The staircase to the attic is a simple structure that you can easily create yourself. It can be solid - made of wood or metal, or it can have a lightweight and convenient folding shape. What options are suitable for your attic and how well the attic staircase with a hatch is made and assembled 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 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 ladder itself, you often need to invite your family to help.

We invite you to make a choice in favor of a more reliable option - design and implementation of a new modern attic stairs... The types and recommendations for creating a solid staircase to the attic with your own hands, which we give below, will help you make the right choice.

Attic stairs: an overview of options

The main elements of the ladder are the bowstring and kosour (side parts); tread (steps) and riser (for stationary stairs).

I. Capital steps

If there is enough space in your house, then we advise you to build a stationary staircase to access the attic or attic. This option is reliable, practical and durable. Capital steps can be made on the basis of a metal frame or high-quality wood.

Monolithic stairs can be marching, with one or more bend, and spiral (spiral). Marching options have steps in the form of rectangular plates (boards), which evenly tend upward with the same distance. The spiral staircase is folded around the central base, has steps narrowed towards the inner edge and is located in a spiral. The latter option is more compact and can be built even in small spaces, without sacrificing space.

The "pluses" of the capital option include durability, reliability and comfort in use.

Capital stairs, in most cases, do not provide for a hatch for access to the attic, therefore it is more suitable for houses with warm roof... For cold roof the exit to the attic must be closed with a sealed hatch. The standard dimensions of the hatch are 120x70 cm. It makes no sense to make a smaller passage, as this will make it difficult to get into the attic and to install the 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-assembly... The hatch can be automatic and manual opening... With the latter option, a special pole is used that opens the latch (lock) and lowers the door with a ladder.

II. Portable ladders

Portable steps - the closest analogue of "good old" ladders. Such a ladder will be reliable only if you make a folding version with a platform. However, it is difficult to call such a construction convenient. You will have to make additional efforts to get into the opening of the attic, and the issue of storing such a staircase will cause a lot of trouble.

III. Folding loft ladders with hatch

A very convenient and easy-to-implement type of attic staircase - folding steps connected to the hatch. Due to the convenience of design, this type of steps has become the most popular among professional craftsmen.

Today there are many types of folding ladders, among which you can choose the most suitable option (telescopic, scissor, folding, etc.).

The folding mechanism is suitable for any attic space with a hatch, on which the staircase can be fixed.

1. Scissor rungs. This type is made of metal. The steps themselves can be wooden. The ladder is a collapsible mechanism. When folded, the design takes on a very compact shape and size, so it is perfect for a small attic hatch;
2. Telescopic steps. They are a system of retractable sections (like a folding telescope). This option is made of aluminum and also looks very compact on a small attic door;
3. Folding (folding) stairs. This type is the most popular, as it is characterized by practicality, durability, economy and ease of installation. We will describe it in more detail below.

In general, most ladders schematically look like this:

Before we start designing an attic staircase, consider some of the 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 chosen - 13-15 pcs., With a distance between them up to 20 cm;
• The most convenient and safest angle of inclination of the stairs is 60-700 degrees;
• The steps are a direct receiver of the load when lifting, therefore they must have a dense structure and a thickness of 18 mm, and be located strictly parallel to the floor.

The choice of material for a flight of stairs should be determined by the frequency of operation of the structure. Wood wears out faster than metal. So, if you go up to the attic every day, it is better to design the stairs from metal. In other cases, wood, as a material, lightweight, environmentally friendly and easy to install, is very popular.

So, let's get started and create a modern attic staircase with a hatch with our 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 start with a project. Determine the height of your future staircase, taking into account the height of the ceiling and the slope of 60-70 degrees. It is also worthwhile to accurately measure the attic passage and draw an appropriate diagram. The drawing should contain the following information: the length of the stairs, the angle of inclination, the height of the ceiling of the room, the dimensions of the passage and the attic hatch, the width of the march, the number and dimensions of the sections, the number, distance and dimensions of the steps.

I. Drawing preparation

At this stage, the design is calculated. It is not difficult to calculate the length of the stairs. 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 angle of inclination of 60 degrees, the length of the stairs will be 3 / 0.867 = 3.46 m.Masters advise adding a few centimeters to the resulting figure, so that later you can more accurately measure and cut the desired length:

The dimensions of the hatch should be slightly smaller than the opening itself. For calculation, 6-7 mm are left on each side of the door.

We calculate the length of the sections according to the following scheme: the first section - 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 total length stairs.

Now the calculations need to be transferred 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 need: bars 50x50 mm for finishing the hatch (about 4-5 pcs.); two boards for a bowstring 100x25 mm in length equal to the selected length of the ladder; board for steps 100x20 or 100x25 mm; plywood or material with similar characteristics (for the hatch door, one standard sheet); plates and corners for opening and hinges; nuts, bolts, screws, washers, etc.

