How to make a staircase to the attic in a private house: varieties, step-by-step manufacturing instructions

There is a staircase to the attic in almost every country house.It is used for safe and comfortable lifting. The design can be purchased ready-made or made by yourself. We will tell you further how to make it and what you will need for this.

Main parts of the structure

Attic stairs consist of separate parts:

• stringers and bowstrings;
• railings for safety;
• flight of stairs;
• steps.

Kosour

This structural element of the attic staircase is a strong beam. On its surface there are cutouts on which the steps are fixed. Usually the design has 2 stringers, which ensures its strength and stability. But there are models with one stringer, to the central part of which a wooden plank is attached.

Bowstring

The bowstring is a load-bearing inclined beam. It differs from a stringer in that its ends are hidden, and special grooves are used to attach the steps. There are always two bowstrings in the attic stairs. They are placed on both sides of the structure.

Safety handrails or railings

Railings are the railings located on the outer sides of the stairs to the attic. To connect them, use handrails attached to the top of the railing. Together they perform a protective function, ensuring convenience and safety of movement along the stairs. They are made of metal, wood, glass.

If the staircase to the attic has a hatch, then the railing should reach its base and not interfere with the opening of the lid. Handrails must meet certain requirements:

• the height cannot be below the level of a person’s waist;
• the width should be such that it is comfortable for a person to hold on to them;
• there should be no sharp corners at the ends of the handrails;
• externally they should be in harmony with the stairs and the interior of the house.

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Flight of stairs

It is necessary to combine all elements into a single structure. It consists of steps that are attached to a stringer and a bowstring. The staircase can be single-flight or multi-flight. A single-flight structure from the floor to the attic will have no turns. A multi-flight consists of several spans.

Treads and risers

A tread is a horizontal board for feet. Between each tread there may be vertical planks - risers. They are used to further strengthen the structure. A structure with steps is called closed. If they are not there, then the steps are open. These are usually the folding stairs to the attic.

Security requirements

The stairs to the attic are a risk area. To avoid injury when using it, the design must meet certain requirements:

1. To safely go up or down stairs, you need handrails with handrails.
2. If a hatch is used to enter the attic, its dimensions should not impede free movement.
3. The ladder must support a weight of more than 200 kg.
4. If the staircase is wooden, its surface is covered with a fire-retardant compound.
5. The tilt angle of the structure should be within 60-70 degrees.
6. To ensure that the structure does not interfere with movement in the room, it must be installed next to the wall. It is advisable that it be placed in the hallway, but not in the kitchen or living room.
7. The width of the stairs should be about 80 cm. The height of the steps depends on the height of the people who will use the structure.
8. The standard dimensions of the attic hatch are 70*120 cm.

Read additional material on the topic of arrangement: Attic ventilation in a private house.

Main types of structures

The simplest staircase to the attic is a stepladder. However, it is unstable and uncomfortable, especially when moving with heavy hands. This option is suitable if the attic is used to store unnecessary things, so people don’t look there often.

More often, stationary or folding versions of stairs are used to climb to the attic. Based on where the structure will be placed, it is divided into external or internal.

External models are usually made of metal and additionally coated with special paint. It will protect against the negative effects of precipitation.

If an internal option is used, you need to think about its size and shape in advance. The design should look good in the room and not disturb its inhabitants.

Stationary

Typically monolithic structures are made of wood. If the staircase is planned to be used every day (a workshop, rest room, bedroom will be installed in the attic), it is complemented by a door. Staircases may be allocated for stationary stairs. But even without them, you will need a lot of free space to install the product.

Folding structures

You can buy a folding attic ladder or make it yourself.Schemes and drawings can be found on the Internet. They are suitable for small rooms where space is limited or where a permanent structure cannot be made.

