Folding stairs to the attic - the best choice for saving space. Do-it-yourself attic ladder with a hatch - how to make it easier Installing a wooden folding ladder to the attic

In most private houses, attics and attics are operated premises. And to get to the basement, 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 do not have to go outside to get to the attic, which is very important in the winter season. 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 type of construction, the following types of attic stairs are distinguished:

Monolithic:
- screw;
- marching.
Folding loft ladders:
- scissor;
- folding or lever;
- telescopic or sliding ladders;
- folding.
Portable:
- ladders;
- 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 are not safe.

The most convenient, of course, are the traditional monolithic stairs, 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, retractable attic stairs will be the best option. They are quite convenient and safe, easy to use and take up very little space. A wide variety of designs will allow you to choose the option that suits you.

Folding ladder-transformer

Attic folding stairs are made of wood and metal (aluminum). The combination of these materials gives the best results. 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 purely metal models.

For wooden models, hardwoods should be used. The thickness of the beam must 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 option is a metal attic ladder.

Plastic fittings are also used to prevent friction of components during transformation and seal the opening when the product is folded. The manhole cover is filled with polystyrene foam and provides good thermal insulation.

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

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

Standard dimensions of attic stairs:

the width of the stairs. The optimal width is about 65 cm;
ladder height. 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 injury. The process of lowering or raising it will also be inconvenient. In this case, you 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 stairs will be inconvenient to use;
the thickness of the steps is in the range from 18 to 22 mm;
the angle of the stairs. The standard value is considered to be a value from 60 to 75 degrees. With a greater slope, it will be dangerous to use the stairs, with a smaller slope, the product will take up too much space;
folding attic ladder must withstand a weight of at least 150 kg;
steps should be parallel to the floor and not slip, or anti-slip pads should be glued to the steps.

When buying folding attic stairs, it is necessary to take into account that the product parameters must match the dimensions of the hatch cover, otherwise, the folding parts will touch the opening. The hatch is considered optimal, in which a sliding ladder 70 cm wide and 120 cm long is built in. 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 room, it is necessary to provide 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 larger the dimensions of the attic hatch must be made and the more space the ladder occupies when unfolded.

Sliding attic stairs - retractable marches to the attic

scissor ladder
As a rule, they are made entirely of metal. They also bear the name "accordion staircase", which has taken root due to the fact that the structure is folded 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 staircase 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. Made from aluminum for light weight and rigidity. In the domestic market, a sliding attic ladder is quite rare and is not very popular.

Folding stairs to the attic - sectional and articulated

Folding stairs can consist of two, three or four sections, depending on the design. The first knee 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 mobile thanks to special hinges and hinges.

Reclining ladder

If you really love order, suffer from a panicky lack of space, and you have a second floor or attic, a folding staircase 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 to the wall, and only in the evening, when you need to go up to the bedroom, you put it forward.

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

Do-it-yourself attic folding stairs

Option number 1 - a simple design of 2 sections

Do-it-yourself attic stairs are made within 2-3 hours. To make an attic ladder we need:

hacksaw for woodworking;
measuring tape;
stairs, the height of which will be about 30 cm more than the distance to the ceiling;
four card loops as wide as a 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, anchors, hook and eyelet.

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

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

The upper bar is fixed to the wall immediately under the hatch. So that the folding ladder to the attic does not open, it is fixed to the wall with a hook. The eyelet is screwed into the kosour next to the cut, and the hook is fixed to the wall.

The disadvantage of this model is that it remains in sight. This can be avoided by using a product of a more complex design, in which the sections are attached to the hatch cover. Let's see if it is possible to make such an attic ladder with your own hands.

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

We will tell you how to make a ladder to the attic, consisting of 3 sections, which is identical in design to those sold in stores. Here is such a folding attic ladder 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 improvised means. First, we will determine the location and size of the opening, and then we will make a hatch. Let's say the size of the stairway is 125 by 70 cm. Then, in order to cut out the hatch, you should add 7-8 mm to these dimensions on each side. These gaps will allow the lid to close easily, but will not affect 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, after checking the diagonals. In order for the diagonal not to go away, you should use temporary scarves made of 4 mm plywood. After, we remove them and already fasten a sheet of 10 mm plywood (the photo shows how the sheet is fixed along the perimeter with PSh screws). Next, try on the opening.

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

Attic ladder mechanism with hatch - articulated without spring

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

To begin with, let's draw on cardboard a drawing of an attic staircase with an approximate angle at which the hatch should open. Cut out the cardboard parts and try on the design. Thus, you can quite accurately choose the length of the hinges.

I think everyone in the garage will find iron corners, trim strips and pieces of sheet metal, in general, everything that can be used to make a mechanism for a ladder. For one mechanism we need:

one corner;
piece of sheet metal;
two strips of different lengths.

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

We bring the strips of metal into the proper form, cutting off the excess length and rounding the ends. So they will not touch the corner and interfere with each other. We assemble the whole mechanism again. After we removed part of the metal, the corner began to abut and stop in the desired position.

