Attic stairs: which option to choose and how to install? Do-it-yourself attic staircase: step-by-step instructions Wooden stairs to the attic floor

Experienced builders and architects recommend, when building a private house, not to miss the opportunity to make the most of the space in it. There is an economical and easy way to increase living space in a small house - to equip a residential attic.

An attic is called a room equipped with a roof, which is used for permanent residence. To get from the first floor to the attic, you need a staircase, which often becomes the most difficult technical issue when equipping an attic. In this article, we will tell you what options are there for stairs to the attic, as well as how they can be compactly placed even with a total shortage of free space.

An attic is a living space that is equipped in the under-roof space of a house. This is the most economical way to increase the usable area of the dwelling, which only slightly increases the load on the foundation of the building.

To equip the attic, it is necessary to provide a special attic roof, the slope of the slopes of which is designed in such a way as to make the ceiling as high as possible, and the elements of the rafter frame are shifted to the sides to free the central part of the room. The features of the attic are:

Availability of natural light... In order for a room equipped under the roof of a house to be considered residential, it must have natural light in the form of dormer or gable windows. Vertical windows are considered the most convenient, as they allow you to use natural light for most of the day.
Large ceiling height... For a comfortable stay of a person in the attic, the ceiling height should be at least 2-2.2 meters. In those parts of the attic where the height is less, storage places are usually equipped, furniture is installed on which you need to sit or lie.
Ventilation... To avoid creating a greenhouse effect under the roof, it is better to equip the attic with a ventilation system. The most convenient option is flow-through forced ventilation. It provides fresh air and removes water vapor.

Note! To carry out the rise to the floor with the installation of an attic staircase. Moreover, with the constant operation of the roofing room, it is much more convenient to use stationary rather than folding models, but stationary ones, which are safer and more reliable.

Requirements for the attic ladder

Stairs to the attic in a private are a must-have element that is necessary if you want to use the under-roof space as a living room. Any home owner is preoccupied with choosing the most appropriate staircase design, which will not affect the usable area of the room, but at the same time will be safe and comfortable.

The attic staircase must meet the following requirements:

Strength... The attic ladder must be of high strength, its design is calculated in such a way that it can support the weight of at least three people of average weight with a small margin.
Convenience... When operating a staircase, the convenience of the entire structure is very important - its steepness, width, distance between steps. Marches should be spacious so that you can move furniture or bulky items along it.
Compactness... Places for installing stairs in a private house are limited in area, so the structure must be very compact, not taking up living space.
Ease... When choosing a staircase, the weight of the material for the manufacture of elements is taken into account so that it does not greatly increase the load on the foundation of the building. Wooden stairs to the attic are quite lightweight, but they are less durable than metal ones.
Safety... A distinctive feature of a safe staircase is the railings, which are installed along its entire length, they prevent accidental falls from a height during the operation of the structure.
Aesthetic appearance... The staircase should harmoniously fit into the styles of the interior of the house.

Important! To carry out the manufacture of a mansard staircase, it is necessary to calculate the load to which it will be subjected during operation, while taking into account the height of the opening, the optimal angle of inclination of the stairs when passing the attic floor, the availability of free space for installing the structure.

Parameters

Many homeowners are wondering how to make an attic staircase. It is much easier to individually solve the problem of equipping the attic floor. Only taking into account the geometry of the space, the availability of free space and the height of the ceilings, it is possible to select all the structural elements in such a way that they will organically look in the interior.

When choosing a staircase, design is important, but its main parameters are much more important:

Tilt angle... According to the data of many years of research and experience of builders, stairs with an angle of inclination of 30-45 degrees are the most comfortable for a person. However, a decrease in the slope of the structure can lead to an increase in its size, which is not always rational from the point of view of the use of free space.
Step height... This design parameter is no less important than its steepness. The optimal value of this parameter is 14-21 cm. If the height of the steps is higher, then it is more difficult to use it, especially for elderly family members or children.
Step width... When a staircase to the attic is designed, the dimensions of its steps should not be less than 20 cm.
Stair width... A staircase to the attic with your own hands is a very real task, however, when designing, one must not forget that its optimal width is 120 cm.
Railing height... During work, it must be borne in mind that the minimum height of the staircase rail is 90 cm, and the distance between the balusters should be no more than 18 cm.

