Attic stairs: types of structures

Modern private houses are equipped in such a way that they use every square centimeter. Even if the house is single-storey, there will always be an extra place for storage under the roof. Therefore, it is very important to provide decent and convenient access to the attic room, and this is facilitated by the attic staircase.

What design is better to choose for use in a private house, the question is individual and even a little controversial. The final result, as a rule, is influenced by the availability of free space both on the lower floor and under the roof itself. And also important is the frequency of use of the attic. There are such rooms that are used as rooms exclusively in the warm season due to the lack of appropriate heat and vapor insulation.

Today, one-storey houses with a mansard on the second floor are considered to be very fashionable and practical. Convenience lies in the fact that the foundation of the house does not require strengthening when creating additional accommodation under the roof. From here, convenient, compact and relatively inexpensive attic stairs began to arise.

For example, you need to think about how comfortable it will be for the heaviest family member to climb up to the attic, how safe the stairs will be to the smallest tenants or pets. These and other factors determine what type of attic stairs should be installed in your home.

A unique feature of the stairs for the attic is the possibility of its installation both indoors and from the street. The street structure is good because there is much more space outside to roam, so you can safely install stationary models. But to get to the attic floor during the cold season, you will have to dress and go outside.In addition, in the case of frost, lifting can be traumatic. In any case, the choice of design depends solely on the consumer.

There are three main types of attic stairs that allow access to the premises.

• Stationary. Stairs that are always in place, bolted to the floor, ceiling or wall. They will not budge ever. Most often installed in rooms with a large area. The spiral staircase is considered to be the most dimensional and convenient to use. Such designs are recognized as the safest and sustainable.
• Portable. These are usually temporary ladders. Many owners of private houses, which do not need to frequently climb into the attic, have even invented a special hidden niche for the ladder. In order not to run far into the closet for the means of climbing, it is always at hand, you just have to look into a false cabinet near the hole in the ceiling. Portable attic stairs are of two types: auxiliary and stepladders. However, neither the first nor the second have sufficient security.
• Folding. The most common form of attic stairs in houses with a small area,where it is impossible to put a stationary. Folding designs are scissor, telescopic, folding and folding.

It is worthwhile to dwell on the latest popular models. Folding options for stairs have a low cost, easy to use and quite durable. The average weight that they can easily withstand is 150 kg. Today, manufacturers have invented a huge number of designs that help to conveniently, beautifully and stylishly save usable space.

Scissors garret ladder knowingly has such a name. Its folding mechanism is a bit like this stationery item. As a rule, these are metal structures, the vertical guides of which are interconnected in pairs by ends. Steps are fixed at the points of their intersection.

Attic stairs with a scissor mechanism have very compact dimensions, are conveniently mounted in the hatch, withstand a maximum load of 150 kg. They are very strong and durable, sometimes equipped with folding railings.

Telescopic design is named so by analogy with a telescope. The guides of each section have a smaller diameter with respect to the next; they are easily inserted into each other, forming a folded metal tube with crossbars. This is the lightest model, which is often made of aluminum. It takes up the least amount of space compared to other models. The design is stable, strong and durable. However, unsafe for the elderly and children.

Folding or sliding attic stairs today are in high demand. The uniqueness of this design lies in the fact that it is completely hidden behind the attic hatch and is located at the top. Usually it is a three-section ladder, each part of which is connected by a special fastening element. This allows stacking section one on one, not accordion as in the first embodiment.

Folding attic design is completely different from previous types. She does not hide in the hatch, and sometimes even acts as an additional piece of interior demand. Among the advantages, there is a method of mounting it on the wall.When folded, it resembles a vertical fire escape. Being decomposed, it turns into a standard marching design with a lifting angle of no more than 45 degrees.

For example, if the attic is cold and is used mainly as a warehouse, you should pay attention to the fact that the hatch cover leading up must be insulated. To make it quite simple even for an inexperienced builder

One of the important nuances in the choice of stairs for the attic is the material from which it is made.

The most popular materials for the manufacture of attic stairs are wood and metal. With this even different designs involve the use of one or the other, or even both types of raw materials.

• Scissors and telescopic ladders can be made only from metal. Aluminum tubes of the second type are light, but not strong enough, so experts advise using the telescopic option where there is no need to visit the attic daily.The steel sections of the scissor attic structure have a very strong structure and are practically not subject to mechanical damage. It should be remembered that the metal ladder is much harder, but also more durable devices from other materials.
• Folding and folding options are most often made of wood. Although there are metal models. The wooden folding ladder gives more pleasant tactile sensations. The tree itself is quite warm, which allows you to use the design even without shoes.

Combined staircase is less common, but has its popularity in narrow circles. Its main advantages include the following:

• maximum durability and strength of the structure. Thanks to metal guides and wooden steps, it stands firmly on the floor in the unfolded state and folds easily, fixing itself on the lid of the attic hatch;
• wooden steps can be easily replaced in case of damage.

In order to properly install the selected attic stairs, it is necessary to make accurate measurements. And also to pay attention to a number of the nuances vital for the device of the folding ladders fastening to a cover of the hatch.

• The parameters of the ceiling opening, which will be embedded hatch with a ladder, are very important. The choice of location should be focused both on the size of the folding or stationary structure itself, and on the area and height of the attic. So, for standard ladders a hole is usually made with a size of 0.7 x1.2 m.
• The maximum length of the folding ladder is 3.5 m. Anything more will already be the basis for the construction of a stationary structure. This parameter is directly influenced by the height of the ceiling in the house.