III. Manhole door manufacturing

Step I. Prepare the bars for the hatch. At the ends of the beams, make cuts-grooves to tightly connect the structure in a regular triangle using mounting glue and mountings. Protect the corners of the frame with temporary plywood plates so that the rectangle does not lead.

Step II. Attach a sheet of plywood of the appropriate size to the base of the blocks. Now you need to try on the hatch to the aisle to the attic. It should be 6-7 mm less on all sides.

Step III. Provide a lock for the attic door. It can be an automatic mechanism, or the most ordinary bolt, which can be opened with a pole with a tip.

Step IV. We install hatch opening / closing mechanisms. If you do not want to buy ready-made mechanisms, you can make them yourself. There should be two mounts - left and right. For work, purchase a 4x20 mm steel plate and a corner. The photo shows a drawing of the left mounting part. The right one is executed in mirror image... The sizes are given by convention. For more accurate calculations, consider your parameters. Before fastening, be sure to check the mechanisms in operation:

IV. Putting the ladder together

You can always order a ready-made sectional staircase from the masters, which can be fixed according to the ready-made scheme yourself. But if you decide to do the work with your own hands to the end, you can assemble a ladder from the prepared materials.

Step 1. We mark the place of installation of steps on the bowstrings. To do this, mark each detail with a pencil, according to the chosen angle of inclination of the stairs and the calculations made earlier. Now press the ends of the boards tightly together and fasten them masking tape... This is necessary to drill through holes at the joints 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, again fastening them. 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 steps with inside bowstrings with 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 ladder.

Step 3. Cut the steps according to the markings and attach them to the left bowstring. We put the steps on glue and fix them with self-tapping screws. We attach the right bowstring and also fasten it with self-tapping screws.

Step 4. We attach the hinges for sliding mechanism stairs. Hinges, like hinge mechanisms, can be bought in a store, or made yourself from metal tape... We need eight strips of metal (you can use the leftovers from the door mechanisms). Weld small pieces of the same strip to 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 apply the hinges so that each hinge falls into the groove (25 mm holes drilled before cutting the sections). We fasten the loops on the bowstrings:

V. Final assembly

Now the top finished stairs must be fixed to the hatch, after checking the operation of the hinge mechanisms. The ladder should also be checked after installation. After making sure that all the parts are in good condition and functional, open the steps with varnish:

One more thing step by step guide for installation:

You can insulate and seal the hatch with foam rubber or construction wool. The edges of the hatch should be sheathed with rubber sealant tape.

That's it, your ladder with a hatch is ready! This is exactly the option that is quite feasible "in one helmet". We wish you a quick and easy job.

Folding attic stairs are very popular today. This design combined 2 important advantages at once: saving space in the room due to the prefabricated staircase system, and secondly, the possibility of comfortable and safe access to the attic. The prefabricated staircase does not require special maintenance, it is easy to install without special efforts do it yourself.

The attic space in a residential building, as a rule, is a place for storing unnecessary things that accumulate there for years, and their number increases, or a full-fledged additional room is equipped in the attic. And every year the number of those who are trying to improve this premises is increasing. In old houses of the Soviet era, the entrance to the attic was usually done from the street. There was a huge stepladder under the window that led to the attic. And already in our modern age people began to equip attics so that it was possible to get there while being directly in the house. It is an indispensable attribute in a private house, the attic staircase can also be used in the garage or in the workshop.

Whatever functions this room has in your house, it is really possible to get there only with the help of a staircase, which will become connecting link between two floors.

V this case we are talking about a folding-type attic staircase, which, due to its design, does not take up much space and is the most suitable option as a means of moving from the first floor to the second.

There is a wide selection of these designs in stores, but not all of them can meet the requirements of the buyer. It is much easier and cheaper to make a folding ladder with your own hands, having the skills to work with construction tools, and without assistance. In this matter, it is important to make correct drawing and follow his directions.

Folding and sliding attic stairs save free space on the lower floor, guarantee a safe lift, and, if necessary, can be an obstacle for children to enter the attic without the permission of adults. The most durable material as a staircase frame can be wood, metal, or a combination of wood and metal. Such designs are on springs and folding, with or without handrails. A folding ladder must be stable and safe, because the distance from the lower floor to the attic is often at least 2 meters, which is a decent height from which you can fall and get injured.

Basic requirements for folding ladders:

• functionality;
• the ladder should have a 45-degree angle of inclination;
• lightweight construction;
• the passage should be made of the optimal width;
• ergonomics. A folding ladder should take up a minimum amount of space;
• environmental friendliness. The materials from which the staircase will be made must be of high quality;
• ease of pulling out and folding into place.