Remember! Many novice craftsmen are wondering what materials to use and how to make a staircase with their own hands. In order to withstand all structural parameters in the optimal range and comply with all safety standards, before building steps to the attic, we must draw up a drawing, determine the required number of stringers according to the calculation of the required bearing capacity.

Configuration views

A ladder to the attic with your own hands is a difficult task, but doable. Especially now, when all the necessary components are sold in hardware stores, from which, like from a designer, you can assemble a ladder of the required configuration.

To begin with, it is worth deciding that there is an internal or external staircase to the attic. The advantages of the first option are obvious: the internal structure is convenient and comfortable to use at any time of the year.

Outdoor placement is used only when there is no free space inside the house. For the rest of the characteristics, mansard stairs are divided into the following types:

Note! If you are equipping an attic for regular use or living, do not install folding, attached or retractable models of stairs, all of them are only a temporary solution to the problem, inconvenient and unsafe.

Views by material

Experienced craftsmen know that you can make a staircase from almost any material. However, the choice will affect the load-bearing capacity, weight and aesthetics of the structure. For example, wooden ladders are lighter and more inexpensive, while metal ladders are stronger and more durable.

Therefore, when making a mansard staircase with your own hands, you often have to look for a compromise. According to the material used for the manufacture of stairs, they are divided into the following types:

Important! Concrete step structures are almost never used as attic structures, since they are made only of standard sizes, and also weigh a lot and look unattractive.

Video instruction

We also came to an end. It remains only to build a staircase to the attic floor. But which one to choose? How to position, inside or outside? And how many marches should a staircase to the attic have? In this article we will try to answer all these questions, and also tell you how to build a staircase with your own hands.

Structures and installation locations of stairs to the attic floor

Ladders for attic floors differ in the type of structure and the place of their installation. And in your choice you need to be based on the needs of the tenants, the area and the technical characteristics of the entire building. Next, we will look at the most popular designs used for attic floors.

Types of construction of stairs to the attic floor

The screw is the smallest in terms of the area it occupies than all those structures that will be described below. If you have only 1-1.5 m 2 at your disposal, then the screw structure will be your salvation.

Attic staircase designs: from the simplest to the fanciful

The picture below shows a classic one-march design. It is easier to calculate and mount than the others, but, as you can see, it takes up a lot of space. This can be corrected by increasing the angle of inclination of the march, but in this case it will not be very convenient to climb to the floor.

It is easiest to install a single-flight staircase to the attic with your own hands

Classic two-march systems are straight, L- and U-shaped. The first type for attics in private houses is rarely used, but the other two are very common.

If there is not very much space in the house, then attic stairs in two marches will do

At the top you can see the layout of the marches, and in the photo below you can see examples of ready-made structures. In the space under the stairs to the attic floor, you can either install a heating system, as in the photo, or make a storage room.

Mansard stairs: photos of classic two-flight structures

It is also worth mentioning the method of connecting marches. The most familiar option for us is turning platforms. However, instead of platforms, so-called winders are often made; you can see them on the left side of the photo.

Arrangement of stairs to the attic: run-in steps and a reversal platform

Another type of attic stairs is a folding, attic. Such structures are used more often if there is an attic on the second floor. When there is no need for a ladder, it can be completely retracted into a hatch in the attic ceiling.

Foldable, compact attic stairs

Installation of stairs to the attic floor inside and outside the building

Walking up to the floor from the street is a good option if two families live in the same house. Both floors are isolated from each other, no one bothers anyone: we get two entrances to the house, an internal one and a street one.

External staircase to the attic: separate entrance to the second floor

The staircase to the attic from the veranda also makes it possible to use different entrances to the living quarters, but there is no need to go outside, as happens when the staircase is external.

In the photo there is a staircase to the attic floor located on the veranda

Installing a staircase inside the home is a more common option. If the building is used on a permanent basis by one family, then, of course, it will be logical to choose just this type of installation.

Internal staircase to the attic. Photo of the simplest structure for climbing to the second floor

How to make and install a staircase to the attic floor

Ladders can be made from almost any material, but wooden ones are perhaps the most common. They will suit almost anyone, especially considering how popular it is today. Let's see how this is done using the example of a straight one-flight staircase.

We calculate the parameters of the staircase

Floor height. We measure the difference between the levels of the final floor of the first floor and the attic. Let it be 250 cm.

