Views: 68 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2022-04-08 Origin: Site
Are you planning to turn the attic into a storage area? Well, if you have a convenient way to strengthen the attic, it will be the best.
You have two options-you can buy attic stairs and install them or build them yourself. Purchasing attic stairs will increase the cost, which will vary depending on your specific requirements and choice of ladder. However, the price ranges from less than US$100 to more than US$1,600, depending on the ladder material, load-bearing capacity, opening size, length, and structural quality.
Therefore, you are looking for simple, safe and cheap products. right?
The good news is that if you have some basic carpentry skills and are confident that you can do a great job, you can do it yourself. You will need the help of some necessary tools and a few hours.
Here, we will explain the 10 steps to build a DIY folding wooden attic staircase that anyone can complete in a few hours.
You will need the following supplies:
Two pieces of 2×4 lumber for making ladder railings
2×4 wood used for making rails (as required)
Before starting the process of building the attic stairs, you need to measure the required height of the stairs. To do this, measure the height from the ground to the landing height of the attic. Then, increase this measurement by 12 inches. It will help you determine the length of ladder railing required.
Use a miter saw to cut two 2 x 4 pieces of wood to this size. Usually 2 x 4 wood is the most common material used to make DIY attic stairs, but you can also use thicker wood.
Lean the railing against the attic from the floor. Measure the angle between the guide rail and the perpendicular to the floor. You can use frame squares to determine the angle. Or simply, you can find the angle needed to make the ladder flush with the floor.
Trim one end of the two pieces of wood at a certain angle. In this case, we cut the end at a 15 degree angle. The two sloping ends are the feet of the ladder. To trim these ends, you can use a circular saw or a radial arm saw.
At this stage, you will determine how many steps are required to use the ladders comfortably and how far away they are to be placed. First mark the position of the bottom and top steps on one of the ladder rails. Measure and make a mark 12 inches from the bottom of the two blocks. This is the position of the first rung. Measure again from the top of each piece, and make a mark at 12 inches as the top rail. Then measure the distance between the top and bottom rungs.
To determine the number of steps between the top and bottom steps, divide the measured value of this distance by 10.5 (the number should be rounded down).
Mark the guide rails for each step. Remember, the distance between the steps should not exceed 10.5 inches.
To do this, place the crosspieces in place and use deck screws or heavy nails at each end to fasten each side of each single crosspiece to the railing. Drive them with a driver/drill. Repeat the process to connect all the rungs.
The construction of the attic wooden ladder is basically completed.
Now you have to turn it into a three-stage folding ladder. The folding attic stairs are easy to fold and store in the attic. To convert it into a folding ladder, use a circular saw to cut it in half. Cut half into two equal pieces again. This means you will get three pieces in total.
Use hinges to assemble all three parts of the ladder. It will allow you to fold the parts together in an accordion style.
Connect the ladder to the attic door. Tighten the longest part of the ladder to the attic door.
Sand the ladder and apply wood lacquer for a shiny appearance.
Finally, you have made a simple, beautiful and practical ladder! Building a DIY attic staircase is that simple. right?
