Drawings of stairs to the attic. How to make a staircase to the attic Do-it-yourself sliding staircase to the attic

This article provides step-by-step instruction on creating a folding attic ladder. You will learn how to correctly assemble the main hinge element, what to make the staircase sections from, and how to securely fasten the structure in its installation position. The article contains diagrams and drawings.

An inventory factory staircase to the attic is a fairly common product that can be purchased in many construction stores. However budget options They are not always reliable, but strong branded products cost accordingly. Making a necessary item or device with your own hands from scrap materials is very popular among home craftsmen. The attic staircase is no exception.

Material for work

To assemble an analogue of a factory product, you will need quality materials, which may be available, especially during construction:

Bar 50x50 (pine) 1st grade - 20 linear. m. The frame of the lid and opening will be made from it.
Plywood 8-10 mm - 2 sq. m. Needed for covering the lid.
Board 100x25-30 mm - 15 linear. m. Will go on steps and bowstrings.
Steel strip 3-4x20 mm - for movable fastening of knees.
Angle and plate 3-4 mm - for the main mechanical element.
Bolts, nuts, washers, screws M12-M14.
Self-tapping screws.

Tool:

Plotnitsky - saw, screwdriver, protractor.
Locksmith - welding machine, electrodes 3-4, grinder.
Workbench and clamps.

Operating procedure

First of all, you need to choose a place for the stairs and make an opening. If necessary, trim and install intermediate beams in the ceiling - by 6-7 mm larger size proposed cover. Next, according to the size of the hatch, you need to assemble the cover itself - from a block and plywood. The design can be arbitrary, but it must be reliable (it is better to glue the connections). The block on one of the short sides should be rounded so as not to interfere with the lid opening.

Assembling the hinge mechanism

This is the most critical element of the design. To make it you will need: steel angle, plate and strips with a thickness of at least 3 mm. The shape of the parts is clear from the diagram, but the dimensions of the drilling site should be determined individually, based on the local situation. Manufactured parts must be of high quality; they must be cleaned and edges processed.

1 - thrust plate; 2 - corner, top view; 3 - short slide; 4 - long drawstring

The key point is determining the opening angle. This angle is very important and figures into the production of the plate. In order to set it correctly, project the future march on the ground - stretch the thread and set the desired angle experimentally (by selecting the best position). Securely attach it to the protractor - it will be needed when making steps.

The resulting angle must be transferred to the part, namely to the plate. To do this, set the mechanism to its original position, attach the inclinometer and move until the corners of the corner flange and the inclinometer coincide. Then mark the plate along the resulting trajectory and cut out the area where the part moves.

Holes should be pre-drilled in the plate for mounting to the beam. We assemble the mechanism with bolts and washers.

After rough assembly, you need to try the unit in place, attach it and accurately reproduce the procedure for opening and closing the hatch. If any movement defects are found, correct them.

Then you need to make a response mechanism. It should completely repeat the first one, but in a mirror form. Use clamps and a workbench - by clamping the parts together, you will achieve complete identical dimensions.

Make adjustments and final installation experimentally. Cover in open position should exactly follow the angle projected by the cord.

Manufacturing of sections

Calculation of the length of each section:

1st - opening length minus 10%
2nd - length of the first minus 10%
3rd - march length minus the sum of the first two

Let's assume that the flight length is 2500 mm. Based on the opening length of 1200 mm:

1st - 1080 mm
2nd - 972 mm
3rd - 448 mm

We mark the entire boards according to the calculation and transfer the angle of the march to the bowstrings.

Attention! Bowstrings must be installed in a mirror manner! Take this into account when marking and drilling.

At the joints of the sections we drill holes Ø 25 - mirror through one.

All parts must be processed with high quality sanding belt, chamfers must be rounded in order to bring the quality as close as possible to the factory one.

Then we cut grooves for the steps according to the markings. We select wood with a chisel.

The design of individual sections is assembled using 65 mm self-tapping screws with a press washer using D-3 wood glue.

The hinges for the knees can be made from the same strip as the opening mechanism. To do this, cut 4 strips of 160 mm and 4 of 120 mm, rounding the ends. We weld legs to four of them to a length of 160 mm with a hole of 8 mm. You should end up with 8 pieces of equal length, but 4 of them with a step.

Assemble the individual plates into hinges using bolts.

Assembly of sections and installation of stairs

Lay it out on a flat surface and install the finished sectional hinges so that the fastening bolts fit into the holes in the wood. Install the hinges with M8-10 bolts.