Types of attic stairs:

• wooden;
• metal;
• sliding;
• screw;
• foldable.

The principle of folding the attic staircase:

• sliding or telescopic ladder;
• scissor or pincer ladder;
• folding or lever ladder.

Types of stairs and their characteristics

Ladders are:

1. Retractable ladder.

A folding ladder is inherently a transformer, sliding-type models have several sections, which, in turn, move apart from each other. Such a ladder, when folded, has a ledge on the side of the attic. This is the most reliable view design that does not have control levers and withstands maximum loads.

1. Folding ladder.

The foldable attic staircase consists of 3 or 4 sections. The first part is screwed to the attic hatch, and the remaining sections are fastened together by lever mechanisms. The principle of operation of such a ladder is to lower the ladder using a ring or an additional lever that holds the ladder folded. When the ladder returns to its original position, the loft is closed with a latch and, thus, the ladder is hidden in the ceiling.

Folding structures can be made not only of wood, but also of aluminum. These ladders are quite light and durable, their height is easy to adjust. Accordion stairs are also of this type. They are easily attached to the ceiling and simply slide out.

Advantages of an attic staircase:

• strength and reliability. With proper fastening of the structure, it is capable of withstanding various loads;
• practicality;
• saving room space;
• ease of installation and fastening;
• aesthetic appearance of a folding attic staircase.

1. For comfortable and safe climbing stairs, the location of its steps should be parallel to the floor.
2. It is not necessary to distribute the steps on great distance apart. Again, for security reasons.
3. The most acceptable step size is 650 mm. This size is suitable for an adult.
4. When calculating the parameters, take into account the width, the wider the ladder, the more convenient it is for the elderly and children to move on it. The optimal staircase width is 90 cm.
5. If you decide to design a folding ladder made of wood, then choose an unprocessed material as a basis, so that in the future you can paint or varnish it yourself. The tree must be dry.
6. In case of metal frame, it should be remembered that improperly selected elements can rust. Fastenings for metal parts are different from fastenings in a wooden staircase.
7. The foldable attic ladder can be made of either wood or metal. The tree is suitable when the maximum load weight does not exceed 150 kg. Metal can withstand up to 250 kg.
8. An oversized staircase is not suitable for a small room; this should be taken into account when planning the structure.
9. The lowered ladder must necessarily have an emphasis on the floor, otherwise the fastening system will not withstand the loads and the ladder will fall.
10. It is desirable that in assembled the ladder was secured with brackets. Then, if the hatch cover is opened, the ladder will not open and will not fall.
11. Fittings and other fasteners must be made of high quality materials. Be sure to consider this when choosing fasteners.

DIY folding ladder

Before making a folding ladder, you need to decide on the dimensions of the structure and its location. This means that there will be a staircase on the street or indoors.

Measure the ceiling, its height. Write down all the small details on a sheet of paper: the parameters of the railings, steps, and so on.

The drawing below shows the layout of our attic staircase. In this case, it will be attached to the wall and not to the ceiling.

DIY materials for making a folding ladder:

• for kosour you will need 2 beams 3 m long;
• 2 beams corresponding to the width of the stairs;
• 4 metal door hinges;
• boards;
• wood bars for tread.

DIY folding ladder manufacturing technology:

Guidelines for the manufacture of folding ladders

Popular standards:

1. The width of the march should be between 70 and 105 cm.
2. The height of the ladder should not be more than 3.5 m, due to the fact that a ladder that is too high has little rigidity. And falling from such a height is much more painful.
3. The number of steps is up to 15, not more.
4. The optimal distance between steps is 20 cm.
5. The thickness of the steps is from 1.8 to 2.2 cm.
6. The safe angle of inclination of the stairs is 65 degrees.
7. The minimum weight that the folding ladder must support is 100 kg.
8. The steps must not slide and must be fixed parallel to the floor.

Diy attic staircase on bowstrings

Work progress:

DIY folding ladder of 3 sections

It is very easy to make a folding ladder if you have all the necessary tools and materials in your arsenal. For work you will need:

• finished staircase made of metal or wood;
• 2 beams;
• self-tapping screws and oblique cutters;
• drill, saw on wood;
• rollers;
• hammer, hinges;
• tape measure, puncher.

Stages of making a folding ladder for the attic with your own hands:

DIY folding ladder. Video

Long gone are the days when house owners had to climb a bulky ladder. Modern options for the attic they are good because they take up a minimum of space both in the folded and unfolded state, 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 staircase - you can make it with your own hands with correct attachments, with a strong spring mechanism and is no worse than modern expensive market products. And even better!

Advantages and disadvantages of folding ladders

A foldable attic staircase 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 is extra weight and volume.

Such stairs are good, first of all, because they can significantly save space. At the same time, they do not spoil the ceiling of the dwelling at all. After all, the entrance to the attic is often located just in one of the inhabited rooms of the house. Moreover, such ladders 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.

