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 stairs 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, due to which there are no serious loads on the attic floor. 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 a 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. If you slip, fall, or a fairly overweight relative decides to lift a heavy box into the attic, 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 excellent quality and much more reliability?
Moreover, in this case you have much more choice both in terms of the material for making the stairs and the fastening elements 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 common reason that many people undertake to build such stairs on their own is that most industrial options usually have very thin and fragile steps - 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 attic floor.
Design #2 – folding with a spring mechanism
The most popular today are folding stairs, otherwise called sectional ones. 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 up to full attic It hasn't arrived yet. 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.
- Please note when making a hatch that the larger the opening, the
- more heat will go 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 step protrusion, the more quantity these steps and the lower their height. But this does not mean at all that it will be convenient for you to climb and descend such stairs. Therefore, the most convenient step height is 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? and depreciation. 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 on the back side of the 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!
First of all, you need to understand that the attic is most often used as a storage space. It is convenient to store temporarily unnecessary things on hand, or bulky, old items, as well as those used seasonally.
Therefore, access to the attic space does not require a permanent large design, which will take up quite a lot of space. There are special staircase mechanisms for access to the attic.
Features of attic stairs
- transformers (folding);
- stationary.
Both are convenient, easy to install, and most importantly, take up minimal space. Most the best option when such a mechanism is invisible or it is hidden in the interior. After all, things that will not be useful for a long time are put away in the far corner.
Drawing of a folding attic ladder on strings Folding structures
Manufacturer's line folding stairs quite wide, the price of the product depends on the material of manufacture and functionality.
The folding version for the attic is a structure of 3-4 sections that fold into each other and are converted into a compact unit located under the ceiling.
Thus, it can be easily unfolded if necessary, is stable, and climbing up will not be a problem. If the size of the room is small even for placing the bed and staircase structure together, then the folding version is definitely suitable in this case.
Drawing of a sliding attic ladder Transformers are driven by a special rod. It is activated when the hatch cover is opened, there are models with a remote control.
DIY folding ladder to the attic
It is not difficult to make a retractable staircase to the attic with your own hands, although you will have to put in some effort and patience. Such structures can be wooden or metal.
Before work, you need to make sure that the opening for the hatch cover is made and equipped correctly. Also prepare in advance the right tool, materials, including for strengthening the entrance to the attic.
Preparation
To work you will need:
To make a wooden staircase:
- wooden blocks;
- boards of suitable size;
- plywood;
- Styrofoam;
- polyethylene;
- canopies and hinges, lifting mechanism(purchased from the construction department);
- boards for steps, etc.;
- sealant (silicone or rubber).
A do-it-yourself folding staircase to the attic is made from almost the same materials as the beds.
To install hatches and stairs, it is best to use silicone or rubber-based sealant.
Staircase installation process
A hatch with a cover is being manufactured and installed. To do this, you need to measure the opening, which can be expanded (narrowed). You can use dimensions of 1 m. 30 cm x 1 m. 40 cm, but it all depends on the location of the opening relative to the boundaries of the room and if there are free dimensions of the ceiling surface.
After specifying the dimensions, a sketch is created on paper (as in the bed drawings), where the dimensions of the future staircase structure are indicated. Drawings help to avoid mistakes when cutting materials.
Mechanism of operation of a folding attic ladder The hatch frame is made first. It must be made securely reinforced, since the quality of the entire structure depends on it. We need to pay special attention to her.
A frame with right angles must be made by sawing off the corners, so that when the boards are joined to each other, a frame with right angles is obtained. After fitting onto the existing opening, the corners of the frame are coated with glue.
You can install temporary spacers until the glue dries. After the glue has dried, the frame is installed in the opening using nails (100 mm).
The finished product will be placed on top of the manhole cover. The lid can be made of plywood; polyethylene is placed between the sheets to prevent steam formation.
Diagram of a stationary staircase to the attic With ready-made canopies, the lid is attached to the frame. A convenient handle and a lifting mechanism are attached to the lid.
The folding staircase system is made from pre-measured beams. The bars of each section are shorter than the previous one, starting from the top. It is important to ensure that the assembled structure is in the form of a block of stairs and moves freely when closing the hatch in the opening. This is taken into account at the drawing stage.