Number and height of steps. We divide the lifting height by the recommended riser height - 18 cm. This means: 250: 18 = 13.88 pieces. Fractional numbers should not be, we round up to 14 pieces. Now we calculate the height of the steps: 250: 14 = 17.85 cm. We got 14 steps with 17.85 cm risers.

The total length of the march. We take the width of the steps 27 cm. We consider: 14x27 = 405 cm.

Layout of the stairs to the attic. Settlement start

Based on these calculations, we make a drawing and put down all the dimensions. Now we measure the distance from one attic floor to another, in the drawing we mark the edge of the second floor. From it we measure the distance to the steps of the staircase, according to GOST it should not be less than 185 cm.If this distance is less, we reduce the length of the flight by reducing the number of steps and giving them a greater height.

Table for determining the optimal step sizes

Kosoura and tread

For kosour we need the following formula: height 2 + length 2 √22.65 = kosour length. That is: 4.05 2 + 2.50 2 √22.65 = 4.75m. The width of the stringers is calculated so that it is twice the size of the risers. In our case, this is 17.85x2 = 35.7cm. More is possible, less is not possible.

The marking of the slots on the stringers is done using a carpentry corner. If it is not there, we make a homemade one, from plywood and a couple of slats. We number the steps. We purchase boards for kosour with a margin, with the required length of 4.75m we take 5m.

Marking of stringers: a) the height of the risers; b) the width of the steps

We carried out all calculations without taking into account the step boards. We measure their thickness, and cut the lower part of the stringers exactly so. Now about the width of the treads. To their width, we must take into account the thickness of the riser. According to the diagram below, this is: b + d = e, where b is the width of the tread, d is the thickness of the riser. This is a calculation without overhang, if you plan to do it, then add its width to "b". The diagram shows both options, with and without overhang.

Diy mansard stairs: tread width with and without overhang

Important: the stringers must match perfectly. Otherwise, we will not be able to assemble the ladder. After both stringers are cut, put them together and check how identical they are.

Platform beam

Its width is equal to the width of the future staircase (90cm) + two thicknesses of the stringer + 14 cm at the edges. The last digit changes depending on the parameters of the stairs. So: 90 + 10 + 14 = 114cm is our platform beam. In total, you will need 2 pieces.

In the figure, you can see the ways of attaching the stringers to the platform beam: with and without a saw cut. You can choose the method that suits you best. On the right side of the figure there are two options for the execution of the frieze step: ordinary and pushed into the platform. We cut out the required number of steps, then sand all the details.

How to make a staircase to the attic: fastening the stringers to the landing beam and the device of the frieze step

Stepping back 7 cm from the edges, we make saws in the platform beams equal in width to the thickness of the stringers. In the latter, we also make cuts, if the method of fastening you have chosen implies them. Now we attach the platform beams to the floors. This can be done using anchors. The figure shows the fixing methods for the upper and lower floors.

Construction of stairs to the attic: fastening the platform beams to the first and second floor

Assembling the stairs to the attic floor

We put the stringers in the grooves, fasten them to the platform beams with pins or pins. We fasten the stringer adjacent to the wall with anchors, if the material of the wall itself allows. Now we attach the steps and risers. You can choose any method from the ones shown in the figure.

Methods of fastening steps and risers

Now it remains to fix the balusters. At the top, we do this with screws, obliquely, at the bottom with the help of dowels. You can choose any shape of balusters and steps that fit the design of the attic.

The attic is a room in which you can not only store things, but also live. To get to the attic floor, you must have a staircase. Many people use ladders. But, if the room is used as an additional room for living, then you should think about a reliable and safe staircase. It can be made of wood or metal. Mansard staircase designs are different.

Any home owner tries to use the entire living space correctly. Many people think about saving space, especially if the house itself is small. An attic staircase should be not only comfortable, but also safe.

There are houses with a sauna on the ground floor and a residential floor on the second. The attic staircase, in this case, can lead directly to the bathhouse, that is, down, and then back to the residential attic floor. It is convenient and practical.

The staircase should not create a lot of shadow. When designing stairs, the safety of the structure must be taken into account.

The flat design of the staircase will take up a large amount of space, but it is the most convenient for use. A steep staircase is less comfortable than other types of structures. It is difficult to climb it.