After assembling the first bend, check the system for functionality. If necessary, correct any distortions.

Then attach the lower short elbow and test the system.

Now all that remains is to mount the ladder in its designed position - on the manhole cover. For installation, use bolts (self-tapping screws are not reliable). If after installation and testing everything works without distortions, the structure can be dismantled for painting. Use varnishes and spray paint on metal.

Subsequently, the design can be complicated and made more convenient by adding to it:

Additional hinges to eliminate play.
A spring to support the structure to make opening easier.
Locking lock.
Handrails.
Use decorative finishing and additional insulation.

Finished view of the staircase:

The issue of finishing and insulation is decided locally, based on needs. The lid can be finished with any material that fits into the ceiling. Basically it is plastic - lightweight, inexpensive and has an additional layer of air. The difference in price between the “home” and “store” versions of a folding ladder is about 90% (80-150 USD). The work required only a few new boards, covering them and hardware.

The staircase to the attic is a simple design that you can easily create yourself. It can be solid - made of wood or metal, or it can have a light and convenient folding shape. What options are suitable for your attic and how to make and install an attic ladder with a hatch with your own hands, read our material.

Stepladders for the attic? It's in the past!

The exit to the attic is almost always located in one of the living rooms on the top floor of the house. Therefore, you have to either sacrifice space and spoil the interior, or use a portable stepladder. The last option is not only troublesome, but also quite risky, since unstable steps can break off, and in order to hold the stepladder itself, you often need to invite family members to help.

We suggest you make a choice in favor of a more reliable option - designing and implementing a new modern attic staircase. Types and recommendations for creating a good-quality staircase to the attic with your own hands, which we provide below, will help you make your choice.

Attic stairs: overview of options

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

I. Capital steps

If there is enough space in your house, then we recommend building a stationary staircase to access the attic or attic. This option is reliable, practical and durable. Capital steps can be performed on the basis metal frame or quality wood.

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

The “advantages” of the capital option include durability, reliability and ease of use.

A capital staircase, in most cases, does not provide a hatch for access to the attic, therefore it is more suitable for houses with warm roof. For cold roof The exit to the attic must be closed with a sealed hatch. Standard sizes hatch - 120x70 cm. It makes no sense to make a smaller passage, as this will complicate both getting into the attic and installing steps.

The material for the hatch is wood, metal or plastic. You can order a blank for the hatch at the factory metal-plastic structures with installation or self-installation. The hatch can be automatic or manual opening. At latest version a special pole is used to open the latch (lock) and lower the ladder door.

II. Portable ladders

Portable steps are the closest analogue of the “good old” stepladders. Such a ladder will only be reliable if you make a folding version with a platform. However, it is difficult to call such a design convenient. You will have to make extra efforts to get into the attic hole, and the issue of storing such a ladder will cause a lot of trouble.

III. Folding attic ladders with hatch

A very convenient and easy-to-implement type of attic ladder is folding steps connected to a hatch. Thanks to its convenient design, this type of steps has become the most popular among professional craftsmen.

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

The folding mechanism is suitable for any attic space with a hatch onto which the staircase structure can be attached.

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

In general, most stairs schematically look like this:

Before we start designing an attic staircase, let's consider some standard specifications designs:

The width of the march for attic steps should not exceed 60-65 cm;
The height of the entire structure (taking into account the slope) is allowed up to 300 cm. Anything that exceeds this length becomes less stable and less strong. The higher the ladder, the less load it can withstand;
Based on the recommended length of the stairs, the number of steps is selected - 13-15 pieces, with a distance between them of up to 20 cm;
The most convenient and safe angle of inclination of the stairs is 60-700 degrees;
Steps are a direct recipient of the load when climbing, so they must have a dense structure and a thickness of 18 mm, and be positioned strictly parallel to the floor.

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

So, let's get started and create a modern attic staircase with a hatch with your own hands according to the drawings that our specialists have prepared for you.

Stages of design and installation of a staircase of three sections with a hatch

Any work must begin with a project. Determine the height of your future staircase, taking into account the height of the ceiling and a slope of 60-70 degrees. It is also worth accurately measuring the attic passage and drawing a corresponding diagram. The drawing must contain the following information: length of the staircase, angle of inclination, height of the ceiling of the room, dimensions of the passage and attic hatch, width of the flight, number and dimensions of sections, number, distance and dimensions of steps.