The first thing that needs to be made is the hatch frame, into which the ladder itself will be mounted.
The steps are also made of beams, the sizes of the sections must be appropriate. On the inside of the string of beams (the side beams of the stairs), it is necessary to make cuts to securely fasten the rungs. The steps are placed in the cut-outs and secured with self-tapping screws.
The folding parts of the product are connected with ready-made loops.
The main components of the mechanisms of a folding attic ladder These hinges are attached so that the junction of the metal strips is exactly at the junction of the sections. Assembled structure attached to the hatch cover with metal corners.
At the end, the valve is made using ready-made fittings in the form of a spring or hinges. For some rooms, only a sliding model on the street side is suitable. Well, now there is even room left for a bed.
Sliding staircase
If there is no room left for a bed, use sliding structures stairs They take up even less space, acting like a tram pantograph. By folding it, we get enough space, because everything fits on the hatch cover. To extend the mechanism, just open the hatch cover, and it will move into the desired position.
Drawing of a goose step staircase For sliding doors, only metal is used, due to the peculiarities of fastening elements and parts. The bonus of metal material is the ability to choose any paint color you like.
The telescopic design is of interest; you can weld it yourself.
Stationary option
If there is enough space, you can install stationary stairs for the attic. This method is best used only when the attic is used constantly, for example, during renovations. Stationary stairs are also distinguished by type. Exist:
- with one march;
- screw.
Staircase with one flight
The simplest option is a model with one flight (span), that is, it is made from floor to ceiling in one solid structure. The material is chosen from either metal or wood. All parts of the ladder must be secured to each other.
You can use the method of mounting on fillies. That is, with the help of wooden supports, the elements of the stairs are connected with wooden pegs. The trims should be aligned like this: one side is aligned straight, and the other is cut to fit the beam for the steps (stringers).
The board for the step must be at least 36 mm. The steps are attached to the stringers with self-tapping screws, and the joints are treated with glue. This simple option is suitable if there is no need for a bed nearby.
Main sizes components stationary attic ladder A single flight of stairs takes up too much space, but adjustments can be made. You can bend it at a right angle (saves space), or rotate it by a certain degree. This type is called rotary marching. There are also quarter reversible (90 degree angle) and semi reversible (180 degree angle).
If you arrange triangular wooden steps to the sides, and the narrow ones alternately towards, you get the design “ duck step". In other words, step under the right and left foot.
Spiral staircase
A spiral staircase to the attic is suitable for small room. It may not be as easy to use as a marching one, but it looks more interesting.
Moreover, it will not be used very often. They differ in:
- having supports in the form of a pillar in the center;
- steps away from the walls are fixed on a pole;
- made from a monolithic steel pillar, the steps rest on it.
The spiral staircase has much smaller dimensions than the flight staircase, so there will be room for a bed. For load-bearing element you can take a metal pipe onto which the steps will be attached by welding. When wooden covering vertical stand secured with anchors. To attach the steps to the stand, holes are made on the narrow side of each step, similar to the stand. Next, the steps are installed using bushings taking into account the height of the vertical surface.
It is not advisable to use spiral staircases as attics due to the complexity of the design. However, aesthetically they will look impressive.
Washers are placed into horizontal surfaces and bushings to protect the wood from deformation. The bushings must be measured by adding the size of all washers. All subsequent steps after the first are laid as if overlapping and secured.
To calculate the dimensions of the elements, you need to prepare drawings in advance (as for the bed). Making a spiral staircase with your own hands will not create any difficulties; the question is more about time.
If the room dimensions are not suitable for installation inside the house and for a bed, then the stationary option is installed on the street side. External structure can be larger in size, which means more convenient and safe. On the other hand, you can only get to the top from the outside, which is not very comfortable in winter, for example.
Calculation of a semi-spiral attic staircase Particularly popular are ladders, both internal and external. This type of hatch is the easiest to make - no additional reinforcements or hinges are needed. But there is an inconvenience to remove it every time, and besides, it takes up space during storage. This is the most budget option.
Staircase made of profile pipe
Such a structure can be made by welding or prefabricated (like assembling a bed). You can make a stationary and attached type, in the form of a direct, portable and screw design.
