens the entire structure during operation. By loosening the cable, you can completely disassemble everything and place it in a closet or other storage location.

The folding type of attic ladder differs in the type of device. All parts of the structure are folded into one another and removed upstairs. The same principle is used when laying out - each section is opened one by one and the staircase is ready for use. This type of operation is achieved using a hinge mechanism, which is installed on both sides of each span. The uppermost part is attached to the hatch; when opened, additional handrails appear, which make the staircase structure more reliable and facilitate easy and quick climbing to the top.

The convenience of this option is that when folded, the ladder has the same dimensions as the box in which it is placed, which means it does not take up more space than necessary. If you wish, having gone upstairs, you can remove it so as not to disturb other inhabitants of the house if the position of the hatch is in a passageway.

For safety, grooves are made on the steps that prevent the foot from moving and the person stands confidently when going up or down to the first floor of the house. In purchased designs this is provided for initially, but when planning own production, you must not forget about this nuance. Type of fastening of steps in ready-made designs has the name "dovetail".

A retractable staircase can consist of two or three parts, which is regulated by the height of the ceilings in the house. The principle of operation of such a device is simple - each section extends one after another, as if on rails. The top section must be attached to the main beam in the attic to ensure the structure is strong. When planning the installation of such a lifting device, you need to make a special box on the ceiling into which the ladder will be mounted. It is important to have a strong and reliable design, otherwise there is a risk of the ceiling collapsing with anyone climbing into the attic.

A manhole cover is attached to the upper section, which should be shorter than the rest in length., and while the entire structure is folding, the window to the attic is automatically closed. It is not necessary to secure the hatch; you can close it yourself after the ladder is sent up.

Another variant retractable design has two sections. The small one is attached to the hatch, and when it is opened, you can freely access it. By removing the special fasteners, you can release the second part and lower it to the floor level, resting it firmly and securely on it. Most often, wood is used for this option rather than metal. The hatch is raised and lowered on special metal folding guides, which are located on both sides.

If such a ladder is purchased, then the hatch it's already underway included, and it is additionally equipped with thermal insulation to prevent leakage warm air into the attic, but the cold one did not enter the room. If this design is built with your own hands, then these nuances should also not be forgotten.

Spring stairs have special spring mechanisms, with the help of which each section of the structure is fixed, which does not allow them to fold spontaneously. Thanks to them, the reliability and safety of the device for climbing into the attic is achieved.

The telescopic ladder is made of metal and has the form of round guides that fold into each other according to the principle of a telescope. The steps move tightly together, and the entire structure takes up minimal space. It is very convenient and simple to use; any household member can handle it.

Lifting systems for attic stairs are more convenient than options for products that remain in the room. The sliding design allows you to quickly remove and fold the product, which is important for those who are used to working quickly. Automatic system slamming the hatch avoids the inconvenient procedure of climbing to a height up to the ceiling level in order to further secure it when the ladder has been removed. If you want to have a stationary staircase, but so that it takes up a minimum of space, then the best option will screw design, which will allow you to climb into the attic, making circular movements during ascent and descent.

Where to place it?

In a house with an attic, sooner or later the question arises of purchasing a staircase through which one can easily access it. The construction of such a structure for the street will not cause any special problems, although there will be little comfort from using such a device. In order to make access to the attic quick, you need to place lifting mechanism right in the house.

The first thing to take care of is right choice places for this. If the house is large, then finding an impassable corner in it will not be difficult, but in a small country house You will need to get out of the situation where one space serves as a kitchen, a bedroom and a living room. In this case, the farthest corner from the entrance to the house is selected. If there is a corridor, then you can also think of a hatch in it, where the ladder will hide.

Having a spacious kitchen, you can provide access to the attic from it, especially if something useful for cooking is stored there. If you need to hide a stationary staircase, you can fence it off from the general space of the room by making a small corridor that will have a door, creating the illusion of a room.

The staircase can also be used as a decorative item, but it is best to do this in the case when the attic is a living space and is used quite often. A folding design will only make it difficult to use, while a stationary one will allow people of any age and physical ability to climb up and down comfortably.

Materials

When planning to make a staircase to the attic on your own, it is important to purchase all the necessary materials. The first thing it all starts with is installing the hatch. This wooden frame, where the structure will be hidden. To make it, you need to have a 50 by 50 beam in cross section and ten millimeters of plywood. When making a staircase from wood, you need to prepare boards 20-25 millimeters thick and 120-150 millimeters wide.