Then, with your left hand, you can easily reach the bottom step of the extreme section, reach the floor and straighten all the other components of the ladder. Likewise, by doing everything in the reverse order, you can easily fold the ladder back and put it into the ceiling. Moreover, many modern attic stairs, in addition to everything, can be folded and folded with the help of an electric drive, which is generally incredibly convenient:

Another advantage is safety. It is much safer to descend and climb such a ladder than an attached ladder: it will not break underfoot and the legs will not suddenly "leave."

And finally, lightness. The lightest folding loft ladders are made of stainless steel and aluminum, so that attic floor do not turn out to be serious loads. As you understand, in view of the design features, such a staircase can only be made of metal.

Why is it better to make the ladder yourself?

Ready-made industrial ladders, which are actively offered by the market 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, which you often have to climb (for example, our workshop or mini-library is located there).

Why? Because such stairs often turn out to be rather flimsy in practice - this is not hand-made production, but mass production, and there is no need for any manufacturer to make them too strong. For any product, the maximum boundary load is always calculated, which often does not take into account a lot of factors and force majeure. And this is the very case when you are in a calm state and with almost no additional weight in your hands, gently go down or go up. If you slip, fall, or a rather fat relative decides to lift a heavy box into the attic - expect trouble.

And such stairs are often made 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 with your back forward. Therefore, it is quite natural that many home craftsmen who have built their own house or bathhouse themselves do not see any point in buying fragile and expensive folding stairs to the attic. Why, if you can make them yourself, and of excellent quality and much greater reliability?

And in this case, you have much more choice both in terms of the material for making the stairs, and the fasteners themselves. The main thing is to correctly calculate the dimensions of the future structure, so that later it easily and compactly folds over the hatch, nothing touches the opening and does not create a problem.

Another one common reason the fact that many undertake to build such stairs on their own is that the majority industrial options usually very thin and fragile steps - 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 in the second step, make the cover and hatch frame. Then you will attach the ladder to it. At the same time, it is advisable to leave gaps of 7-8 millimeters on each side. Technical specifications these are:

So, now let's figure out what types of attic folding stairs are.

Construction # 1 - sliding ladders

Sliding ladders usually consist of two sections, one of which is attached directly to the hatch cover, and the second moves vertically with the help of special guides. When you fold such a ladder, one section at the same time, as it were, crawls over the other, which is quite convenient. The only drawback is the cumbersomeness of the entire structure, which requires a wide opening in the attic floor.

Design # 2 - folding with a spring mechanism

The most popular today are folding ladders, otherwise called sectional ones. They consist of three or four sections that can be easily straightened into flight of stairs... They are interconnected by a special spring mechanism.

Folding structures are considered the most complex in their design, since they have a lot of fasteners and they must be correctly attached to the hatch hole. These stairs are made of both wood and metal.

Construction # 3 - telescopic ladders

The next type is a telescopic design. She shows herself remarkably in cases where the attic is visited quite often. For example, when it was specially insulated to make it residential, although it has not yet reached a full-fledged attic. That is, we are talking about a technical attic, like a dressing room or a workshop, and in this case it is better to put a residential attic spiral staircase made of wood or metal and always with railings.

In a telescopic design, the blocks are pulled out alternately, while occupying as much as possible less space... And such stairs are good especially 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.

Construction # 4 - simplified folding ladders

These types of folding ladders do not hide behind a hatch in the attic, but they can be easily tucked away in a corner or behind an interior decoration. For example, this one is more rare view, which is usually made independently, also has the right to life:

And these options for folding ladders are quite popular abroad:

But both of these options have considerable drawbacks, some of which are capable of introducing discomfort into the interior of the living quarters, from where the exit to the attic comes, and after a month or two such structures are already bothering the owners with their stupidity to the point of soreness. And therefore, we still suggest that you understand in more detail the more practical folding ladders that fold easily and hide behind the hatch cover.

How to determine the parameters of the future stairs?

So, here are some tips for choosing an attic staircase.

• Council number 1. When you choose the parameters for the future stairs, take into account the hatch mechanism: when it is opened and closed, it can move slightly forward and backward.
• Council number 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.
• Council number 3. When making a hatch, keep in mind that the larger the opening, the more heat will go to the attic.
• Council number 4. Another point you should pay attention to is how the hatch will open. For example, in ready-made market variants, most often it opens slowly, thanks to special springs, and certainly does not fall on anyone's head. Be sure to work through this moment, especially since it is not difficult to acquire special parts today.
• Council number 5. The steepness of the stairs is always determined by it only by its angle. The larger the step protrusion, the greater the number of 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 along such a ladder. Therefore, the most convenient is the height of the steps of 20 centimeters, which is most suitable for a standard human foot.