The advantages of folding attic stairs are lightness and small dimensions. But the strength of the product may be limited. Such designs are divided into:

1. Scissor. They are attached to the hatch and fold down like an accordion. They are made from metal, which can begin to creak over time. To prevent this from happening, the elements must be lubricated regularly. Suitable for infrequent use. It has a low carrying capacity.
2. Telescopic. Consist of several sections. Aluminum is often used for their production, so the product is light and durable. At the same time, telescopic options did not become popular. Thanks to its compact size, this ladder can be transported in the trunk of a car.
3. Sliding. Used in small spaces. For their production, light metal or durable wood is used. The ladder extends from the attic hatch. Its features are light weight, compact size, and strength.
4. Folding. Consists of several sections. The first is firmly attached to the hatch to the attic. The second half is attached at the bottom using hinges. This makes it possible to fold the product forward.
5. Retractable. The product can be completely retracted behind the attic hatch.
6. Screw. Suitable for spacious rooms, as they take up a lot of free space. At the same time, the design looks lightweight. But moving along such stairs can be inconvenient and even dangerous, especially if there are no railings.

Article to read: How to make a metal staircase to the second floor yourself?

What materials and tools will be needed?

To create a staircase with your own hands you need:

1. Timber and plywood to create a hatch to the attic. The cross-section of the wooden beam is about 50*50 mm. The thickness of the plywood sheet is 10 mm.
2. Wooden board (20 mm thick and 120 mm long) for creating staircase parts. The length of the boards may be different. This depends on the number of sections, step pitch, and linear parameters of the product.
3. Folding and folding mechanisms that will provide shock absorption when opening the hatch.
4. Hinges for attaching the hatch. They can be replaced with a durable piano design.
5. Mechanisms that will keep the hatch from opening suddenly.
6. Mechanisms (hinge joints) that will help the sections fold or unfold.
7. Wood saw.
8. Self-tapping screws and anchors.
9. Roulette.
10. Screwdrivers.

Step-by-step instructions for making a staircase to the attic

Step-by-step instructions depend on the selected design option. Based on your existing skills and available space, you can choose simple, medium or complex options.

Simple option

Suitable for those who have no experience in carpentry, the room is small in size, and the hatch is located near the wall:

1. Prepare a wooden ladder and use a tape measure to measure 2/3 of its length. Saw and connect the parts using card loops. The smaller part should be folded towards the wall.
2. Attach long wooden blocks to the bottom using self-tapping screws. This will become the base of the product. A short beam is attached to the card loops at the top. Connect it to the beam that is attached at the bottom of the hatch.

The disadvantage of this option is that the product will always be in sight.

Medium difficulty option

When folded, this option will not be noticeable. The basis for the structure will be a hatch. Its size depends on the dimensions of the opening.For its manufacture, 4 timber 50*50 mm and a sheet of plywood 10 mm thick are used.

On each edge of the beam, cuts are made halfway across its width, which are coated with glue. A rectangular frame is assembled from the beams, using self-tapping screws to strengthen the joints.

The finished frame is attached to the hatch using hinges and covered with a sheet of plywood. To prevent the hatch from opening on its own, a latch is installed. If the attic is not heated in winter, the edges of the hatch are sheathed with a sealant.

You can use a ready-made staircase to the attic or make it yourself from wood:

1. The finished structure is sawn into several parts. Their length should not exceed the width of the hatch.
2. The individual sections are connected by metal hinges.
3. The upper section is attached to the top side of the hatch.

This option is suitable for a small room, since when folded the structure will be stored in the attic.

Stationary option

This option is the most reliable. But creating it will require more time and material. It is worth choosing if the attic is used frequently and there is enough free space in the house.

The step-by-step instructions are as follows:

1. Calculations of the future product are carried out with the calculation of the pitch, span length, and tread. Based on them, a drawing is created.
2. Prepare boards 40 cm wide. The length is equal to the length of the span. To create steps, boards, durable glass or plastic are used. The wood used must be dry, otherwise the product will quickly become unusable and begin to creak or dry out.
3. Prepare stringers. On boards (40 cm) make markings according to ready-made patterns. Make cuts on the marks.
4. Stringers are being installed. They should rest against the floor of the room and attic.
5. The steps are being installed. The easiest way to do this is to use self-tapping screws that are screwed into the protrusions of the stringers.
6. Railings are installed for safety. They can be wooden or metal.

In order for the structure to be strong and safe, it is necessary to carry out the calculations correctly and use high-quality material.

See how to make an attic folding ladder:

Does your house have an attic? Which staircase did you choose for him? Did you make the design yourself or buy a ready-made one? Share your experience in the comments.

Additionally read: Roof ladders: types of structures and manufacturing methods.