To determine the length of the boards, you need to already know what kind of structure it will be - sliding, folding, how many sections it will have. The material for the steps is calculated, the distance between them and the thickness of the material are thought out. As for the hatch, an important component of its good operation are the components that are responsible for the shock-absorbing properties at the time of opening and closing. To secure the hatch to the box, you will need hinges. They must be powerful in order to cope with their task many times.

Important components are also the mechanisms that help hold the hatch together with the ladder. These unique shock absorbers can be purchased or made by hand if available suitable tool. Another important element is the hinges, which help fold and unfold the ladder. These accessories are sold in any furniture store, so there should be no problems purchasing them. Metal base of all important elements allows you to have no doubt about the reliability and quality of the finished product and confidently use it for many years.

To make a ladder with a hatch yourself, you need to have the following tools:

hacksaw for metal;
gun for working with polyurethane foam;
screwdriver with bits or a set of screwdrivers;
self-tapping screws of different lengths and widths;
tape measure of sufficient length;
card loops;
bars with a thickness of 20 to 30 millimeters.

Dimensions

The calculation of standards for the manufacture of stairs to the attic has long been established, so you just need to apply it to your premises. The width of the march should be kept at 650-1100 millimeters, and the height should be no more than 350 centimeters. If you make the structure taller, its reliability will be significantly lower.

When planning the number of steps, you should not make more than fifteen of them. If the situation requires it, you can increase the quantity, but first the entire structure is strengthened. Optimal distance between steps is fifteen or twenty centimeters. The step itself must be at least two centimeters thick.

Most right angle the installation of the attic structure will be sixty or eighty degrees. A larger angle will significantly reduce the safety of using the ladder. For small angle it requires very little space, which is a significant advantage.

When thinking through the design, it is important to consider the weight that will be on the ladder during use. These are not only kilograms of the owner of the house and his relatives, but also any items that need to be placed in the attic or taken downstairs. It is worth taking care that the steps do not slip, otherwise you can fall off them and injure yourself.

The opening in the ceiling is made to size finished stairs and a hatch that is attached to it. It is important to calculate every millimeter as accurately as possible and insulate the entrance to the attic so that cold air does not enter the house from it.

Step-by-step production

If you decide to make a staircase to the attic with your own hands, then the first thing you should take care of is drawings and creating a project. Homemade design is not difficult if you approach the process of its implementation correctly.

The first thing you need to do is pick everything necessary tools and purchase materials that you will definitely need for your work. After this, a simple extension ladder will be installed, with the help of which you can work with the ceiling and make a niche in it for the hatch.

Once the location for climbing into the attic has been determined, you need to cut a rectangular window in the ceiling and start constructing the manhole cover. To do this, you need to use a 5 by 5 centimeter beam, which is cut based on the dimensions of the finished hole in the ceiling. When the structure is fastened, plywood ten millimeters thick is stuffed on top. When everything is ready, you need to try on the resulting lid, and if you like it, you need to secure it with hinges.

Once the installation of the hatch is completed, you can begin making the stairs. It’s easy to do this yourself, especially if you chose the folding design option. To do this, you need to use an extension ladder, to which beams are screwed on both sides. At the bottom you need to fasten them securely, and at the top the fixation goes to the hinges. Next, the entire staircase is sawn into two parts - the upper one is large, the lower one is half as large.

In order to prevent such a staircase from slipping, you need to make additional rigidity bars that are installed diagonally.

The two parts of the folding structure must be connected using hinges. Top part The entire ladder is attached to the hatch with anchors, and the lower folding part is attached with a hook, which prevents it from opening independently. The finished lifting mechanism is pressed against the wall and fixed.

You can make an attic ladder from three parts, which will fold and hide in the hatch. To do this, the ladder is divided into three parts, the first of which has the dimensions of a hatch, the second is smaller than the first, and the third has a length that is enough to place it on the floor. All parts must be secured with hinges, the operation of which must be carefully checked. The stairs need to be sanded well and varnished.

In order to make an attic ladder, it is not necessary to have unique skills and be a real master, you just need to approach the work correctly and do everything correctly and efficiently. Creating a lifting mechanism will not take much effort and time if you develop clear plan action and enlist the support of family members.

Any room in the house can and should be equipped in an optimal way for the people living there. This also applies to the attic. A do-it-yourself attic staircase is an excellent example. correct use space and forces for organizing space indoors.