Here is a very useful video that will help you avoid many mistakes when installing such a staircase:

What fasteners and materials are needed?

As for the main material, the most accessible will be wooden ladder, but here it is important to pay special attention to the strength of the fasteners. To make such a ladder, you will need two long and two short bars, as well as a piece of plywood 10 millimeters thick.

Let's take a closer look at this point. All designs that help to open the ladder with a hatch at the bottom differ only in the presence of additional mechanisms and shock absorption. The cushioning, in turn, makes it easier to close and open the stairs. And you can buy all the necessary hinge elements in any store. But simple metal strips drilled in several places are quite suitable for arranging such a ladder, and an aluminum sliding system will cost you the most for arranging a ladder.

Simple and practical mount:

More a complex system:

But what are the requirements for the fasteners of the entire staircase. The first is the ability to withstand the weight of the entire structure, as well as the weight of a person who will climb and descend along it. And not only static loads of a person standing on it with his certain weight, but also dynamic ones, which are much more static. For example, a person stumbled and abruptly stood on a step lower, or staggered and leaned on the ladder with all his weight, but abruptly and suddenly.

And finally, let's note the ability to easily manage the structure. As you can imagine, such a ladder weighs a lot and it is important that you later see how easy it is to open it. And when closing, you will have to lift all the weight at once, and therefore provide special springs that will facilitate the whole process over time - you will be grateful to such a trick.

Folding ladder manufacturing instructions

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 beams, bolts, screws, a screwdriver and a metal hook.

The process itself can be divided into several steps:

• Step 1. Fix the upper beam to the opening with hinges, and the lower one with self-tapping screws. The fastener itself should be with back side stairs.
• Step 2. And now we connect everything using the most common bolts, 6 or 8 millimeters in diameter. 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 all the fastening of the system.
• Step 3. Now we divide the ladder 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. Bars of longer lengths, nail on the back side so that they turn out obliquely, for strength.
• Step 6. Now the ladder itself is supplied under the hatch and is pressed against the wall by the upper bar. Secure this block with bolts.
• Step 7. Now crochet. It is important that the ladder folds down easily and is pressed against the wall. And screw the hook to the wall opposite the hinge and hook it onto it.

Look at the photo, it will be clearer this way:

Believe me, in practice everything will turn out to be much easier!

Currently, every developer is trying to make the most of the entire available area of ​​their home. However, it is almost impossible to climb into the attic without a ladder. A do-it-yourself attic staircase is the best option for safely climbing to the attic.

The attic staircase can be located both indoors and outdoors. Of course, when the staircase is located inside, it is much more convenient to use it - you do not need to go out into the cold in winter or get wet in the rain in autumn.

There are several types of attic stairs, namely:

• folding;
• stationary;
• portable.

Stationary stairs with handrails and wide flights are the most convenient, but their use is limited due to the impossibility of operating in small areas.

Portable ladders are mainly used as a temporary option and are used to access rooms that are rarely used. The main disadvantage of such a ladder is low safety.

Folding loft ladders are the middle link between stationary and portable. In terms of convenience, they are almost not inferior to stationary ones, but they take up significantly less space... In terms of safety, they are significantly superior to portable designs.

The choice in favor of one or another type depends on several factors:

• the area of ​​the room where the stairs will be located;
• the purpose of the attic space;
• possible tilt angle.

Standard sizes

There are a number of standards that an attic staircase must comply with:

• optimal width the march should be about 65-110 cm;
• the height should not exceed 3.5 m. This is due not only to the fact that the rigidity of the structure is significantly reduced, but also to the fact that a fall from such a height can lead to serious injuries;
• the number of steps should usually not exceed 15;
• it is customary to make a distance of about 19 cm between the steps;
• the thickness of the steps is usually 18-22 mm;
• the standard tilt angle is 60-75 degrees. A small corner requires a lot of space, and a large one is dangerous to use;
• the folding ladder must withstand a load of 150 kg;
• the steps should be installed parallel to the floor and not slippery.

Manufacturing process

Making attic stairs with your own hands is not at all as difficult as it might seem at first glance. Of course, you will not achieve such beauty as industrial models have, but it's worth a try. Drawings of attic stairs with your own hands that you can make can simply be found on our website.

The hatch is the basis of any attic staircase

You can make a hatch with your own hands using the following materials:

• bars 50 × 50 mm;
• plywood.

The order of work is as follows:

• we decide on the place and size of the future hatch;

Note!
TO overall dimensions the hatch should be added 7-8 mm each so that the lid closes easily and without squeaking.

