Installing a Fold-Down Attic Ladder - By: Tauqeer Hassan

Attic is a very useful place to store all the outdated or unwanted luggage and items. If you don’t have a fold-down attic ladder, things must be difficult for you to drag the ladder from the garage or backyard each time you want to work in attic area. At times you need something or you want to place something up there. In that case an easy way is to install a fold down attic ladder. Here are some directions given to install attic ladder on your own.

Required items

- Wood
- Pencil
- 16d common nails
- 1x4-inch cleats
- 1x4-inch studs
- 2 1/2-inch screws
- 4-inch lag screws
- Vacuum
- Electric screwdriver or power drill
- Ladder
- Metal joist hangers
- Molding
- Paint
- Paintbrush
- Reciprocating saw
- Shims
- Utility knife
- Measuring tape
- Carpenter’s level

Directions

1. Take a measuring tape and measure the area on the cross beam (joists) of the attic where you want to install the ladder. Mark those places with pencil. Using the reciprocating saw, remove the front part of the joist where the ladder would be installed.

2. Using utility knife cut the ceiling trim. Make it clear with saw.

3. Cut a head guard of 2x8 inch from a wood. This will fit as frame in staircase. Use 16d nails and hammer to fix both head and the joist together. Later fasten it to the ceiling beam.

4. Take a 2-1/2 inch screws and a power screwdriver or drill, tighten the metal joist hangers on left and right sides of the framed opening. This will support ladder to hang. They should be tight enough to avoid any damage.
5. Vacuum the opening to clear all the dust from the area after cleaning it with the reciprocating saw.

6. Now take the pencil and mark the area on the opening ladder will fix on the frame. Take 1x4 inch cleats and screw them in to the marked areas on the 2-1/2 inch screws with power drill or electric screwdriver.

7. Take a closed staircase and try to fit it on the cleats (temporary) carefully. You need to center it on the frame by striking shims into the frame. Make sure that the staircase is straight in. you can take help from carpenter’s level.

8. Ask you partner to stand down. Pull down the stairs and ask your partner to hold the stairs firmly. You still on ladder, drill holes on top of the staircase and into the joists. Take 4 inch lag screws and put them in the holes. Take power drill or electric screwdriver to fasten the screws. Remove the temporary cleats. Calculate the length and angle of the ladder that it requires to meet the floor.

9. To give your ladder a firm grip on the ground, use saw to trim the ends of the ladder to a right angle. This will provide your ladder a good firm grip with ground.

10. Cover the opening with casing and paint the case and the panels to give it a better look. You fold down attic ladder is installed.

About the Author

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