So, one mechanism is ready, now we proceed to the manufacture of 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 is cut out, insert a bolt into it and drill the second one.

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

In this way 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 stairwell. It turned out that even when designing 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 got 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 strips of metal 20 mm wide and a corner. To do this, we weld a piece of metal to the end of one of the strips, into which the second strip will abut. From the corner we make a support platform.

The result should be a hinge, which, when opening the hatch, 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 fully expanded when the mechanisms made earlier are opened to the maximum. Then the load that the hinged ladder creates will be equally distributed between them.

Do-it-yourself wooden staircase on bowstrings

Do-it-yourself staircase to the attic is built from wooden boards. We will cut the bowstring and steps 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 is left to the floor.

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

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

Now attention, we made the mistake of drilling both holes on the same side, because the second recess should be on the outside of the 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 recesses (5 mm) for the steps. Using glue and PSh screws, we collect all the details together. It should turn out just like in the photo.

In a country house, the space under the roof is often a useful area and is actively used, so a do-it-yourself attic staircase with a hatch will be useful.

Types of stairs for access to the attic

Stairs have always been used to communicate between floors, and the last, uppermost level, the attic or attic, is no exception. The ascent to the under-roof premises can be included in a single marching complex, that is, the ceiling located below will serve as a platform for the next flight of stairs. But access to the attic can be organized in two ways - through the door from a small platform where you can climb the stairs from the residential floor, or through the hatch, directly to the upper floor.

Now let's talk about the design of the flight of stairs. It can be stationary with steps, or descending directly into the hatch, being fixed on its cover. The second option is more compact, but more difficult to implement, the first requires a significant area, even for. Separately, it is worth mentioning a folding ladder with rungs, which is fixed to the wall when not needed. Movable models look the most practical: folding, telescopic, sliding and scissor.

Often in search of information about folding models, you can find mention of sectional, articulated, folding stairs. All these are different variants of the same type - folding, since this is the principle of the design. We do not confuse sectional folding models with spans of the same type, but with bowstrings as a basis. The latter are ordinary steps, fixed on hollow bars, which are called bowstrings, one of which is rigidly fixed to the wall, and the second rises on the hinges of the steps.

Folding ladder - design features

To begin with, let's look at folding models that are made of both metal (aluminum, stainless steel) and wood in combination with steel parts. Regardless of the height of the ceiling, even if you can reach it with your hand, a folding staircase to the attic will always consist of at least 3 sections, both purchased and made by yourself, the drawings rarely differ in this regard.

The fact is that the supports of the lower section must necessarily rest against the floor, and if only 2 long knees are made, the attic hatch will have to be greatly extended in length. This, in turn, will take away some of the useful attic space. When you should take into account its slope to the floor, it is never installed strictly vertically. Accordingly, the lid should fold down not at a straight line, but at an acute angle of about 70-75 degrees. In this case, the hinge between the two upper sections becomes the center of the arc that the folding knee describes, and therefore the hatch must be such that the lower part of the second section does not touch its edge.

The line between the supports resting on the floor is 20-30 centimeters further than the edge of the attic opening, which provides a fairly comfortable angle for the position of the stairs. The last factor is also true for telescopic or scissor designs. The topmost section of the folding model is usually attached directly to the manhole cover so that opening it simultaneously begins to feed the folded sections down.

Therefore, the suspensions holding the sash must be strong enough, they are best chosen based on a load of 150 kilograms. Do-it-yourself attic stairs should be made with a large margin of safety, if it is actively used during frequent visits to the attic, best of all - from metal. An exception may be steps, they can be made of wood so as not to make the structure too heavy. Sections are connected by conventional one-piece articulated or lever hinges.

Telescopic attic ladder - buy or make it yourself?

Retractable telescopic sections seem to be a very difficult device to manufacture at home, and many people buy ready-made along with an attic hatch. However, you can get by with the purchase of only a retractable ladder, which is often found in hardware stores next to tools. Its distinguishing feature is aluminum sections and plastic elements for fastening the crossbars.

Such a staircase to the attic is mounted with your own hands on the hatch, the thinnest part above the hinges of the lid that folds down. It will not be possible to fix it rigidly on the latter due to the fact that the telescopic knees are rather short, and fixing at least one, in addition to the top one, will prevent the ladder from moving forward.

Before you make and install such an attic staircase with your own hands, you need to carefully measure the distance from the floor to the ceiling of the upper residential floor. If the fully extended knees are too long even when the structure is tilted, 1-2 upper sections can be rigidly fixed to the hatch in a semi-extended or folded position. Worse, if the ladder supports do not reach the floor, in this case it will be necessary to mount it on lowering hangers without mounting to the edge of the hatch opening, the cover of which will be held by separate levers.