The ascent to the attic includes the ladder itself, a special hatch for penetration and a system of levers for fixing the installed span. A do-it-yourself attic staircase allows you to save money and provide excellent quality construction.

Classic look of a retractable staircase to the attic

There are plenty of options on how to make a staircase to the attic. So the choice is up to you optimal solution and its implementation.

Staircase manufacturing, installation and testing are the main stages of work. But without design and calculation of the future structure, construction will be complicated, and the quality may not meet expectations.

The beginning of work is the creation of a hatch leading to the top. A DIY attic ladder is a great approach if you have sufficient knowledge and skills. The correct choice of hatch location, its precise creation and staircase equipment serve as the basis for the entire project.

You have 2 options: use finished hatch or make it yourself. The size of the hole should be comfortable for climbing, so as not to touch the ceiling and slings with your head. The place should not be crossed by beams and load-bearing elements. The hatch must be additionally insulated, because the integrity of the structure is compromised and this can lead to heat loss.

If you decide to make an attic staircase with your own hands, then you should understand that this is not just a classic path to the upper floor. The attic staircase has its own characteristics and requires a special approach.

Manufacturing a hatch for an attic staircase includes the following work:

Development of drawings
Accounting and detailed analysis of the thickness of all structural elements and hatch dimensions.
Selection necessary materials and tools.
Forming an opening where there will be a folding ladder or other option for climbing into the attic.
Assembling the hatch frame and securely fixing all elements.
Making a cover from leftover floor coverings.
Decoration and complex of insulation works.

As a result, you get an equipped hatch that can be easily closed for a while.

hatch in closed position practically does not stand out against the background of the ceiling

DIY folding ladder to the attic

In most cases, the design of the stairs to the attic appears this way. An attic ladder that can be folded freely looks convenient and practical, saving space without sacrificing functionality.

Making this type of staircase yourself is quite complex and time-consuming, but proper preparation And step by step execution quite feasible. To make a folding attic ladder, you will need the following tools:

Hacksaw
Polyurethane foam
Screwdriver (preferably electric)
Screwdriver
Anchor bolts
Self-tapping screws of different diameters
Loops for fastening
Roulette.

Before starting the production of an attic ladder, you should make sure that you have an extension ladder, which will serve as the basis for work. A folding ladder can be made in just 1 day, if you have all the materials and tools.

This design option is objectively the most popular, for which there are reasons:

A folding ladder can significantly save space.
The element folds easily and is extremely simple to use.
Harmonious fit into any interior.
Fast production speed.
High strength and long service life.

If you manage to make a folding staircase exactly with the planned dimensions, you will get a spectacular and effective element in home improvement.

Standard sizes

Although the attic ladder is made by hand, there are certain established dimensions that are recommended to be followed. They are selected and laid out at the design stage, and during the manufacturing process they serve as the starting point for all actions. Below is a list of sizes that can be used:

With a staircase height of 290 cm: 60x90, 60x120 or 70x120 cm.
Height 280 cm: 60x120 and 70x120 cm.
Height up to 280 cm: 60x120, 70x120 and 70x130 cm.

This is the accepted order of numbers. In any case, you choose the final parameters yourself, solely based on personal preferences and understanding of the ease of use of the design.

Drawing

Here is a set of diverse ladders with detailed drawings for work.

The manufacturing process step by step with photo illustrations and detailed descriptions

When making stairs for the attic, it is important to follow the stages of the work in order to get the optimal result. To do this, we offer you universal instructions (attention: some changes and adjustments are allowed for a specific case).

Drawing development. Not required here high accuracy and correctness of design. The main thing is that your document is understandable to you personally and contains precisely calculated and verified parameters.
Preparatory work. This important and extensive stage includes the selection complete set tools and materials that will be required to complete the work. Already at this stage, a drawing will help you a lot, because you will have a clear idea of what the staircase will look like, which means you can easily make a complete list of everything you need.
Manufacturing of the support frame. Based on the standard and selected size of the hatch, you form the frames, carefully adjusting all the corners and cleaning individual areas.

Installed frame and mounted hatch in open position

The frame is installed in the working position and secured with bolts and inserts. The opening fits exactly.
After mounting the frame, the hatch cover is inserted into the body.
Grooves for stairs are made on the guides.
The ends of the support beams should be cut at an angle that will optimally match the floor when the stairs are opened.
The sawn and polished steps are carefully installed in the groove and secured with self-tapping screws.