• we cut the timber into 4 parts of the required sizes;
• we cut grooves at the ends of the beams;
• grease the grooves with glue and connect the bars, reinforce the junction with self-tapping screws;

• so that the diagonal does not go away, we fasten the scarves;
• we fix the plywood;
• trying on a hatch in the opening;
• to close the hatch well, we cut a latch into the cover;
• to open the hatch, we will use a handle that is inserted into the hole and presses on the latch.

Required tools and materials

For self-made do-it-yourself stairs to the attic, the entire list must be present:

• hacksaw for wood;
• foam gun;
• a set of screwdrivers or a screwdriver with a set of bits;

• various self-tapping screws, anchors;
• roulette;
• card loops;
• bars 20-30 mm thick.

These are only the basic tools that will be needed for self-production, if there is already a ready-made attached wooden ladder 30 cm longer than necessary to the level of the opening.

Simple construction

As an example, consider how to make an attic staircase with your own hands.

The instruction will allow you to understand the principle of work:

• on the finished one-piece wooden staircase, we fix 2 bars in width, on the lower and upper parts. Moreover, we attach the upper bar to the hinges, and the lower one rigidly;
• we saw the ladder into 2 parts. by measuring 2/3 of the length. Top part will be longer, lower short;
• to stiffen it diagonally, we fix 2 slats;
• we connect both parts of the stairs with hinges;
• using anchors, we fix the upper bar under the hatch;

• to Bottom part did not open, it is fixed with a hook. The loop is located on the stringer above the cut.
• the finished attic staircase is pressed against the wall surface and fixed.

The main disadvantage that it has this design attic stairs, is her appearance and the fact that you can see all the fasteners and bars. However, even such a staircase to the attic, created with your own hands, will greatly simplify the difficulties with ascending and descending from the attic.

Folding design on bowstrings

To manufacture a structure, several steps should be performed:

• divide the total height into 3 parts. The first part will correspond to the dimensions of the hatch, the second is slightly smaller, and the third will cover the remaining distance to the floor;

• measure the angle of the hatch with a bevel;
• we transfer the corner to the boards, thereby marking the steps;
• at the site of the future hinge between the sections, we drill holes;
• we grind all the edges;
• we saw the boards in those places where the hinges will be placed;
• we cut and grind the steps;
• under the steps we make small notches in the bowstrings;
• we insert the steps into the recesses, planting them on glue and fastening them with self-tapping screws;
• we connect the sections with special loops. To do this, it is imperative to place the sections on a flat surface;

we disassemble the entire system into parts;

we carefully grind and varnish all surfaces;

after the varnish has dried, we collect the entire structure and use it.

Note!
It is recommended to work at height with a partner.
This will not only help to avoid injuries, but also greatly speed up the whole process!

The price of a ladder made by yourself is much lower than the price of a factory design, so if the financial issue is acute, be sure to try to do everything yourself.

Output

The purchase of a ready-made staircase to the attic is the most simple option, however, if there is necessary tools and the initial skills are not at all difficult to do it yourself. In the video presented in this article, you will find additional information on this topic.

In most private houses, attics and attics are exploited spaces. And to get to the basement floor, of course, you need a staircase.

Types of attic stairs - device and construction types

Attic stairs can be located both outside and inside the building. The advantage of the second option is ease of use. You don't have to go outside to get to the attic, which is winter time of the year is very important. In addition, in the absence of access to the street, the attic does not come into contact with cold air, which significantly reduces heat loss.

By design, the following types of attic stairs are distinguished:

1. Monolithic:
   • screw;
   • marching.
2. Folding attic stairs:
   • scissor;
   • folding or lever;
   • telescopic or sliding ladders;
   • folding.
3. Portable:
   • stepladders;
   • attached.

Portable stairs are usually used as a temporary option for connecting floors. They are used during the construction of a house or to access attic spaces that are rarely used. They do not differ in safety.

The most comfortable, of course, are the traditional monolithic staircases, with a wide march and railings. But it is far from always possible to place a massive structure leading to the attic - there may simply not be enough space.

In this case the best option there will be retractable attic stairs. They are quite comfortable and safe, easy to operate and take up very little space. A wide variety of designs will allow you to choose the option that suits you.

Folding ladder-transformer

Folding attic ladders are made of wood and metal (aluminum). The combination of these materials gives top scores... A flight of stairs is made of wood to reduce the weight of the structure, and springs, mechanisms and fasteners are made of metal to ensure the rigidity of the product. Of course, there are also pure metal models.

For wooden models should use hard rocks wood. The thickness of the timber should be at least 2 cm. The tree should not be used when the folding ladder is used too intensively, because this leads to rapid wear. In this case the best way- metal attic staircase.

Also used plastic fittings preventing friction of components during transformation and sealing the opening when the product is folded. The manhole cover is filled with expanded polystyrene and provides good thermal insulation.