For production, 16 cm channels and 4x4 cm sections are used. Load-bearing channels are attached to the beams by welding. Rectangular step blanks are made from the profile. These blanks are mounted on guides and welded to them.
Solid wood steps are laid on the frame and secured with self-tapping screws. And on the side of the guide channels, supports are welded onto which the handrails are installed. Vertical posts are attached to the steps.
You can watch a video that tells you how to properly make a folding staircase to the attic with your own hands.
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 the living rooms on the top floor of the house. 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 home, we recommend building stationary ladder for access to 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. A spiral staircase is 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 spaces, 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, so it is more suitable for houses with warm roof. For cold roof The exit to the attic must be closed with a sealed hatch. Standard sizes hatch - 120x70 cm. It makes no sense to make a smaller passage, 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 factory metal-plastic structures with installation or self-installation. The hatch can be automatic and 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 be reliable only if you make 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 space 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.
Selection of material for 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, wood, as a material that is light, 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 a 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. We use a simple mathematical formula: D = B/, where α is the selected angle of inclination, B is the height of the ceiling. 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(one is enough for the hatch door 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 and grooves to tightly connect the structure into a regular triangle using assembly glue and fasteners. 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 can be secured according to ready-made diagram on one's own. 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 the 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 loops for sliding mechanism 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.
No one a private house is not complete without an attic, but to get there you need a ladder that can be placed both inside and outside the building. The design located inside is very convenient: firstly, it takes up little space, and secondly, it is more comfortable, since in the cold season you do not have to go out into the cold. But many people do not want to spoil the interior or disrupt the repairs already made, so they install a staircase to the attic from the street. This is the type that will be discussed in this article.
Types of attic street stairs
Before you start building a staircase, it is important to decide on its type. Some designs are designed only for large spaces, others can be placed even in narrow spaces. Also, the type of staircase determines the material from which it is made.
- Electric stairs. Typically, these ladders extend vertically; they are very convenient to use, especially when your hands are full. However, it is quite difficult to make such a structure yourself, because the staircase requires an electric drive, optimal height ceiling in the attic, as well as the ability to work with metal.
- Accordion stairs. Such stairs are often found in typical store solutions. All elements are interconnected and work on the principle of scissors. When assembled, this design is absolutely invisible. It is possible to make such a structure leading to the attic yourself, but, as in the case of electric stairs, it requires experience in working with certain materials.
- Marching staircase. Such structures take up a lot of space, can have from 1 to 3 flights (platforms), be solid or prefabricated, straight or curved.
- Vertical staircase. Such structures can be made of either metal or wood and are very simple to manufacture. In this article we will offer an option for making exactly this type of staircase to the attic from the street with your own hands.
Safety first
Safety precautions must always be observed in construction, so if you decide to build a staircase yourself, remember that it must comply current standards and GOST standards. There are also unspoken requirements. First of all, the staircase must be strong and stable, so you need to choose the material for its manufacture with special care. It is very desirable that the staircase is not spiral, has railings and handrails, this is especially important when there are elderly people in the house. For safe device it is important to make enough stairs wide opening , which subsequently needs to be insulated so that air does not enter the attic.
Also, the design must provide a minimum load capacity - usually 150 kg.
Choosing building material The dimensions of the structure and its performance characteristics
- . The following materials can be used for manufacturing: Tree. Usually considered the most affordable building material
- , while making an attic ladder from wood does not require special skills. If you are worried that over time the structure may deteriorate and rot, then it is enough to treat it with special substances, and it will last for decades. Moreover, after treatment the staircase will become resistant to fire and precipitation. Metal. popular materials for arranging a staircase to the attic. Metal is strong and durable; a staircase made of this material can withstand more weight and will not deform. However, making a metal structure requires skill. If you have never worked with either this material or welding machine, then about creating a street metal stairs It's better to forget.
Photo gallery of stairs to the attic made of different materials
Instructions for making a wooden staircase
The staircase to the attic from the street is made quite simply. After reading the instructions below, you can easily make it yourself. We will make attic stairs on stringers.
The staircase to the attic from the street is quite simple to make
As you can see, the staircase to the attic from the street is not so difficult to implement. With a little skill and patience, you will get a comfortable, reliable and aesthetically pleasing design.