When self-assembling the mechanism for lowering the entire structure down, it is better to fix the hangers on the ladder racks with steel clamps, possibly with their through bolt fixation to the support. The telescopic ladder can be kept lowered by both purchased crank arms and conventional cables. For the hatch cover, in addition to suspensions, you will need springs, which, in addition to holding it in the closed position, will allow you to lift it without much effort. However, the upper pull-out sections of the stairs can also be equipped with such springs (even blocks are used for such an operation, which will be discussed later).

Sliding sectional structure for access to the attic

Many people think that a retractable telescopic ladder to the attic is identical to a sliding model, but the difference between them is quite significant when making it yourself. If in the first variant the sections of the length of the rack between two crossbars are extended one from the other, then in the second case they consist of 5-6 steps and slide one along the other along the outer guides.

In other words, the telescopic design is more compact, but the sliding one is easier to do on your own. After all, it is easier to assemble sections moving along a sled than to pick up pipe sections of different diameters, not to mention fixing these sections so that they do not fall apart when extended. As for the assembly of sliding stairs, they can be different. The simplest option - all sections of the same size and stacked one on top of the other, with a connection on a skid with rollers.

Another type - the lower sections are narrower than the upper ones and are located one inside the other, according to the principle of a fire escape. In this case, the supports of the upper knee should be wider than the lower one so that the section easily fits over the crossbars, while the sled is located on the inside of the uprights, and the rollers on the outside. For such a model, the uppermost knee, regardless of the type of construction, must be rigidly fixed on the hatch cover, equipped with strong suspensions and springs.

Scissor attic ladder - advanced technology

This option is perhaps the most interesting, since it makes it possible to climb into the under-roof premises along full-fledged flat steps of sufficient width to comfortably place the sole of the foot. At the same time, the ladder folds as compactly as the telescopic ladder. This design has one indisputable advantage: if you attach a spring to at least one section, pulling it up into the hatch, the tension element will fold all the knees, which are interconnected levers.

The whole design resembles several dozen scissors, which are hinged in pairs with rings and knife tips. Steps are always mounted at the intersection points of the metal strips, where the scissors have a screw. At the same time, they are rigidly fixed in relation to the axes, which have a rotation limitation. It is not difficult to make such attic stairs with your own hands, you just need to have 100 metal strips available for 25 steps, preferably made of durable stainless steel.

Each 2 strips are connected with a bolt exactly in the center, and then the resulting X-shaped elements are movably attached to each other using short bushings. Steps are installed at the crosshairs. At the same time, so that they do not sway, you need to either hang them a little lower on the corners, or make limiting protrusions on opposite metal strips.

Attention - when folding the scissor sections, be careful not to pinch your fingers between the planks.

Folding ladder fixed on the wall

There are 2 ways possible here, how to make a ladder to the attic. At the very beginning, we mentioned that two-section folding ladders are impractical if the hatch is small. However, such a model can be mounted on the wall if the opening is located at the edge of the ceiling. In this case, we make 2 sections, short and long, and we fix the second one under the hatch itself, with loops on a thick beam attached at the top of the wall. The second knee is made longer than the remaining distance to the floor, and is hinged below the beams of the first, so that in the folded position it is between the wall and the long section.

Another do-it-yourself folding attic ladder is made on inclined bowstrings with full steps instead of rungs. One board is rigidly fixed on the wall, as we have already mentioned above. Loops are screwed to it for mounting movable treads, to which, in turn, also on hinges, we fasten the second bowstring, even with railings on rod balusters. In the upper part, under the opening, we make an emphasis for the descending bowstring board. In order for the whole structure to be kept in a tilted up position, it must be hooked to a metal loop specially attached to the wall.

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Folding ladder for cottages, country houses, and cottages with attic rooms, becomes a vital necessity. It should not take up much space, because every square meter is important in a country house. In addition, the great advantage of the ladder will be its mobility. Foldable designs save space and are easy to install. To complete all the related tasks for the construction of such a staircase, you can do it yourself.

Folding stairs to the attic, can be located both indoors and in the attic itself. The second option is more profitable in terms of saving living space. According to the design of the manufacture of stairs, there are the following types:

monolithic (marching or screw);
folding (lever, telescopic, scissor or folding);
portable (attached or ladders).

Portable structures are used very rarely, mainly when performing construction work. The most convenient option is monolithic products that have wide marches and are equipped with railings. However, they are not suitable for access to the attic, because they have large dimensions.

It is better to use retractable structures that are safe to use and easy to install. In addition, when folded, they do not take up space in the room. Thanks to the variety of possible designs, you can choose the staircase that best suits your home.

Transformer stairs

For the manufacture of folding attic stairs, wood and metal (most often aluminum) are used. This combination produces the best results. Wood is necessary to create flights of stairs (the weight of the structure is reduced), and metal parts are most often corners, fasteners and mechanisms that ensure the rigidity of the structure.