I. Preparation of the drawing

At this stage, the design is calculated. The length of the stairs is easy to calculate. Let's use a simple mathematical formula: D = B/, where α is the selected angle of inclination, B is the ceiling height. So, with a ceiling height of 3 m and an inclination angle of 60 degrees, the length of the staircase will be 3/0.867 = 3.46 m. Craftsmen advise adding a few centimeters to the resulting figure in order to then more accurately measure and cut the required length:

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

We calculate the length of the sections according to the following scheme: the first section is the length of the hatch minus 10%; second section – length of the first section minus 10%; third section - the sum of the lengths of the first two sections is subtracted from the total length of the stairs.

Now you need to transfer the calculations to paper and start preparing necessary materials and tools.

II. Selection of materials and tools

To implement the project, you need to prepare carpentry tools: tape measure, chisel, hacksaw, screwdriver, welding machine (or capital connections for a metal frame), square, hacksaw, clamps, wood glue, masking tape, electrodes, wood glue.

The main materials that we will need: 50x50 mm bars for finishing the hatch (about 4-5 pieces); two boards for the bowstring 100x25 mm long, equal to the selected length of the ladder; board for steps 100x20 or 100x25 mm; plywood or material with similar characteristics (for the hatch door one is enough standard sheet); plates and angles for opening and hinges; nuts, bolts, screws, washers, etc.

III. Making a hatch door

Step I. Prepare the bars for the hatch. At the ends of the beams, make cuts and grooves to tightly connect the structure into a regular triangle using assembly glue and fasteners. Protect the corners of the frame with temporary plywood plates to prevent the rectangle from moving.

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

Step III. Provide a lock for the attic door. This can be an automatic mechanism, or a very ordinary latch, which can be opened with a pole with a tip.

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

IV. Assembling the stairs

You can always order a ready-made sectional staircase from the craftsmen, which you can fasten according to the finished scheme yourself. But if you decide to complete the work yourself, you can assemble the stairs from prepared materials.

Step 1. Mark on the strings the places where the steps will be installed. To do this, mark each part with a pencil, according to the selected angle of inclination of the stairs and the previously made calculations. Now press the ends of the boards tightly together and secure them with masking tape. This is necessary to drill through holes at the junctions of sections. Drill a hole for the hinge with a diameter of about 25 mm at the junction of the first and second sections. Next, you need to remove the tape and turn the boards over, fastening them again. Now we drill a similar hole at the junction of the second and third sections:

Step 2. Cut the bowstrings along the marked lines. Next, grooves are made for the steps with inside bowstrings using a chisel. The depth of the grooves must be at least 5 mm (this should also be taken into account at the first design stage). The lower section of the bowstrings should be beveled according to the angle of inclination of the stairs.

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

Step 4. Attach the loops for sliding mechanism stairs. Hinges, like hinge mechanisms, can be bought in a store, or made independently from metal tape. We need eight strips of metal (you can use leftovers from the door mechanisms). Weld small pieces of the same strip to the four strips. We drill two holes in each part (for fastening and hinge). We connect the hinge with the hinges. Now we join the cut sections and attach the hinges so that each hinge fits into the groove (25 mm holes drilled before cutting the sections). We fasten the loops on the bowstrings:

V. Final assembly

Now the top of the finished ladder needs to be secured to the hatch, having first checked the operation of the hinge mechanisms. The staircase should also be checked after installation. After making sure that all parts are in good working order and functional, open the steps with varnish:

One more thing step by step guide for installation:

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

That's it, your staircase with hatch is ready! This is exactly the option that is completely feasible “with one helmet.” We wish you fast and easy work.

The attic in a house can be used for various purposes. Of course, comfortable access to it must be organized, for which a ladder is needed. It can be installed on the outside of the building or inside it. The latter is easy to use and more popular. There are many ways to make an attic ladder with your own hands. Before describing how to make it into an attic or attic floor, you need to choose a design solution suitable for your home.

Types of attic and attic stairs

Let's look at the most popular options attic stairs.

The latter type is more often used temporarily or in case of rare use of the attic space. But the most practical and compact will be a folding design with a hatch.

What to pay attention to when making your own stairs?

The first thing that must be ensured when building an attic or attic staircase with your own hands is safety. The staircase system must have adequate strength and reliability.