Many owners of private houses, in order to get into the attic, use an extension or stationary staircase installed on the street. Of course, for safety reasons, such a ladder is completely justified and will never become superfluous. However, for use in winter period, and especially in cases where there is a utility room or even a full-fledged living space in the attic, it will be much more convenient to provide the possibility of entry directly from the house.
But it often happens that stationary design the internal staircase requires a very significant area, and therefore cannot be implemented in practice in conditions small house. And even if there is enough space, it hardly makes sense to “waste” it if the attic is not used constantly, but only from time to time. What to do? But there is a way out - this is a “transformer” structure, which is removed when not needed into the attic floor. So, the topic of this publication: do-it-yourself folding staircase to the attic - most optimal option for both large and small private houses.
General information about folding stairs to the attic
What do they say about the advantages and disadvantages of such structures?
Folding ladders, if their design is thought out, are safe and easy to use, are very convenient. However, they also have their own disadvantages, which you also need to know in advance when starting similar reconstruction of one of the rooms of the house.
So to advantages of folding staircase design include following points, which will greatly facilitate operation attic space:
- Ability to safely enter the attic at any time, regardless of the season or current weather conditions.
- The compactness and ease of use of a high-quality design allows all residents of the house to cope with unfolding and folding the stairs, since no great physical effort is expected.
- The folded structure does not take up usable area both in the living room and in the attic. If there is no need, the ladder is most often retracted into the opening of the attic floor, saving free space.
- A hatch in the ceiling, which is necessary to accommodate the staircase structure, when high-quality finishing does not spoil the bottom at all appearance ceiling surface.
- When purchasing a ready-made structure, it is quite possible to choose a model with an electric drive. This is, of course, extremely convenient, since if necessary, you won’t have to make any effort to put the ladder into working condition or remove it. However, to install this staircase option, you will have to invite a specialist. And such kits cost quite a lot.
The disadvantages of installing this structure in the attic floor include the following:
- Be that as it may, folding stairs, unlike, do not always meet the criteria for maximum convenience in terms of the steepness of the climb, the number and size of steps.
- Based on the first point, the second suggests itself - ascent and descent along such staircase structures still requires care and special precautions. This will be especially true for children, older people or those with some physical limitations.
- No matter how tightly the hatch fits into the opening cut out for the stairs, it will still deprive the ceiling of its tightness. Therefore, in order to prevent getting into living rooms cold air from above (or, conversely, hot air during the summer heat), the attic room will have to be insulated. This, of course, leads to additional costs. True, we can look at this problem from a different angle. If it is planned to arrange a utility or residential space in the attic, then, one way or another, it is necessary to carry out thermal insulation work on the roof slopes and install flooring with
Criteria that a folding ladder must meet
In order for a ladder to be used for a long time and be safe for its owners, it must meet certain criteria, regardless of its design and material of manufacture.
Prices for folding stairs
folding ladder
These product qualities include:
- The strength of the manufacturing material, all fasteners and connecting nodes.
- Lightweight design in terms of weight. This is important not only for the ease of use of the ladder, but also to ensure that when folded it does not put excessive additional load on the attic floor.
- Ease of operation - any adult family member should be able to handle the process of putting the ladder into combat readiness and folding it.
- Hinged or other components and devices that fold the ladder should function easily, without even minimal difficulties.
- If the staircase will be used constantly, due to the fact that a frequently used room is supposed to be located in the attic, then it is better to make the product yourself or order it good master to be confident in its reliability, and therefore in your personal safety.
Why is it better to make the stairs yourself?
Today there are a considerable number of models on the construction market. different manufacturers. They are, as a rule, quite convenient to use, but if they are not used very intensively. If the ladder will be unfolded and folded several times a day, then a more durable mechanism will be required, since the offered products may not withstand such intensive use due to the fact that each of them is designed for a certain “motor resource”.
Ready-made stairs are almost always available small angle slope relative to the vertical. That is, the manufacturer makes them too steep, so it’s inconvenient to climb up and down them, especially while holding a certain load in one hand and securing yourself with the other. The reasons, apparently, are very significant, and that is why many home owners prefer not to buy ready-made kits, and install them yourself according to your own drawings, calculating them for their own weight and equipping them with durable mechanisms.