For stairs choose solid wood (birch, ash, larch, beech, maple). The beam must be chosen at least 2 cm thick. If the ladder will be used quite often, it is worth thinking about a metal structure. The manhole cover should be filled with foam for greater thermal insulation. Dimensions of stairs to the attic:

the optimal march width is 65 cm;
the average number of steps is 15;
the optimal step width is 19.3 cm;
the thickness of the steps is not less than 18 mm;
the optimal angle of inclination of the structure is 60-70 degrees.

To prevent the ladder from sliding on the floor, it is worth putting special pads on each bowstring.

scissor

Such stairs are made entirely of metal. Their other name is accordion stairs. They are light, compact, easy to attach to the hatch. However, scissor ladders have one drawback - over time, a creak appears during their operation. They need to be lubricated periodically.

Telescopic

In this case, a folding ladder has several sections that fold into one another. They are usually made from aluminium. Domestic summer residents are wary of such stairs and prefer transformers to them.

Sectional hinged products are more in demand. They are more bulky and difficult to install, but they have high strength and durability. How a retractable staircase to the attic is made is described below.

Location of stairs

There is one main requirement for the location of the stairs - it should not interfere with residents when moving around the house. That is why it is not installed in the bedroom or hallway. Sometimes you can install a ladder as a piece of furniture - if the size of the room allows. In this case, it is not necessary to hide it.

Production of a two-section ladder

A folding ladder should have a simple and practical design, it is worth taking a closer look at the option with two sections. To make such a ladder, you will need a small amount of tools and materials:

hacksaw;
ladder;
roulette;
beam 2-3 cm thick.
loops along the width of the stringer;
hook, screws, anchors and loops.

First you need to carry out preparatory work, then make a ladder, and then install it correctly.

Preparatory work

First, the old structure is dismantled, consisting of a ladder and a decorative frame equipped inside the passage. Then you need to pick up bars for flights of stairs. Each bowstring must have a cross section of at least 30 * 50 mm. The optimal slope of the attic stairs in a small room is 60-70 degrees. It must be taken into account when calculating the length of the stairs and the angle of inclination of the steps relative to the ladder racks.

It is worth arranging a two-section staircase when the attic passage is located in close proximity to one of the walls. The folding design will hang directly on the wall. The presence of only 2 sections does not allow you to hide it in the attic directly above the aisle.

Making stairs

First, the lower and upper parts of the stairs are assembled. To do this, you need 4 bowstrings and steps. The bottom should be 1/3 of the total length. Then it is necessary to strengthen the upper part with diagonal slats to give it greater rigidity. Then the structure is connected together with loops. A bar is attached to the top of the stairs, which will later be screwed to the wall.

The ladder is attached to the wall with a pre-screwed bar. It should be installed directly under the hatch. The advantages of this design are obvious - a minimum of parts and effort in manufacturing, ease of installation, ease of construction. The disadvantage of a two-section staircase is that it remains in sight.

To avoid this situation, it is worth building a more complex structure. The best option is a ladder with 3 sections. It can be easily hidden in the attic, used only when necessary.

Three-section

The most compact version of the stairs to the attic is a hatch with a folding structure of 3 sections attached to it. Such products are sold in stores. They are made of steel, have a small size and are made of steel. You can also build them yourself. The most commonly used material is wooden bars. To build a staircase to the attic with your own hands, you will need to perform a certain sequence of actions.

How to make a hatch

Before performing the hatch, it is worth calculating its dimensions. If the hatch to the attic is 125 * 70 cm in size, then the passage should be cut 7-8 mm more on each side. This will make it easier to open and close the sunroof. The level of thermal insulation from such a gap will not decrease.

As materials you will need:

Bars 50 * 50 mm - 2 long and 2 short.
Plywood 10 mm thick.

Now you need to build a hatch. To do this, 4 bars are attached to each other, and then a sheet of plywood is nailed to them. Before attaching plywood, check the diagonal. So that the construction of the bars does not “lead”, you need to nail scarves to the corners. After the hatch is completed, it must be tried on in the opening.

So that there are no locks on the outside, and the hatch closes well, you should cut the door latch into the cover. It will hold the hatch perfectly and open comfortably.

opening mechanisms

Now it’s worth doing the most difficult thing - creating opening mechanisms. In order not to complicate and not delay the process, you can buy them at a hardware store. However, if there is a desire to do everything with your own hands, you should follow certain rules.

To begin with, drawings of the future design are made, taking into account the opening angle of the hatch. To make a hinge on which the hatch will open, you will need:

pieces of sheet metal;
one corner;
two metal strips of different lengths.

Holes are made on the hinges according to pre-made drawings. Then they connect everything together, without tightening the bolts too much. You can determine the opening angle empirically. To do this, the hatch is opened to the desired angle and marks are made on the metal. Then the area that interferes with the movement of the corners is cut out with a jigsaw.

Now each corner is locked in the desired position. To make the mechanisms identical, first one is completely made, and then all the details of the second are made according to the finished sample.

For greater strength, the hatch is connected to the opening by a supporting structure made of corners and metal strips. Pieces of metal are welded to the end of the upper strips, against which the lower strips will abut. The corner becomes a base. The result is a hinge mechanism that is half-bent when the hatch is opened.