Installation of steps on bases

All elements (staircase segments) are assembled into a single structure. Metal hinges are used to secure all parts.

Metal loops for connecting structural elements

The ladder assembled on the floor is installed in its working position and attached to the hatch frame.
Be sure to carefully check how the design you created works. To do this, perform the full set of opening/closing movements several times.

Staircase of several sections in assembled condition

See how you can make a staircase to the attic with a visual example

Attic ladder mechanism with hatch - hinged without spring

The design of the hatch opening mechanism is one of key elements when designing stairs. You can purchase a ready-to-install mechanism at any department store. If you do not want to purchase such parts, you can make it yourself.

For the manufacture of simple option opening system, you will need the following set of parts and tools: a corner, a metal sheet (a small piece), 2 strips with different lengths of the blade, bolts for fastening, drills, a jigsaw, cleats and clamps.

The manufacture of the mechanism for the stairs is as follows:

Drawing up a drawing with detailed description elements. Be sure to calculate the angle of contact and the angle of inclination of the lid when opening.
Make a design of the mechanism from cardboard in order to accurately calculate the size of the hinge.
Take metal strips and mark holes on them. The hinges will be installed here. The size of the hole is determined by the size of the M10 bolt.
The strips are assembled together into a single structure and tightened, but not too much.
Determined exact angle using malka.
Extend the mechanism being created to the set angle.
On the metal sheet, mark the part that will overlap when the hatch is open.
Using a jigsaw, cut this section.
The stripes must have a presentable appearance, for which they are carefully cleaned and curved. The processing of all elements is very important, because it is this that ensures that all elements match exactly and fit optimally. No friction between parts should be allowed.
To make the second part of the mechanism, we recommend using clamps. To ensure accurate dimensions, it is enough to securely fasten the finished element and the source.
You can also use clamps to achieve precise hole placement.
Once the bolt holes are created, the bolt is placed into the finished hole.
The blanks are twisted with two bolts and aligned along their length.

Your task is to make 2 identical mechanisms. Completely finished opening mechanisms are installed on the hatch. Be sure to re-fit the hatch with the mechanisms to the opening - make sure there are no gaps or areas where the elements come into contact.

Adjusting the structure in this area is possible and is not difficult, so pay attention to this.

The hinge is easy to use and allows you to use the ladder comfortably.

Stair options

Attic stairs can have several types. The ability to choose allows you to optimally equip any room depending on your personal wishes and needs.

— folding ladder on hinges

A fairly common format for making stairs. The project consists of 3 sections that are connected into a single structure. This format is suitable for equipping stairs in any room. Hinges for an opening hatch can be purchased ready-made and installed in the shortest possible time.

Folding ladder on hinges

- simple wooden staircase

This option is more attractive and is a definite upgrade of the previous design. To make it, it is enough to cut a standard ladder into 3 sections. The smallest one should be the size of the hatch, the second one should be larger, and the third one should completely cover the remaining distance to the floor. Make grooves on and install steps into them. Be sure to finish all corners and surfaces accurately.

- two-piece folding ladder

An attic staircase option that is suitable for low room heights or a type of simplified design.

Folding ladder

- sliding attic ladder - retractable flights to the attic

A ladder with large retractable sections that can be pulled out and simultaneously cover the distance to the hatch. Requires precise fitting of elements and sufficient space.

Sliding staircase

- do-it-yourself staircase to the attic from the street

An attic staircase can have an unlimited number of design options - below you can admire the completed projects.

Stairs from the street

Photo gallery of attic stairs

Today you can find it online a large number of designs of stairs for the attic. Anyone can make them with their own hands, so you shouldn’t be afraid - you just need to prepare well and do it.

A DIY attic staircase is a great way to make your home more comfortable, and making trips to the attic a real pleasure. The design has a small set of technical difficulties - therefore the product is often made by hand. Basic rules for those who decided to make an attic staircase themselves:

Carefully draw up a drawing based on the obtained dimensions and personal wishes.
Choose the best quality tools and materials.
Carefully inspect all connecting elements and docking parts.
Check the staircase elements more often to prevent defects and eliminate them in a timely manner.

The staircase for climbing to the attic is easy to decorate and fits perfectly into the style of any room. Comfortable handles and reliable fixation forms perfect option climbing to the top, which is an excellent alternative to a standard fixed ladder.

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