The attic today has ceased to be just a place for storing unnecessary items. The desire to use every meter of space has turned the attic into an area for convenient placement of a library, study, workshop or other useful room. However, you still need to provide a convenient path to the attic. The ideal solution for this is metal loft ladders - strong, lightweight and safe.
However, it is important to arrange them as compactly as possible so that they do not take up a significant floor area. For this purpose, electrically operated attic stairs were created, which quickly fold and unfold.
Varieties of stairs for attics
If you want to do it yourself, you can do any ladder, but you should know about their main varieties and advantages.
Traditional ways to get to the attic:
- Ladders (stepladders). This is a traditional, but also the most inconvenient type of structures for climbing to the attic. Ladders are most often used as a temporary measure, in which any owner will strive to put up a permanent ladder of any type;
- Monolithic stairs. They can be screw and marching. The helical lift, of course, saves space, but it will be inconvenient for children or for older people, so it is not a universal solution to the problem. The marching type takes up a lot of space in the house.
Advice! At the same time, many manage to make the most efficient use of the space under the attic stairs, placing in it, for example, bookshelves or a useful cabinet for other items. The main plus of monolithic stairs is that they are very comfortable and reliable, especially since they can be equipped with strong railings.
Sample of a spiral staircase
- Folding ladders... This is the most modern version, which can have a different design. The sectional principle is most often used, when the structure is divided into several successively expanding sections. Also common is the "scissor" folding system, which can be seen in the photo;
- Sliding model is made according to the telescopic principle. The sections of the steps move apart sequentially, therefore, when assembled, it takes up very little space, and can be extended to almost any length.
Advantages of folding ladders
Such ladders can be made of various materials, they take up a minimum of space when folded, and the structure turns out to be quite strong and safe. The lid of the attic hatch can be additionally insulated so that the interior living quarters are protected from the cold as much as possible.
Not everyone likes to fold and unfold stairs on their own, especially since, for example, an elderly person can find it difficult to cope with this matter. A smart way out is an electrically operated attic staircase, which will automatically fold and unfold if necessary. They began to appear in our homes only recently, but now they are becoming more widespread.
Ladders with automatic control will allow you to easily get to the attic and descend, they are very convenient to use. This is a real find for a modern person who does not like to do unnecessary, unnecessary work.
How the automatic staircase works
A wooden or metal attic staircase is equipped with a ball-bearing mechanism with an electric drive, connected to the electrical network of the house.It is also equipped with telescopic folding handrails. By pressing the button, it can be brought into the unfolded state in a matter of seconds, and it will be easy to climb it.
Important! Such stairs are additionally equipped with locking mechanisms so that small children, playing, could not climb into the attic, or so that uninvited guests would not think to get into the house through the roof.
The price for such accessories for attic stairs and the folding structures themselves with an electric drive is quite high. However, the metal folding ladder can be installed by yourself. Installation of the electric drive is optional, but you can also do it yourself if you wish.
Manufacturing of attic stairs
Knowing how to mount an attic staircase, you can provide your home with a convenient and technically correct exit to the attic, while the structure will last for many years and will not have to be repaired. The easiest material to process is wood, but it is not particularly reliable. Because of this, many people prefer to use metal, or combine several materials. The main stages of work and step-by-step instructions:
Site selection and design
The attic staircase can be located both inside and outside the building, but the first option is much more convenient, since the attic or attic can be used at any time of the year. It is most convenient to place it where it will not interfere with anyone. Because of this, it is inconvenient to place it in the kitchen or living room. The most common options are a hall or a hallway, in rare cases it is placed in the living room.
When calculating, it is important to determine the slope of the stairs and the location of the steps. The recommended angle of inclination is no more than 45 degrees, otherwise it will be very difficult to climb the stairs, especially for the elderly. The width of the span should be at least 80 cm, then one person can easily climb and descend along it. When doing this, take into account the width of the hatch to the attic.
Advice! The distance between the steps should be exactly such that it is convenient for an adult to walk on it. They should be located strictly horizontally. This is worth thinking about even at the design stage, especially if you want to make folding ladder.
Preparatory work before installation
Wooden attic stairs and metal counterparts require accurate measurements of the room. The distance from the floor to the ceiling is measured, and the required amount of material is calculated.
Since wood requires minimal building skills, such a ladder is easiest to install for a beginner in the renovation business. One of the options is a folding flight of stairs, one side attached to the wall.
As a material for the manufacture of stairs you will need:
- Two boards from which the bowstring will be made. The thickness of the timber should be at least 3 cm, its length will depend on the distance to the ceiling and the length of the flight of stairs;
- Boards for creating steps: thickness - at least 3 cm, length - at least 12 cm;
- 2 card loops for each rung of the stairs;
- Anchor bolts, self-tapping screws, tools for working with wood: electric drill, jigsaw, screwdriver, etc.
Making a folding attic staircase
The first string is attached to the wall at the desired angle. In order for the structure to be folded back, its upper edge must not reach the ceiling. The markings are made on it, which can be guided by when fixing the steps, as shown in the diagram. The steps should be exactly parallel to the floor.
The steps are attached to a stationary and movable bowstring with the help of card loops, and in such a way that in the first case the loops are allowed to raise the steps, and in the second - to lower them. The arrangement of the steps in the folded state can be seen in the diagram. The whole structure is fixed with a hook attached to the ceiling.
As a result, when folded, it will be tightly pressed against the wall, and when folded back, it will make it easy to climb into the attic. This design practically does not take up extra space, and you can open and fix it in just 1 minute. An insulated attic staircase involves equipping the hatch with an additional layer of material with low thermal conductivity.
The video in this article will show another option for installing a folding attic staircase:
Folding ladders of all types can be easily purchased ready-made and installed according to the attached instructions. This will allow you not to look for material and avoid large labor costs. But still it is always pleasant to surprise the guests of the house with your own creativity.
Conclusion
A properly made structure will ensure the full use of the attic, in which you can equip anything you want. Automatic attic stairs equipped with an electric drive are still a curiosity in our homes, but the technique is improving every year.
Very soon, perhaps this particular design will be the most common (find out also what is retractable ladder and how to construct it in the house).