Ladder

The staircase itself is made of wooden boards. For bowstrings and steps, an inch board of 100 mm is suitable. The first section is made according to the size of the hatch. The length of the second can be equal to the first section, provided that it does not touch the ceiling during unfolding.

For the third section, the length that remains to the floor is selected. The angle of inclination is measured with the hatch open. Then it must be transferred to the board, marking the steps. Then the length of the sections is marked. All the markup that was done on the first board should be transferred to the second. All lines must be mirrored.

Where the hinge hinges will be located, it is worth drilling holes. The top one is drilled directly at the junction of the fastened boards, the bottom one is drilled on their outer sides. To make the holes look more aesthetically pleasing, you should additionally go through them with a milling cutter.

Then the boards are sawn at the junction of the segments. After that, steps are cut and all elements are ground. Small indentations are made on the bowstrings into which the steps will be inserted. Once all the structural elements are ready, you can start assembling.

March loops

The next stage in the manufacture of stairs is the implementation of loops for connecting flights of stairs. To do this, you need to find 8 metal strips 25 mm wide. On 4 of them it is necessary to weld a small piece of the same strips. Each drilled 3 holes. One will serve as a junction with a hinge, the others - for screwing to the stairs.

To connect the ladder segments, they must be placed on a flat surface. The hinge must be screwed so that the bolt enters a groove specially cut out for it - in the center of the connection of the sections. After screwing the loops, it is necessary to check the section for flexion-extension. Only after the check is done, you can screw the 3rd section. After all the procedures are completed, you can remove the hatch and screw the ladder to it.

Each staircase, regardless of type, should be comfortable. In addition, when performing attic construction, it is worth adhering to the basic rules:

attic folding stairs should not be more than 3 meters;
metal steps should be equipped with anti-slip pads;
wooden models are not installed in too dry or damp rooms;
mechanisms and fastenings must be strong and reliable;
from time to time the rubbing parts of the product should be lubricated.

Such rules will be useful in the manufacture of attic stairs.

As you can see, making an attic ladder with your own hands is simple. In the process of its manufacture, certain recommendations should be followed, and before starting work, make a detailed drawing. In the process of work, care should be taken, especially when working in the attic near the opening.

Climbing to the attic or attic can be made very convenient. The most suitable option for this would be attic folding stairs, which combine compactness with practicality.

Peculiarities

The main feature of folding ladder structures is their compactness. It is thanks to her that you can free up the maximum space, which is often so lacking. Most of the time it is in the folded state and does not interfere with movement at all, preserving the beauty of the interior.

Modern stairs to the attic look even more attractive when unfolded. They are able to easily transform any space, making it more interesting. With all this, folding ladders cope with their main functions perfectly.

Folding ladders are made of various materials and have many subspecies, which makes it easy to choose the most suitable option. Moreover, all models of stairs are easy to operate. Modern attic stairs are very easy to reach and fix in the desired position.

Retractable ladder structures are especially popular in private homes, where constant access to the attic is a necessity. They are much more convenient than ladders or transformers that need to be carried and installed, which is very difficult.

The features of the attic design include the fact that it is easy to make it yourself. Moreover, even an old wooden staircase can be turned into a comfortable attic.

Advantages and disadvantages

There are a lot of advantages of folding stairs to the attic, so first of all It is worth highlighting the main or most striking of them:

The compactness of folding ladder structures is one of their main advantages. Moreover, such stairs are capable of occupying a minimum of space in any form: folded and unfolded.
The convenience of using a folding ladder is undeniable. She is literally "invisible" waiting for the hour of use. Then in a matter of seconds it can be decomposed and used for its intended purpose. At the same time, convenience and safety can be increased with the help of railings or overlays on metal steps.

The lightness of the staircase design is a huge plus, because sometimes a fragile girl needs to cope with it. This advantage significantly increases the popularity of folding models, which are much lighter than other ladder options.
Ease of use is another benefit. It is enough just to push it out from under the hatch with the help of special mechanisms, and then it is also easy to push it back. Installing or completely removing the folding structure is also easy. The actions are so simple that even those who have not done something like this can perform them.
The invisibility of a folding structure when it is not needed can also be attributed to its main advantages. After all, most of the stairs are bulky and immediately catch the eye, often violating the beauty of the space.
Attractive cost is another advantage. Even complete systems are inexpensive.

Of course, like any other ladder, folding stairs also have some disadvantages:

A large angle of inclination of a folding ladder is far from always convenient, especially if you need to lift quite weighty or dimensional things along it. They are not suitable even if you often have to go up and down to the attic.

The load capacity of folding ladders often does not exceed 150-200 kilograms.

The difficulties of self-manufacturing of some types of attic structures are due to complex and very accurate calculations, as well as the mandatory availability of special tools.

Kinds

Retractable structures can be divided into types or models depending on the type of device, their appearance or the material from which they are made. For example, the type of devices allows you to select the following types:

folding;
folding (foot);
sliding (telescopic, sectional).