The dimensions of the staircase are also important: the more inclined it is, the larger the space occupied. The most suitable angle is considered to be 60-70°. Although with constant use, it is recommended to make it 45°. Steps with a height of 20 cm and a depth of 30 cm are considered standard. The width of the staircase should be comfortable, as a rule, it is about 70 cm. It is not recommended to make such stairs more than 3 m in height, since a higher structure will not have the necessary rigidity and reliability.

It is advised to make a structure with a number of steps from 10 to 15, and leave the distance between them 19 cm. The recommended thickness of the steps is 2 cm. They should be positioned strictly parallel to the floor surface. For greater safety, anti-slip pads are glued to the steps.

Important!The ladder for climbing to the attic floor must withstand a load of 150 kg.

The hatch also has its own recommended parameters. The following dimensions are considered standard: width 70 cm, length 120 cm. Smaller sizes will make the opening not comfortable to use, and larger ones will increase heat loss in the room. For an unheated attic, it is recommended to make the hatch thermally insulated and vapor barrier.

Where is the best place to place the stairs?

The staircase structure should be located so as not to interfere with household members. Therefore, you should not install it in the kitchen; it would be more advisable to use a corridor or hall for this purpose. It is also worth considering the size of the room. Sometimes a ladder can be used as an interior detail, then it is not hidden in a hatch.

Important! It is advised to first draw the future staircase, then it will be easier for you to understand which place will be the most suitable for its installation.

DIY one-section design

The easiest way to lift it to the attic floor will be a single-section structural solution that will be fixed in one place. To build a staircase with one section you need two wooden boards. The length must be suitable to obtain the appropriate angle of inclination, and the thickness must be at least 5 cm.

The steps can be secured with strings or stringers. Bowstrings are grooves made by a router in the end board. A stringer is a horizontal platform cut out on a board, on which a step is then placed. The steps are fixed in place using metal screw pins. A comfortable climb to the floor is provided by handrails. For their manufacture, polished solid timber of appropriate length is used. Depending on the location of your stairs, the railing may be on one side or on both. To make the structure more reliable, it is worth adding vertical connecting beams.

Manufacturing of a single-section attic ladder.

Making a hatch

Installation and manufacture of the hatch is also an important aspect of the work. It will prevent cold air masses from entering the house. This is the main reason for equipping staircase structures with a hatch. To make it you will need 50x50 bars and a sheet of plywood.

Work order:

Define appropriate place taking into account a dimensional margin of 0.8 cm so that the hatch closes normally.
The bars need to be cut into four parts according to the size of the hatch, and holes should be cut along the edges.
You need to apply glue to each resulting groove and fasten the bars with self-tapping screws.
To maintain the diagonals, screw the gussets.
The next step is attaching the plywood.
The finished cover is tried on, and then the latch is installed on the opening.
To ensure that the lid opens without interference, a handle is installed in the opening.

Important!The resulting structure should open easily and unhindered.

An example of a homemade attic hatch with a metal-plastic cover.

A staircase equipped with a hatch and leading to an unheated attic floor or attic has design features. The opening for the construction of such a structure with a hatch must be insulated. When making a hatch, a layer of thermal insulation and vapor barrier is placed on plywood. The top is once again reinforced with a vapor barrier film. After the work is completed, it remains The final stage– decoration. It is made similar to the ceiling finishing. At your request, the color scheme can contrast with the walls. Sometimes, instead of plywood sheets, metal sheets are used, which must be painted with paint that matches the color and performance characteristics.

How to make a folding staircase structure from two sections?

The staircase design of two sections is quite simple to manufacture and does not involve the use of a complex mechanism. This design will be optimal for execution by a person without special construction skills.

First of all you need to do a simple ladder. After manufacturing, it is carefully adjusted according to the dimensions, and precisely observing the angle of inclination. After which the finished structure is cut into two sections, which need to be attached to each other using canopies, and you get a folding staircase. All you have to do is install the folding structure to your hatch cover.

The folding ladder structure can be supplemented with an auxiliary cable mechanism, which will facilitate disassembly and assembly of the system. To prevent the folded structure from opening, install a fixing hook. To secure it, a loop is installed at the junction of the sections, and a hook is mounted on the wall at the required distance from it. The design is ready for use, but it will always be in your sight, which is considered its disadvantage. If this point is important to you, then you can use the following recommendations. Make a three-section ladder, which is made using the above technology. Such a ladder can be easily hidden in a hatch.

Making a folding staircase to the attic.