Types of mansard stairs:

Marching;
Screw.

Marching stairs are the most comfortable and safest. Their design is simple and practical. It is possible to independently design and build such a staircase leading to the attic floor. For their construction, stringers, two supporting bowstrings, bolts are used. To save space, stairs with two flights are used. A staircase or run-in steps are placed between them. These types of stairs are used if there is not much free space in the house. Single-march designs take up more space than two-march designs. But, under them, you can build a utility room or closet to use the remaining space.

Spiral staircases are rarely used as attic staircases. They are difficult to design and build on your own. You can purchase a compact spiral staircase from a specialist store or custom-made. The ladder will be ready, the owner only needs to assemble it using the instructions.

Wooden stairs to the attic in a private house: types of spans

You can increase the living space by using the attic floor. This room can be used as a guest room, bedroom, playroom. When arranging the attic floor, it is necessary to pay special attention to how the ascent to it will be made. Wood is ideal for making stairs. It is possible to independently make a staircase to the attic using the minimum amount of equipment, tools and materials.

Solid and durable types of wood are suitable for the manufacture of stairs: pine, oak, yew, larch, ash.

It is important to correctly determine the site for the staircase structure in order to conveniently organize the living space.

Types of wooden flights of stairs:

Straight;
Single-march (with 1-2 turns at 90 degrees);
Two-march (with a turn of 90 and 180 degrees);
Screw (with support column);
Circular (shaft in the middle).

Straight stairs without turns are installed at a certain angle. The steps are 30 centimeters wide and the steps are at least 27 centimeters deep.

Curved stairs take up significantly more space than straight ones. You can make the required height or width of the steps. The passage width can be 50-100 centimeters. If there is no run-in area, run-in steps are installed. They are usually trapezoidal.

Convenient staircase to the attic with your own hands: stages of work

To make a staircase yourself, you need to determine its position and type of construction. Based on the area of the house, choose the position of the stairs. If the house has a small amount of free space, it is worth choosing simple staircase designs. It can be a straight line without turns, or a staircase with two flights. Such options are optimal, convenient and practical, since they take up a small amount of space. If the area of the house allows, then you can build a staircase with turns or spiral.

Screw structures are the most complex, so you need enough knowledge and practice to make such a ladder yourself.

Stages of work:

Determine locations for the future staircase;
Create a sketch;
Make calculations and draw up drawings;
Prepare the necessary materials and tools;
Make ladder elements;
Install the stairs.

To make a staircase, you need to make calculations and make a drawing. First you need to determine the height of the rise, the width of the stairs, its steepness and the size of the hatch.

It is necessary to accurately determine the width of the tread. This parameter affects the entire structure of the staircase.

The staircase leading to the attic should be not only beautiful, but also safe. Be sure to use handrails and guards. These elements provide safety and comfort during the operation of the ladder.

How to make a staircase to the attic: we make the necessary calculations

The compact attic staircase can be used in a private wooden house built in the country. A comfortable staircase leads to the attic. It can be not only wooden, but also metal. For example, a metal folding ladder from the manufacturer "Farko" is not only compact but also safe.

In order to make an attic staircase, you need to calculate its dimensions. If a spiral staircase is being built, you need to take care of its compactness.

Main dimensions:

The step width must be at least 300 mm;
Riser height from 150 mm;
March width 800-1000 mm;
The slope of the ladder should be between 20 and 45 degrees.

Based on these standards, you can correctly calculate the dimensions for the staircase being built.

It is worth considering the size of the opening that is in the attic. The width of the staircase itself depends on the size of the openings. If the opening is not provided for during construction, then it is worth making it the right size or erecting an external staircase leading to the attic.

Wooden outdoor staircase to the attic: pros and cons

The location of the stairs plays a big role. It can be located in the living room and lead to the attic floor. Or lead from the first floor to the attic.

If there is little space in the house, an outdoor staircase can be used to get to the attic.

Positive features of an outdoor staircase:

Saving space inside the house;
Possibility to enter the upper floor from the street.

Outdoor stairs are made of wood, metal, concrete, stone. The optimal material is wood. It is resistant to the external environment if its surface has been treated and varnished. But, there is a small drawback: in winter you will often have to clean such a staircase. In the country, wooden attic stairs are often used. Usually, the room is used not for living, but for storing things. This ladder can be used as needed. If its design is attached, it can be stored indoors. This type of ladder is used to access the attic, but is not the safest.