Partly already from the name it is clear that these types of transformers differ in the principle of layout. To better understand them, it is worth considering the features of each of these types.

Folding is the most interesting option. The composition of this design includes several sections at once, which, when opened, gradually move forward to the floor. The movement is carried out due to special hinges and loops. Card loops on the side allow you to securely fix the structure on the wall when folded. When the ladder is unfolded, its appearance resembles a regular marching ladder due to the angle of inclination of 45 degrees.

Among the disadvantages of the folding design, one should highlight its massiveness, not very attractive appearance and the need for a considerable amount of free space for layout.

The folding design has earned its popularity due to its compact size when folded. The most striking model of such a ladder was the scissor, which is also called the "accordion". Already by the name, the principle of operation of such a ladder becomes clear. When folded, it looks like a small block, and when unfolded, it unfolds like an accordion. This design is laid out very simply, you just need to pull the lower step towards you.

The disadvantages of the model include only the unreliability of interblock fastenings. Scissor models of folding ladders require careful handling and regular lubrication of the mechanisms located between the segments.

Among modern models, there are even automatic folding scissor designs that are very convenient to use. No physical effort is required to move them.

Sliding transformer structures are several flights of stairs stacked or superimposed one on top of the other. Among their advantages, it is worth noting the minimum storage space and low cost compared to other types. The convenience of sliding structures is also due to flat steps, on which the foot becomes stable, not slipping.

Sliding ladders are divided into two types:

Telescopic. Telescopic structures are characterized by the extension of sections, like a nesting doll. It turns out that in tubes with a larger diameter, smaller tubes are attached, and even smaller tubes are attached to them. The folded state of the structure is held by latches located on the outside of the metal beams. To fold the structure, it will be enough just to loosen the latch. In unfolding, this design is extremely simple. The disadvantage of this model can be considered problems that eventually arise with the clamps. Often, metal clamps “wedge”, and the design ceases to easily straighten out.

Sectional. They are somewhat similar to scissor ladders, only in them the segments are stacked on top of each other, and not pressed. In the process of unfolding, the sections are straightened, and then they are fixed in a certain position. The number of sections in such a ladder can be equal to two or even three. Such a ladder requires a stable platform to rest on the floor.

materials

The materials from which folding stairs are made play a significant role. After all, they must provide the stairs with strength, make them light and at the same time also inexpensive. If we adequately consider all these important parameters, it becomes clear that The best materials for attic stairs are wood and metal.

Wooden stairs are mainly made from coniferous trees, such as pine. Their advantages are reliability and low cost. At the same time, such stairs are not difficult to manufacture and assemble on their own. Another advantage of such stairs is to give the interior a special rustic zest.

The disadvantages of wooden attic stairs are due to their massiveness, short service life and low load capacity (up to 100 kilograms).

It should be borne in mind that in wooden models there are still metal parts. This means that they will require additional care, for example, regular lubrication.

Folding and sectional types of stairs are most often made from wood.

Metal folding stairs among modern models are much more common. Moreover, stairs made of steel or aluminum are in no way inferior to their counterparts made of wood. The cost of metal stairs is not much higher, and the load capacity reaches 200 kilograms. At the same time, such stairs are distinguished by high strength, durability, high resistance to mechanical stress. Aluminum ladders have another additional advantage in the form of low weight.

The disadvantages of metal stairs can only be attributed to the complexity of manufacturing on their own. This is due to the fact that such work requires welding equipment and relevant knowledge and skills.

Striking representatives of metal attic stairs can be called telescopic and scissor. Moreover, telescopic ones are most often made of aluminum.

Combined models, made simultaneously from wood and metal, are not uncommon and have the advantages of both these materials.

Dimensions

Regardless of the type of staircase in terms of design or material, it should be as comfortable as possible and at the same time completely safe. When choosing an attic staircase or designing it, it is worth considering a number of parameters:

The flight of stairs should be of optimal width, equal to 60 - 70 centimeters.
The design should have an angle of inclination ranging from 45 to 75 degrees.
The number of steps on the attic stairs should be optimal. It is best if there are about fifteen of them.
The thickness of the steps of 2 centimeters is considered the most convenient and suitable for a folding staircase.
The steps of the stairs should be located throughout the span at the same distance from each other (within 17-22 centimeters).
The horizontal part of the step must be at least 20 centimeters. This will provide additional convenience for frequent use of the stairs.
The dimensions of the hatch of the stairs should be slightly larger than the opening in order to block it.

How to choose?

When choosing a staircase to the attic, the first thing to start with is to decide exactly where it will be located and measure the dimensions of the hatch.

The height of the room when choosing a staircase is very important. In a three-meter room, a ladder 250 centimeters high is unlikely to be useful. In this case, it should be borne in mind that a structure designed for a large height can often be shortened if the height of the room is lower. To do this, it is enough to dismantle one or more of the last steps.

