Backyard Playhouse Plans

If you want to maximize the use of attic spaces to store or provide better access to mechanical equipment for routine maintenance, folding attic stairs are smart choices. And while installing one is a task that most homeowners would prefer to avoid, for contractors installing attic pulldown stairs is a simple and cost-effective operation. Folding stairs for attics come in two basic variants: wood and aluminum. Wood is an economical choice and wooden stairs for penthouses usually have a rating of 350 pounds. Aluminum is lighter and more durable, and some models have a rating of more than 375 lbs.

Generally, both stair models have a size that fits standard openings of 22.5 to 25 inches by 54 inches or wide openings of 25 to 30 inches by 54 inches. In the case of higher ceilings, 12-foot stairs usually require an opening of approximately 25 by 66 inches. There are also some compact aluminum versions for openings as small as 18 by 24 inches. The installation typically requires two people and the ability to the searcher, squelch and level, as would be done to install a window or a door frame. The first step to install attic pulldown stairs small is to enter the attic and confirm the best location for opening the ladder.

Make sure there are no wiring or mrechanical obstructions that cannot be removed and that there is ample space for users to be able to move around the perimeter of the planned opening. Inspect the direction and spacing of the floor joists. Most staircases are designed for 2 × 10-floor beams spaced 24 inches from center to center. The spacing of the larger or narrower beams will require cutting at least one of the beams and entering one crossbar on each adjacent beam. In the folded position, slide the ladder in the opening to the support tables. Make sure the attic pulldown stairs wood is square, level and centered in the opening.

Wear shims between the ladder and the beam, as you would to square a door frame. Once the unit is in its final position, secure it to the beams with nails or 16- pound lag screws or through the hinges of the ladder following the manufacturer’s instructions. Wooden attic pulldown stairs require you to fold back the lower section, measure the distance between the bottom of the second section and the floor, and then cut the section from the bottom to that length. You may also need to reinstall a lower rung if you had to cut a significant section of the bottom section.