• Depth and distance between steps is selected individually, according to the preferences and facilities of exploitation by all family members. In this case, the recommended dimensions for the stationary stairs are 26 cm and 20 cm, respectively. As for the folding design, there are no such rigid rules. However, the minimum depth can be 15 cm, and the maximum - 22 cm. The distance between the steps should be chosen so that in the whole structure there are no more than 16-18 pieces.
• The angle of the staircase also depends on the design and amount of space.on which it is placed. Recommended for stationary models is the angle of 45 degrees. For folding options, it can reach 60 and even 75 degrees. Choosing the size of this parameter, it is also necessary to make a start from the safety of ascent to the attic at such an angle.

As a rule, the folding mechanism of attic structures is driven by a slight movement of the hand. Usually it is enough to pull the handle of the hatch or a special lever to open the door. And also manually it is necessary to pull the lower part of the ladder, thanks to which the whole structure unfolds and firmly becomes on the floor. Special rubberized tips on the "legs" of the ladder allow you to fix it in the desired position and not be afraid of slipping.

Manual opening and closing of the attic hatch is possible through the use of articulated and spring mechanisms. However, there is another, no less popular way: on the string - it is durable fabric strips that connect the manhole cover with the upper floor and do not allow it to fall to the floor along with the stairs.But modern manufacturers began to sell automatic sliding ladders.

The entire structure will easily decompose and be ready for use. Attic stairs are rarely equipped with an electric drive, which is controlled by the use of a remote control.

Customer reviews of finished models of folding designs are ambiguous. Many advocate for the purchase of such a ladder, arguing that you can not waste time searching for materials and its manufacture. And to embed a standard construction in a standard opening will not be a problem at all. Among the minuses of the other half of the respondents, the same argument. Ready-made standard stairs do not fit well into the non-standard interior and the original ceiling opening.

To the ladder served as long as possible and better, you should heed the following advice from specialists in the repair and construction business:

• before proceeding with the purchase and installation, it is necessary to think carefully about the future design and draw a plan-scheme with all the necessary dimensions;
• Be sure to decide or need to warm the hatch in the attic. This will allow you to immediately acquire the necessary insulating material;
• the minimum possible parameters for the attic hatch should be selected. The larger the opening, the lower the insulation. If the attic is unheated, it will be cool in the house because of a large hole in the ceiling, even if it is covered with a warmed hatch;
• it is necessary to determine the type of structure depending on the area on which you can count.

To better understand the design features of folding attic devices and facilitate the installation process, it is worth considering the phased installation of two types of stairs.

Installation of the simplest folding structure does not require a sunroof and is carried out in several stages.

• You need to purchase a finished wooden staircase. Its length should be 30–40 cm greater than the ceiling height in the room.
• Two short wooden bars, the length equal to the width of the ceiling opening, must be fastened with screws to the top and bottom of the stairs behind.
• It is necessary to cut the ladder into two parts between the steps so that the upper part is 25% longer than the bottom.Bottom fasten both segments with card loops.
• On the back side of the ladder, you need to fasten the diagonal bars longer than the structure by 15–20 cm in order to impart rigidity to the whole device.
• It is necessary to put a ladder to the ceiling aperture and fix the upper short timber to one of the sides of the hole. An anchor is best for this procedure. In extreme cases, you can use the same card loops.
• The loop is screwed to one of the guides of the ladder. The design develops.
• A hook should be attached to the wall, which later connects to the loop.

The rating for the most popular folding attic ladder pushes the three-section sliding construction into first place. It also with the hatch can be made independently at home using step by step instructions.

• Prepare the opening box for installation. If there is still no hole in the ceiling, it must be done. Measure the approximate perimeter of the manhole and add about 10 mm to the figure obtained. Make a cut along the drawn contour with allowances. The inside perimeter of the opening is the size of the future hatch.If a warming of the cover is required, it is necessary to immediately complete all procedures to ensure this. Be sure to consider steam and heat insulation.
• Work with finished wooden ladder. It is necessary to cut it into three equal parts and join them already with the help of canopies-corners. To make the structure fold and fit neatly on the hatch cover, you need to install fasteners in one place on the one side and on the other on the other.
• Install and fix the lifting mechanism. It is necessary to combine the stair and ceiling structures. To do this, the upper part of the ladder should rest against the rigid base of the hatch. Connect the upper parts of the supporting beams to the base of the door. To fix all the screws.

Sometimes you want to choose not just a quality, but also a safe, practical and convenient product. It is very important to take into account the aesthetic parameters and components.This will help a small selection of beautiful options attic stairs, both folding and stationary.

The classical wooden three-section folding ladder with the hatch looks very tiny and even gently. But it is absolutely stable, durable and durable.

Combined folding model looks strictly, but succinctly. Metal guides take the main load on themselves. Wooden steps make this construction environmentally friendly and make it possible to climb the stairs even barefoot.

Folding attic design with a scissor mechanism is made entirely of metal. It has comfortable wide steps, withstands heavy loads. To it successfully fastened a small handle-railing.

The simple design of the aluminum telescopic attic ladder allows you to fold and remove it without any special problems and energy costs. The material is unusually light, but it can also be quite fragile. It is not suitable for frequent use.

Fully metal standard folding ladder attached to the attic hatch, has a very strict look and threatens long-term operation.The original narrow stationary ladder is made of two materials: metal and wood. The basis for the steps is made in the form of a reverse ladder from metal pipes of small diameter. Unusual railing-lattice very harmoniously fit into the interior of the room. There is practically no free space under the stairs, but this does not prevent placing chairs and a hanger a little closer to the niche.

The choice of attic stairs for today is very large. But after weighing all the tips, personal wishes, aesthetic preferences and functional load on the additional home structure, you can easily choose exactly what is convenient and pleasant to help you get to the attic. And the advice on the installation of stairs will be a great help for independent work on the project, and for simple control of the workflow.

How to install the attic stairs Fakro with your own hands, you will learn in the next video.