An external staircase is convenient if a person who comes home late lives on the attic floor, he will not disturb the others with his arrival.

If you live in a five-story cottage, then the outdoor staircase will be your salvation. Several neighbors can live in one house. In order not to go up every time inside the house and not interfere with neighbors, you can attach your own staircase.

This ladder is susceptible to precipitation that can accumulate on it. This problem can be solved by constructing a protective canopy.

Sliding staircase to the attic floor in a multi-storey building

Some multi-storey buildings have attics that residents can use. You can make an exit to the attic from your own apartment. Initially, you need to determine the location of the stairs. If the layout of the apartment does not allow for a permanent staircase, then a sliding staircase can be used. It can be used as needed. The device of such stairs allows you to save space in the apartment. The manufacturer "Fakro" offers a large selection of sliding ladders with a hatch.

Before purchasing a sliding ladder, you must:

Make a calculation;
View finished samples on the manufacturer's (store) website;
Choose the design of the future structure;
Order the product in the required size.

Sliding stairs save not only space, but also do not disturb the interior of the apartment. Ladders of this design are compact, safe and durable.

Due to this design of the staircase, it is possible to easily and without leaving your own apartment to get from the fifth floor to the attic. On it you can store things and furniture that are not currently used, or equip a separate room.

Compact attic staircase: attic structures

Many people use folding loft ladders to save space in their home or cottage. Ladders from the manufacturer "Fakro" have a reliable design. They are made using a specific design, quality wood and metal. Their design is easy to use.

Models with a hatch have a door that closes tightly and is insulated. The door closes securely, so cold air will not flow from the attic to the house.

How to make a ladder to the attic with your own hands (video)

The mansard staircase must be safe and comfortable. Then you should pay attention to its design. First of all, you need to calculate the correct dimensions and determine its location in the house. The comfort of people who will use the attic floor depends on the position of the stairs. Therefore, the convenience of the residents of the house depends on what the staircase will be in terms of design, and where it will be installed.

It's good if you think over the layout of the house in advance, which will include the presence of an attic floor - a rather profitable and practical element that helps to effectively manage the internal space. However, the owner of the house does not always have such an opportunity; most often, an already rebuilt building with an attic, which has to be redone into an attic, is at his disposal.

And the first thing you should take care of is the staircase to the attic, the dimensions of which can be calculated according to these instructions.

Note! If you undertake the manufacture of a ladder with your own hands, its design must meet the basic requirements.

These requirements include:

high level of strength;
ease of use;
ease of manufacture;
safety when climbing to the attic floor;
comfort of use.

Planning and performing calculations

The planning stage for the future design consists of several points, each of which should be carefully calculated.

The planning stage includes:

choice of installation type;
selection of materials;
selection of the type of staircase.

Note! All calculations should be entrusted to an experienced designer.

But if you still take all the work on yourself, the answer to the question of how to calculate the size of the staircase to the attic will consist of answers to a number of questions related to its design and installation in your existing conditions.

First, determine for yourself how the stairs to the attic floor will be located. The easiest way to solve this problem is to install a staircase from the street side.

The simplicity of this method lies in the fact that you will not at all care about the size of the opening under the stairs to the attic, since the need for it completely disappears. In addition, you do not have to adjust the presence of the hatch to the interior of the room.

Although this approach has its drawbacks:

internal placement of the stairs is more practical;
the structure is exposed to the negative effects of weather conditions;
restrictions are imposed on the use of some materials that are not suitable for outdoor use;
when operating a wet or icy staircase, not only the level of comfort decreases, but also the safety of climbing to the attic;
you have to go outside in order to go up to the attic floor;
outdoor staircase implies the presence of an additional entrance door, which must be reliable in order to ensure the safety of your home from intruders.

Selection of material and type of construction

After you decide on the place of installation of the structure, you need to start selecting suitable materials. If the stairs to the attic, the size, diagram and photos of which are given in the figures, correspond to the parameters of your room, then you can safely take up wood. It is most preferable if you choose exactly hard types of wood.