Manufacturing of the hinge mechanism

When making a folding structure, the mechanism that opens it is important. You can make it yourself using the following materials:

metal corner;
part of a sheet of metal;
two strips of different lengths;
bolts;
clamps;
set of drills;
drill;
jigsaw;
Teks;
small

Manufacturing procedure:

First, the staircase is drawn on a sheet of cardboard indicating the future angle of inclination when opened.
Then they cut out a mock-up from cardboard to check all dimensions.
On strips of metal, measure out the places for the holes where the hinge will be attached. The hole must match the size of the bolt.
The parts are assembled and pulled together.
Use a measuring stick to measure desired angle. Then open the mechanism to the resulting angle.
Mark on the metal the part that will be covered by the corner during opening. Cut it out with a jigsaw.
Round the corners of the strips and remove unnecessary length so that the strips do not catch, which will allow you to operate the mechanism.
When the excess metal is removed, the corner will rest in the desired place. You have made the first hinge.
The second is made by fastening parts with clamps in pairs, with special tools for better fixation. Drill a hole and place a bolt in it.
Then a second hole is made.
The blanks are twisted using two bolts. After which they can be aligned, giving them the same shape.

This is how all parts of the hinge are performed to obtain the same elements. The completed mechanisms are attached to the hatch and tested to see if it matches the opening. They do it this way: if, when fully opened, it does not touch the edges of the opening, then the dimensions were taken correctly, and the hatch is ready for installation.

Manufacturing of folding staircase structure

The construction of folding stairs has a similar technology to folding ones. At the first stage, an extension ladder is made using the technology described above. Then choose the more suitable of the two options:

Stationary Designs and main constituent elements stairs

The drawings of the attic staircase are not particularly complex. But a number of features for calculation and design should be taken into account. Then the resulting design will meet the basic requirements for safety and ease of movement between levels.

Name of elements of folding stairs to the attic

Before choosing a ladder, you should pay attention to a number of important points:

All these points will help you quickly navigate the choice of design type. There are the following classifications of attic stairs:

More common, aluminum structures. Metal and wood can be combined.

Technical requirements. Data and formulas for calculation

Attic stairs must meet the following characteristics:

The stairs to the attic are easy to make. You should start with calculations of parameters and a drawing. To draw up a diagram not “by eye”, you will need the following data:

Schemes of folding stairs

Such designs do not require more space for arrangement; they can be organically integrated into the interior or hidden in the attic. The suggested options will help you arrange your home ergonomically.

Drawing No. 1

This type is a device of two folding sections.

This option is suitable for attic openings located near the wall.

When developing a drawing, take into account the following points:

This staircase is not particularly aesthetically pleasing, but when assembled it takes up virtually no space.

Drawing No. 2

This option, like the first, is attached to the wall, but through one bowstring. The requirements for it are slightly different:

This staircase is a little more complicated than the previous version. But the following type of device has gained great popularity.

Drawing No. 3

This type of design is retracted into the hatch when folding and closing. Most convenient option, since it does not take up space in the residential part of the house. If the width for the previous design could be arbitrary, then for this type of staircase this parameter is related to the dimensions of the opening.

Main subtleties during design and assembly:

A do-it-yourself attic ladder, the drawings of which are presented, is easy to make. Some craftsmen even make hinge mechanisms for the hatch themselves. Many people want to live in a comfortable country house

with an attic room or attic. When designing and constructing such housing, the question arises of a convenient and safe ascent to the second floor. Therefore, it is worth taking a closer look at the nuances of making attic stairs.

Peculiarities An attic ladder is necessary not only in a house with an attic, it will be required even if the attic is not used for housing - for access to the roof, repair work

, laying communications. There are many types and designs of it, but the main thing is that it provides convenient descent and ascent and is safe. One of the most simple options is an attic staircase located outside the house.

It’s easy to make, but in cold weather it won’t be very comfortable to climb into the attic, and the attic opening facing the street will let in cold air, which will generally increase heat loss inside the residential building. Therefore, it is better to immediately choose the design of the stairs to the attic from the inside out. It can serve as a full-fledged living room, a workshop, or a storage room. Depending on its purpose, you should choose the type of attic staircase. If access to the attic is required several times a season, then you can get by with a simple folding model made of wood or aluminum, and if there is a bedroom or children’s room on top, then you should definitely make a durable and comfortable structure with a hatch and railings.

