Nowadays storage seams to be a bit of a challenge for households all around the world. More and more people realise that in the other hand that while they struggle with storage in the house, the huge attic area remains unutilized.
It is very easy to open up the attic area for storage, all you need is an attic ladder. Once you've got your ladder you need to decide if you get a tradesman to install it for you or you install your loft ladder yourself.
Our loft ladders are designed to fit the modern truss roofs and this installation instruction is particularly for such roof structures.
This article is meant to help you to decide which way to go.
These tips will guide your folding attic ladder installation from creating the ceiling opening to the final part of fitting the architraves.
Tools you'll need:
Saw (that you can use to cut wood as well as plasterboard)
A spirit level
Carpenter's square
Screw driver
Tape measure
Drill and bits
You'll also need an attic ladder and architrave kit.
You can make them yourself or purchase a kit.1. You'll need to find the right spot for your attic ladder. Here are some tips: make sure you have enough space to open your loft ladder and also that there is enough clearance in the attic to provide easy access. Make sure there are no obstacles such as electrical wires above your proposed area. If you have a modern truss roof, make sure you purchase an attic ladder that fits between the joists as you will not be able to cut anything there. Every peace of timber has its structural importance! They are normally on 600m in centre and the 550mm wide attic ladder will fit in easy as pie.
2. Once you decided on the best spot for your attic ladder, clean the insulation above the area and give it a quick vacuum, saving all that dust and pesticide (from the previous pest control) landing in your face as you cut the opening.
3. Mark the required opening area (which is the size of that casing of your attic ladder) on the ceiling (from the top) and make sure it is square.
4. Drive a nail through at each corner (from the top).
5. Get your spirit level (or use your architrave) to draw a line between the 4 points of the rectangle.
6. Measure it against the closest wall to make sure it is parallel, and then use your hand saw or plasterboard saw to cut out the area (plasterboard only - do not cut the joists!)
7. Fit your attic ladder in place. You can do this by fixing ropes at each end in the middle and pulling it up or by someone pushing it up for you. Once it's in it position , make sure it's level and then fix casing to joists from the inside.
8. Open the attic ladder and drive some more screws through each side to make it at least 4 on both sides.
9. Adjust the length of your ladder by cutting the off the required piece of the last fold out section. You can determine the required length by folding the last fold out section of the attic ladder back and holding a straight piece of timber board against the side of the ladder as if it was an extension of the ladder. Mark the required length on the piece of timber and hold it against the last fold out section of your loft ladder and transfer the mark to your ladder.
10. Paint your hatch door to the same colour as your ceiling.
11. Get rid of your clatter.
Attic Ladder Installation