Folding attic stairs can be opened either manually or automatically using an electric drive. Often, with a manual drive, a load is attached to the mechanism, which significantly facilitates the assembly process, as if pulling the ladder into the niche and, conversely, smoothly lowers it, compensating for the weight of the product.

The main requirements for such products are compact size and strength. The aesthetics of the model is also important - a good transforming staircase should merge with the ceiling.

Standard sizes of attic stairs:

• width of the flight of stairs. The optimal width is about 65 cm;
• the height of the stairs. It is not recommended to use a product with a height of more than three and a half meters, because then the rigidity of the structure suffers, and a fall from such a height can lead to serious injuries. The process of lowering or raising it will also be inconvenient. In this case, you will still have to opt for a monolithic staircase;
• number of steps. Usually equal to 14 or 15;
• distance between steps. It is believed that the optimal step width is 19.3 cm. With a larger or smaller value, the ladder will be inconvenient to use;
• the thickness of the steps is in the range from 18 to 22 mm;
• angle of inclination of the stairs. The standard value is considered to be a value from 60 to 75 degrees. With a greater inclination, the ladder will be dangerous to use, with a smaller one, the product will take up too much space;
• the foldable attic ladder must be able to support a minimum weight of 150 kg;
• the steps must be parallel to the floor and not slip, or anti-slip pads must be glued to the steps.

When buying folding attic stairs, it is necessary to take into account that the parameters of the product must match the dimensions of the hatch cover, otherwise the folding parts will touch the opening. The optimal hatch is considered, in which there is a built-in sliding ladder 70 cm wide and 120 cm long. With a smaller opening, it is inconvenient to climb. If the dimensions of the hatch are too large, then large heat losses are possible. Since the attic is an unheated space, it is necessary to provide for good heat and vapor barrier.

When choosing the angle of inclination of the stairs to the attic, it is important to take into account that the smaller the angle, the more it is necessary to make the dimensions of the attic hatch and the more space the staircase takes when unfolded.

Sliding attic staircase - retractable flights to the attic

Scissor ladder
As a rule, they are made entirely of metal. They are also called "accordion ladder", which has taken root due to the fact that the structure folds in the form of an accordion. And the transformation mechanism resembles a sliding tram current collector and is shaped like a parallelogram or an oval.

A retractable ladder to the attic has one drawback inherent in cheap models. Due to the fact that the structure is completely made of metal, with poor-quality assembly or over time, the flight of stairs begins to creak. This can be avoided by periodically lubricating the retractable ladder.

Telescopic ladders

The telescopic ladder consists of many retractable sections that fold into one another. It is made of aluminum, which contributes to lightweight construction and stiffening. On domestic market a sliding attic staircase is quite rare and not very popular.

Folding ladder to the attic - sectional and articulated

Folding ladders can be in two, three or four sections, depending on the design. The first elbow has a length equal to the dimensions of the hatch cover, and is rigidly fixed to it. The other two segments open up and form an even flight of stairs. Sectional stairs are so flexible thanks to special hinges and hinges.

Reclining ladder

If you love order very much, suffer from a lack of space, and you have a second floor or an attic, folding ladder can be a great option to meet all your needs at once. The idea is this: most of the time, the structure is folded and fixed on the wall, and only in the evening, when you need to go up to the bedroom, you pull it out.

The steps are fixed to the bowstring with card loops... When folded, the structure is fixed to the wall. The reclining design is not very much in demand due to its complexity, but later in the article we will still tell you how to do it yourself.

Diy folding attic stairs

Option number 1 - simple construction of 2 sections

DIY attic stairs are made within 2-3 hours. To make an attic staircase, we need:

• a hacksaw for woodworking;
• tape measure;
• stairs, the height of which will be about 30 cm more than the distance to the ceiling;
• four card loops with a width of kosour;
• two bars, the length of which is equal to the width of the hatch and two more bars, longer than the first, by about 20 cm. The thickness of the bars is 2-3 cm;
• self-tapping screws, anchor, hook and eyelet.

We fasten one of the short bars to the upper end of the ladder with the help of hinges, the other is rigidly fixed to the lower part. Two slats are attached to the flight of stairs obliquely so that they do not interfere with movement. They will add rigidity to the entire structure.

Next, we measure 2/3 of the length of the ladder and make a neat cut. Then we connect both parts with loops. It is important to attach the hinges on the right side so that the ladder folds in the right direction as shown in the photo.

The top bar is fixed to the wall just below the hatch. To prevent the folding ladder to the attic from opening, it is attached to the wall with a hook. The loop is screwed into the stringer next to the cut, and the hook is attached to the wall.

The disadvantage of this model is that it remains visible. This can be avoided by using the product for more than complex design, in which the sections are attached to the manhole cover. Let's see if it is possible to make such an attic staircase with our own hands.