The task is to make a ladder for the attic with your own hands for experienced craftsman not too complicated, the main thing is to select its type, shape, location in advance and first create drawings with dimensions. The simplest folding options are made in one day, more complex models with railings and two spans can be built in 2-3 days. Most often, the entrance to the attic is made in the hallway, on the veranda, but it can be built in any other living space.

Kinds

All types of attic stairs can be divided into portable and stationary. Portable options are ordinary stepladders that are attached to the attic hatch and used for their intended purpose. Constantly going up and down them will not provide much comfort, especially for children or the elderly, and they are also unsafe. Their advantage is that they are easy to make, do not take up much space in the room, and if they are not in demand, they can simply be put away in any free space.

Portable stairs are most often used as temporary ones (during construction or repairs); in the future, it is best to build a more reliable and convenient option.

The folding structure is usually made of aluminum as it is strong and lightweight. At the bottom there are support beams to provide stability, the width can reach 65 cm. The step pitch is usually 10–20 cm, there can be one or more sections. The longest is the 4-section model, but such a height is usually not required; for a floor height of 2.5–3 m, two sections are sufficient.

According to the mechanism of its disassembly, a folding attic ladder can be:

retractable;
scissor;
lever;
folding

A sliding attic ladder made of aluminum is good because it easily unfolds to the desired length and is securely fixed, and when folded it takes up very little space; it can be leaned against a wall or placed in the attic. All such structures can be easily found in construction stores, so you don’t even have to do anything yourself.

Another option is to mount a homemade ladder with a folding part. It can be mounted on a ceiling door or hatch, then easily folded back and unfolded. There can be 2–3 sections; when unfolded, it turns out rigid and stationary. Hardwood is used to install its frame and steps, and metal parts are used for fastening and folding mechanism. With proper design and careful work, such a design can be automatic, very convenient and completely safe.

Interesting option compact structures that are attached from the inside to the attic hatch - these are scissor ladders. They are most often made entirely of metal, and when the damper is opened in the attic, they are laid out like an accordion or a tram current collector. The frame is very light and can be easily attached to a wooden hatch using bolts. The disadvantage is that after some time of intensive use, the metal parts begin to creak. Therefore, we must not forget to lubricate them periodically.

A type of retractable ladder is the telescopic attic ladder. It consists of many aluminum tubes that are folded one into another. When folded, it takes up little space and is easily attached to the attic hatch. In order to unfold it, a special handle is provided. But such models are not particularly popular.

A very common option is monolithic stairs, that is, not folding or portable. Although such lifting structures take up more space, they are strong, do not require moving parts, and can last for decades. They can be made from high-quality wood, equipped with railings, and the space under the stairs can be used to maximum benefit.

Single-span monolithic staircase - the easiest to manufacture, but it may be too steep to be uncomfortable for regular use. The most convenient design may be one with two spans located perpendicular or parallel to each other. The only problem is that it will take up maximum space. To save space, many craftsmen build in small room spiral staircase.

Monolithic stairs to the attic or attic with one or two spans are made of wood, but there are also models with a metal frame that have wooden steps. Most often they are done in a secluded, most unclaimed place in the room. A good solution would be to place them against the wall or in the corner of the room.

Materials

Attic stairs can be metal or wood. For sliding and folding structures, it is better to use metal, which will wear out less due to constant friction of parts.

The most common choice is aluminum, which is lightweight, durable and does not corrode.

Staircase fittings include hinges, bolts, springs, which can be made of stainless steel.

A stationary and monolithic staircase to the attic is best made of wood. It is easy to process and fasten. Usually hardwoods are chosen: oak, beech, pine. The material must be well dried, treated with varnish and antiseptic. For the frame and steps, bars with a thickness of at least 2 cm are taken.

Accessories

When installing a monolithic wooden staircase, you only need ordinary nails to fasten the parts together. For sliding or tilting ceiling options, more complex components will be required. To open the attic hatch you will need metal corners and strips, hinges, hinges, bolts or screws. The number of parts is selected depending on the length of the staircase and the number of sections.

Installation

As an example of making a convenient and safe staircase to the attic, you can consider the construction of a folding model of three sections, which folds up onto the ceiling hatch. It can be built independently in almost any country house with wooden ceilings with a height of up to 280 cm.

It is produced step by step in several stages.