However, it is desirable that attic ladder structures do not exceed a height of three meters, so that the risk of injury does not increase.

When determining the size and location for the opening, special attention should also be paid to the overlap. An obstacle to installing a ladder in a certain place can, for example, be a reinforced concrete slab or a wooden beam. If the overlap allows, then it is definitely better to give preference to models with a large hatch. They will have wider steps and a less steep climb.

The dimensions of the hatch are indicated in the passport for the finished product. This document also indicates the maximum distance that it flies out of the hatch when it is opened and closed. This characteristic is especially important when placing stairs in small spaces.

When choosing a folding ladder made of metal, it is recommended to choose models with anti-slip overlays on the steps. All parts of metal structures should be checked for corrosion protection, that is, they must be galvanized.

Wooden ladder structures to the attic should be installed in rooms that are not too dry or damp. This precaution will extend their service life. When inspecting a wooden structure, it is worth checking its integrity, dryness and the absence of knots. It would not be superfluous to clarify what protective mixtures the wood was treated with and what finish coat is used (most often paint or varnish).

Among modern models, you can choose both mechanical, which must be laid out by hand, and automatic with an electric drive.

When choosing, it is imperative to check the reliability of fasteners and mechanisms. Having finally stopped your choice on a particular model, you should find out the features of caring for it so that the whole structure remains in order for a long time.

There is an attic in any country house. Very often this is an unused room, but in some cases some unnecessary things are stored here or even some kind of room is equipped. In any case, there must be access to it, and for this, stairs to the attic are made. They can be created from wood and metal - in this case, you can make them yourself. And they can be beautiful forged - such designs are usually created to order.

Primary requirements

Before building an attic staircase, you need to consider several of its features. First, it must be convenient and safe to use. Moreover, these two indicators depend on the design principle of the staircase itself and the attic. An important role is played by taking into account the type of stairs, the width of its steps, the height of the rise. The height of the stairs is calculated depending on what its design will be. If it is a folding type, then you need to carefully consider its dimensions when folded.

Steps should be of such dimensions that it is convenient and safe for any person to climb them. The correctness of the design also depends on the location of the steps: the distance between them should not be too small or large. If these requirements are not observed, safety regulations will be violated.

The span of the stairs to the attic must be at least 0.8 m. It is important that the angle of inclination is observed: this must be considered at the design stage of the structure.

Types of stairs: folding or stationary?

The choice between these two types of structures depends on how large the attic area is. Of course, a stationary staircase is more reliable and safe, but it is also solid, that is, it requires a lot of space. That is why many people prefer folding attic stairs: they are convenient, take up little space, due to the fact that they can be folded. Most often, such structures consist of several sections that overlap each other, thereby saving space. Moreover, they can always be adjusted depending on the required size.

Or retractable?

These designs are becoming more and more popular, due to their advantages:

are cheap;
easy to mount;
take up little space due to the design in the form of an accordion;
reliable;
mask the structure with an attic hatch.

All these advantages make retractable stairs so popular. How to make it yourself?

Self-assembly of a retractable ladder: the main stages

The very first step should be a thorough analysis and verification of the dimensions of the hatch opening. This is necessary so that the parameters you choose match the dimensions of the stairs. Then the location of the bars is thought out - first at the bottom, then at the top. Special spacers are located between the opening and the stairwell - they will help to better fix the structure. When it is laid, the spacers can be removed.

Or outdoor?

If space does not allow mounting retractable stairs, you can replace them with an external structure. It will provide a connection between the outside world and the interior of your home. The main thing is to remember the safety rules, since the operation of such a design has its own characteristics. When installing an external staircase, it is important to choose the right material: it must be resistant to sunlight, have increased abrasive wear, reliable and wear-resistant.

Wooden ladder

Wooden stairs to the attic - the easiest option, which you can create with your own hands. This can be done in several ways. Consider the most simple and implemented in practice.

Method 1

To make an attic staircase, you first need to take measurements: we need parameters for the height of the room, the estimated angle of inclination, which most often reaches 30 degrees, while the height is about 2.5 m. To make the staircase reliable and correct in terms of design, you need to think over and draw up the drawings correctly. The simplest wooden stairs are created on the basis of bars for stringers, bars corresponding to the width of the stairs for fastening, overhead hinges and boards from which we will make steps. Yes, and do not forget about folding hangers - the hatch cover will be fixed on them. The installation process itself is as follows:

Steps are installed and securely fastened between the stringers. This is done either with a tenon-groove fastening, or with self-tapping screws, or with glue. It is better to treat the steps with anti-slip pads - they will increase the safety of operation of the structure.
The ladder is first fastened under the ceiling opening on two bars, which are equal to the width of the ladder. Their connection is carried out by loops.
We check how efficient the hinges are, after which we finally tighten the fasteners.

This is the easiest way to create stairs to the attic.