Option number 2 - a hatch to the attic with a ladder

We will tell you how to make a staircase to the attic, consisting of 3 sections, which is identical in design to those sold in stores. Here is such a folding attic staircase we should succeed.

How to make a hatch to the attic with your own hands - the basis of a folding ladder

You can make a hatch to the attic from available tools. First, we will determine the location and size of the opening, and then we will make the hatch. Let's say the size of the staircase is 125 by 70 cm.Then, in order to cut the hatch, add 7-8 mm to these dimensions on each side. These gaps will allow the lid to close easily without affecting the thermal insulation.

From the material you will need:

• four bars 50 × 50 mm - two short and two long;
• 10mm plywood sheet (in our case, two panels are used - unfortunately, there was no solid sheet at hand).

At the ends of the bars, we make cuts in half the thickness, coat with glue and fix with self-tapping screws, having previously checked the diagonals. In order for the diagonal not to go away, you should use temporary scarves made of 4 mm plywood. After that, we remove them and already fasten a 10 mm plywood sheet (the photo shows how the sheet around the perimeter is fixed with PSh self-tapping screws). Next, we try on in the opening.

In order for the hatch to close well and there are no locks outside, we cut into the cover door latch... Our packaging said “reinforced”. To open the latch, we will use old pen(any device in the form of a cylinder can be used), which is inserted into a special hole. The latch holds the hatch well, very convenient.

Attic staircase mechanism with hatch - articulated without spring

The turn came to the most difficult thing - the opening mechanisms. All components, of course, can be bought in the store, but we will go the hard way and do everything ourselves.

First, let's draw a drawing of an attic staircase on cardboard with an approximate angle to which the hatch should open. Cut out cardboard parts and try it on the design. In this way, the length of the hinges can be adjusted fairly accurately.

I think everyone has iron corners in the garage, trim strips and pieces sheet metal, in general, everything from which you can make a mechanism for a ladder. For one mechanism, we need:

• one corner;
• a piece of sheet metal;
• two stripes of different lengths.

Mark the holes for the hinges, the distances of which we previously estimated empirically, and drill for the M10 bolt. Putting it together without tightening the bolts tightly. With a small one, we measure the desired opening angle of the hatch and push the future mechanism to the selected angle. Mark the area on the metal that, when opened, overlaps the corner and cut it out with a jigsaw.

We bring the metal strips to their proper form by cutting off the excess length and rounding off the ends. So they will not touch the corner and interfere with each other. Putting the whole mechanism back together. After we removed some of the metal, the corner began to abut and stop in the desired position.

So, one mechanism is ready, now we start making the second. It is very important that it turns out exactly the same, but in a mirror version. To do this, we fasten each pair of parts with clamps and drill the necessary holes.

After one hole has been cut out, insert a bolt into it and drill the second.

Then, twisting both parts with bolts, we align them in length.

This is how we make all the parts.

The output should be two completely identical mechanisms.

Now we will install the mechanisms on the hatch and try it on in the staircase. It turned out that even during the design of the unit, we made a mistake - we did not take into account the height of the fastening on the floor beam. That is, the part simply crawled out of the overlap. Because of what we had to install temporary bars.

We adjust the hatch so that it opens well and does not touch the walls of the opening.

Now let's make another simple mechanism to support the whole structure. We need two 20 mm wide strips of metal and a corner. To do this, we weld a piece of metal to the end of one of the strips, against which the second strip will abut. We make a support platform from the corner.

As a result, a hinge should be obtained, which, when the hatch is opened, remains slightly bent and at the same time holds the load. Subsequently, this node will need to be installed in such a way that it is completely decomposed when the mechanisms made earlier are open to the maximum. Then the load created by the articulated ladder will be equally distributed between them.

DIY wooden ladder on bowstrings

A ladder to the attic with your own hands is constructed from wooden planks... The bowstring and steps will be cut from an inch board 100 mm wide. The length of the first section is made according to the size of the hatch, the second is the same or slightly less than the first, but taking into account the fact that it should not touch the ceiling during the transformation process. The third section is equal to the distance that remains to the floor.

With a small one we measure the angle of inclination of the hatch in the open position and transfer it to the board, thereby marking the steps. Next, mark the lengths of the sections.

Pressing the boards tightly to each other and fastening them with molar tape, we transfer all the markings to the second board (the lines should be in a mirror image). Using a feather 25, we drill a hole where the hinge hinge will subsequently be located.

Now attention, we made the mistake of drilling both holes on one side, because the second recess must be on outside boards as noted in the photo.

For a more aesthetic look, we grind all the edges with a milling cutter.

On the bowstrings of the stairs, we make small indentations (5 mm) for the steps. With the help of glue and PSh self-tapping screws, we collect all the parts together. It should look something like the photo.