Wood, as a material for making stairs, is quite easy to handle and malleable, it lends itself perfectly to processing using ordinary tools that can be found in almost every home. The result is an attractive design that fits perfectly into the interior of the room.

Note! Before use, all lumber must go through a curing procedure: for at least three days, the wood must lie in the room in which you will install the ladder itself, so that the material can adapt to the conditions of the room. It is best to apply wood after kiln drying.

Saving space plays an important role in choosing the right design. In addition to complying with all basic safety standards, as a result of the appearance of stairs in your house, the area of the room should not be much hidden or shaded. The safest design option for lifting takes up the most space, these designs have a gentle angle of inclination.

You can make a staircase, as shown in the photo below, which shows a pivot structure with an angle placement. As you can see, it takes up minimal space in the room and does not shade it from light at all.

Spiral staircases also help to save space in the room. They look quite impressive, but at the same time they have a structure that is too intricate to manufacture, and the descent along such steps is not as comfortable as in the case of ordinary marching stairs.

The parameters defining the stairs:

Lift height level - the distance between the floor and the ceiling together with the thickness of the sill of the upper slab.

Area - the angle of inclination of the stairs, as well as the width of its structure and the parameters of the dimensions of the hatch, which will go to the attic floor, will depend on this indicator.

The tread width indicator is calculated so that the leg, when a person climbs the stairs, can fully lean on the step, and at the same time there are no extra unused centimeters left. The optimal tread width indicator is three tens of centimeters, the march width indicator is from 80 to 100 cm, and the riser height indicator should not go beyond the 15-19 cm range.

It is these parameters that are used when calculating the ladder and its further manufacture. The assembly is quite simple, the main thing is to complete all the parts and reliably connect them in the required sequence.

The owners of country houses, especially those suffering from insufficient space on the site, often try to expand the living area of their estates by all available means. One of the best and most popular solutions is the arrangement of a residential attic in the attic.

The process of arranging an attic space into a full-fledged residential attic includes many stages, including the creation of an effective and subsequent high-quality finish. But no less important is the organization of a convenient, reliable and safe interfloor passage in everyday operation. This article will describe and show in detail how to build a staircase to the attic with your own hands in stages.

Preliminary calculations of the mansard flight staircase

The attic staircase can be located inside or outside the house. Of course, for all-season use, the internal staircase looks much more advantageous. It is this option that will be considered further.

The staircase itself can be marching, running or. If you argue in terms of ensuring maximum safety, then it is preferable to make a choice in favor of the marching option.

But marching stairs have one pronounced drawback - large dimensions in projection onto the floor plane. And a common occurrence is when the area of the room in which the stairs should be located is not so large that one can stop at the simplest, one-marching version. The fact is that if there is not enough space, such a staircase will turn out to be very steep and extremely inconvenient, or even dangerous for everyday use, especially for children or family members who have some kind of disabilities for health reasons.

The limiting angle of steepness for such stairs is considered to be 45 degrees. But even this seems a bit too much in terms of comfort. lifting and descent. So it is better to stop at an indicator of up to 40 degrees.

So, one-marching option is obtained very infrequently. And in order to achieve the desired steepness angle, you have to split the ascent into two marches (sometimes even more is practiced). A transitional horizontal platform is made between the flights (it is easier to install and safer in everyday use). Or the marches are connected by a curved section with winder steps (it looks beautiful, but more difficult in calculations and installation, and not so safe in operation).

Further, we will only talk about a marching staircase with a platform, as a simpler and safer option. And who is interested in the winder staircase - he needs to go to another page.

TO How a winder staircase is designed and installed

Drafting a staircase with a run-in section, carrying out assembly work - all this has a number of important features. Read more about - read in a special publication of our portal.

So, the construction of a marching staircase should be preceded by some calculations.

BUT. It is necessary to calculate what area of the room the horizontal projection of the planned staircase with a certain angle of inclination will occupy. Or, conversely, what steepness the march will turn out to be, built on a specific section allotted to it. If one march, for these reasons, is impossible (as often happens), then the staircase will have to be divided into two flights, and the parameters mentioned for each of them have to be calculated, taking into account the location and height of the transition platform. In this case, a prerequisite is the same slope angle for both marches.

Prices for wooden stairs

wooden ladder

The dependence of the steepness of the march and the magnitude of its horizontal projection onto the floor plane will make it possible to evaluate the calculator located below.