Method two

This is a more time-consuming way of making stairs, which can be mounted even in a country house. It looks more aesthetically pleasing and has a more reliable design, which is important in conditions of heavy load on it. The structure itself will be movable on one side, and the other half will be attached to the wall. To create such a staircase to the attic, we need:

two boards with a length corresponding to the height of the ceiling and the angle of inclination;
boards for creating steps with a width of at least 0.5 m and a thickness of about 3 cm;
bolts, self-tapping screws as fasteners;
card loops with which the steps will be attached.

It is important to arm yourself with a drawing - it will allow you to perform all the work efficiently and accurately. After determining the angle of inclination, you need to saw off the bars from above and below so that they firmly rest on the floor. The boards along the entire length are divided into equal segments - steps will be located here at the distance that you need. The steps are fastened with card loops, and after the construction is completed, you can make it exquisite by varnishing or painting it.

Metal stairs

Attic stairs made of aluminum look very nice, especially if your country house is decorated in the style of "minimalism" or "hi-tech". Why is metal good? First, it is more reliable. Secondly, such structures are treated with special compounds that protect the surface from mechanical stress or corrosion. Thirdly, metal structures are able to withstand heavy loads.

The most popular among buyers are metal ladders of retractable type, which take up little space. They are relevant for rooms that are small, that is, where rational use of space is required.

How to do it yourself?

Despite the complexity of the technological process, you can make a metal staircase yourself. Moreover, it can be made both from metal and from a combination of materials. To make the simplest metal staircase, we need to prepare:

welding machine;
mechanical saw;
emery wheel, which will remove burrs on the metal;
a circular saw and a clamp for joining parts if the stairs will have wooden parts;
pipes;
steel sheets.

Note that the quantity of materials is calculated based on the drawing. We will make strong seams with a welding machine, so the staircase will be a monolithic and durable structure.

Such an aluminum or steel staircase will be built on the basis of a channel (size 8-10). The steps are made of sheet steel, if they are without additional finishing, grating on the steps will be required, which will protect against falling. The railings are made of angle steel and the tread supports are made of rebar. First, support devices are installed and welded on the beam, then brackets for fastening are welded.

Metal attic stairs can have wooden tread plates, but first you need to consider where the additional fasteners will be located. On metal steps, holes for self-tapping screws should be located at a distance of 15 cm from each other. A plywood substrate is mounted to the metal treads - it is attached to a mounting adhesive, which retains its shape after hardening.

Finished aluminum ladder

Very often, many people prefer to buy ready-made structures, rather than mount them on their own. But even in this case, you will have to work hard, since they are delivered unassembled. How to assemble? The general scheme of work is approximately the following:

First, a sketch of the future staircase is created.
4 identical segments are cut from a metal profile or pipe.
The pipe is fastened in a vice and carefully cleaned of rust.
Steps are cut out of a metal sheet - they must be the same length.
Steps are tried on on a flat surface and adjusted to size.
Steps are attached to the supports by welding - this is a more reliable option than corners and bolts.
From below the ladder is finished with rubber heels.

Forged designs: beautiful and modern

Very often, in country houses, rooms with an attic or attic are connected with forged stairs. Moreover, they can be simple screw, or they can have ornate patterns, which allows you to fit them into any room in terms of stylistic orientation. All spiral staircases can be divided into several types:

in the first version, the staircase is carried out with support on the central pillar and walls;
in the second - a spiral staircase is removed from the walls and is mounted on a support column with steps;
in the third case, a staircase with a turn does not have a central pillar, but rests on spirally curved bowstrings;
the fourth option is a reliable metal staircase, which rests on a pillar made of a monolith based on a steel pipe.

The most convenient are stairs, the span width of which is up to 900 mm with a diameter of the entire staircase structure up to 2200 mm.

What if you buy?

If you don’t feel like doing the installation yourself, you can always buy the same forged stairs, which are quite difficult to mount on your own, and even more so to come up with and make. A large selection of attic stairs is offered by many brands, not only in Russia, but also in other countries of the world. Consider the most popular:

STANDART ISO PLUS (MINKA, Austria). This folding wooden ladder is made of quality MDF and is designed for a maximum load of 150 kg. There are special protective nozzles on the legs, and with the help of a metal handrail, maximum safety is ensured. This is a compact ladder, the price of which is an average of 8200 rubles.
The Danish company VELTA offers economy class structures that can be mounted in the attic or in the attic. For 6,000 rubles you get a simple staircase, which is compact: it consists of three sections that are conveniently assembled and retracted into the ceiling.
FAKRO stairs are made from winter harvested pine, therefore they are reliable and durable in operation. This company offers a wide range of products that are compact and have a wide price range. The warmed cover of the hatch - the most important advantage which this ladder has. The price of models starts from 8000 rubles. It is also important that all connections of the structure are reliable and durable, the steps are supplemented with anti-slip grooves, making operation safe and comfortable.

conclusions

Now you know how to make a staircase to the attic with your own hands. Having at hand the simplest materials, you will create a concise, but comfortable wooden or aluminum structure.