First you need to make attic hatch. The ceiling opening can have any size, for example, 80x70 cm. The hatch itself must open easily and withstand the structure of the folded ladder. To make it, take 5x5 cm bars and 1 cm thick plywood. The bars, cut to the size of the opening, are connected using glue and self-tapping screws; the frame can be strengthened for rigidity metal corners. Then the plywood is nailed to it using thin nails.
Next, you need to install the hatch on the ceiling using hinges so that it opens and closes easily and smoothly. At this stage, it is important to correctly select and install the hinge mechanism. There should be enough space in the attic for a hinged hatch. If the room under the roof is cold, then it is worth additionally insulating the attic hatch by placing some kind of insulation between the layers of plywood, and covering the edges with a rubber seal so that there are no gaps.

After this, you need to make the staircase itself. For it, take a 2x10 cm board and cut out sections of the required length. The steps need to be fastened not at a right angle, but at an angle in accordance with the angle of inclination of the stairs themselves, that is, when unfolded, they should lie horizontally.
Next, the sections are fastened together using metal hinges so that the entire structure can be easily moved apart and folded. The assembled ladder of three sections is attached to the hatch using metal corners.
Next, you can attach a convenient handle, latches or locks to the attic door.

Another example of an attic staircase in wooden house, which you can do yourself, is a stationary monolithic structure with one span. You should choose a place for it in the corner of the room, so that one side of the flight of stairs rests on the wall. Since the climb will be quite steep, it is best to equip the stairs with wooden railings. For the frame and steps, inch boards with a width of 10 cm are selected.

The steps are cut to a width of 650 cm, the step between them should be 10–15 cm, the length will depend on the height of the ceiling. For the railing, you can take polished beams 5x5 cm. Installation takes place using anchors or screws. If necessary, a hatch is mounted on the attic opening, which can be opened using hinges.

The advantages of this design are that it is easy to assemble and install, has nice view, and can be easily dismantled during repairs.

It is not recommended to install a wooden staircase with one section longer than 3.5 m, since its rigidity suffers and the structure has a risk of collapsing. In a private house with high ceilings, it is better to use a monolithic option with 2-3 bays. If the floor height is large and there is little space, then there is a good option spiral staircase. But such structures are not very convenient; there is a high risk of falling.

The staircase to the attic from the street can also be made stationary, adjacent to the wall of a wooden house. But this option is only good for warm climates, or if it is not used regularly. Often such projects are used in houses with an attic for an additional entrance to the upper room. If the ability to build a durable and beautiful internal structure does not allow, and you need to use the attic regularly, then you can create the simplest temporary outdoor option.

For ease of use, the steps should have a pitch of no more than 20 cm, but they should not be spaced too often. The optimal height is 19.3 cm.

If they are made of wood, then their thickness should be 18–22 mm, otherwise the staircase runs the risk of collapsing. In a building up to 280 cm high, the number of steps of a single-flight staircase will be 14–15.

The optimal angle of inclination of a folding or single-span staircase is 60–75 degrees. If it is less, then the steepness of the climb is too great, and it becomes inconvenient and dangerous to use. If the slope is greater, the structure will take up a lot of space in the room. In general, it is calculated that for a comfortable rise, the total span length in such a model should be 35 cm greater than the height from floor to ceiling.

Calculation shows that the optimal length of the steps should be at least 65 cm, then you can move freely along it. But if space allows, you can increase this value. Folding or single span wooden staircase must support a weight of 150 kg. The width of the steps should be at least 20 cm, then it will be comfortable to step on them.

It is possible to buy ready-made folding mechanisms for attic stairs. But at the same time, you need to correctly take into account their dimensions so that when folded they fit into the ceiling opening, are securely attached to the hatch, and when unfolded they are exactly the height of the room.

If you decide to do such a climb to the attic completely yourself, then it’s worth creating detailed drawing with dimensions, calculation of possible load, make an estimate, including building materials for the frame, steps and railings, fittings and fasteners, insulation for the hatch.

Unlike railings, it is better not to make steps from smooth, polished wood. In this case, the surface will be very slippery and there is a high risk of falling, especially with a large steepness or a screw version. If the wood is still too smooth, then it is best to provide the steps with anti-slip stickers.

Successful examples and options

The scissor ladder to the attic is easy to install and relatively cheap. But it is not so comfortable when lifting, and the view is not very attractive.

A folding wooden ladder attached to the hatch looks beautiful. As you can see, the mechanism is equipped with a special handle, so no stepladders or stools are required.

Nice option a monolithic structure made of wood with original steps can be made and assembled with your own hands.