Main types of folding stairs to the attic
Before purchasing or making a folding ladder, you need to decide on its design, since there are several of them. So, the following types of stairs have been developed and manufactured on an industrial scale and independently: retractable, folding spring, telescopic, folding with a simplified design, simple folding compact stairs.
Retractable or sliding ladder
The retractable staircase structure can consist of two or three sections, depending on the height of the attic floor.
- First option
The upper section of the structure is secured using a metal flange to a transverse board that forms the frame of the opening installed in the attic floor. Each section, when folding the ladder, slides into the part located above, as if on a rail. The assembled sections of the stairs are transferred to a horizontal position and laid on the floors of the attic. The hatch in this design can be attached to the highest and shortest section, and in this case, when the hatch is closed, the entire staircase will be hidden. The hatch can also be closed separately, that is, first a ladder is sent to the attic, and then the hatch is closed.
1 - Attic floor beam.
2 - Screw flange.
3 - Retractable ladder sections.
4 - Rotary mechanism.
This illustration shows how a retractable ladder works. However, it is quite obvious that it can only be suitable if the attic is not used as a living space and is visited quite rarely, and not constantly.
- Second option
Another option sliding stairs, consisting of two sections - a short one, attached to the hatch cover, and a long one, which, after unfolding, will rest against the surface of the floor of the room.. This option is also suitable for an attic used as a utility room. So, if you need to get into the attic, the hatch opens, and the ladder goes down with it. Then, it is pulled out from the folded structure Bottom part all the way to the floor.
When unfolding the ladder, space for access to the attic is freed up. In ready-made, factory-made versions of sliding or folding stairs, the hatch is equipped with its own thermal insulation. And along the contour of the opening, a seal is installed so that warm air from the room does not escape through the gaps around the ceiling hatch. ABOUT similar methods minimizing heat losses should not be forgotten when making stairs yourself.
Folding ladder
A folding staircase differs from a sliding staircase in that its sections do not slide into one another, but fold together. This is ensured by special hinge mechanisms installed in the span connection points. The structure is folded according to the accordion principle. Top section fixed on the hatch panel, onhim Folding handrails are also installed, which make it easier to climb to the top floor or attic.
The advantage of this design is that it does not take up more space than the opening in the ceiling, since it is completely hidden in a special box, which frames the opening hatch. Therefore, when going up to the attic, the ladder can be raised so that it is not in the way on the lower floor, and in order to avoid accidentally stepping on the hatch while at the top, you can provide an upper strong hatch or a fencing for the opening.
Prices for stairs
ladder
The diagram above shows finished design, one of those offered in specialty stores. However, focusing on it, it is quite possible to make a ladder yourself. How to do this will be discussed in detail in the instruction table below.
The diagram shows a box framing the opening. It is equipped with elastic rubber gasket, thanks to which the hatch will be pressed tightly, without gaps, to the inner walls of the box.
The hatch of the design shown is made of chipboard, but when making a similar ladder yourself, it is quite possible to replace it with boards and assemble a shield from them. For this purpose, it is recommended to choose light, porous wood, such as linden or pine.
The wooden steps are equipped with an anti-slip coating. When making your own stairs, you can use a router to cut out recesses on the steps, in the form of two or three grooves running along the entire length of their surface.
The steps are fixed in the side posts of the staircase sections using the connection " dovetail", which is more reliable than straight spikes.
Metal scissor ladders
Another option for a folding structure is the so-called scissor ladder, which is made of metal. As a rule, aluminum is used for this purpose due to its light weight. The design has proven itself quite well, especially for those cases where the attic has to be visited quite often.
The advantages of this type of stairs include its versatility. What this means is that the modules that form the steps can be stretched “to their fullest” if the room has a high ceiling, or compressed to a certain level, of course. The main thing is that the bottom step rests on the floor. Thus, the staircase is designed for a certain, and quite considerable, range of ceiling heights.
When folded, such a staircase is quite compact and does not extend beyond the boundaries of the box intended for it, installed in the thickness of the attic floor.
The disadvantage of this scissor design is that it requires some effort to install and fold it. This may pose a problem for some home occupants who do not have the required physical capabilities.
It is quite difficult to make such a staircase yourself, as precise adjustment is required metal parts, and the design itself is replete with hinged joints. Yes, this is not profitable, since the material for self-made It will probably cost no less than the cost of the finished product.