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How to Choose the Best Attic Ladder
If your attic has a built-in ladder, then going up and climbing down the attic will be an easy and safe trip.
You don't fret anytime you need to make another trip to the attic, which makes it a good storage space and opens up more real estate in your home.
If you don't already have a built in ladder in your attic, installing a fold down step or ladder is not difficult.
It will only take a few hours especially if you have done something similar in the past.
To even make it easier for your experiment, you can order a pre-assembled kit online, have it shipped to your location, and cut down on the total installation time.
While it’s easier said than done, installing a ladder in your attic can become burdensome if you don't have any idea. To prevent this from happening, you need to pay attention to the following:
Location of installation
If you order a kit, you will see that they are designed to go with your attic floor and may require that you do a little enlargement to the hole that leads to your attic.
If you have this convenience, then you can cut down the time needed to open a new access that links to the attic. Both have their advantages though.
If you are coming up with a new hole, you can choose the location and make sure that there is enough room where the bottom of the ladder sits.
Framing Type
You need to consider your attic flooring and roof before choosing a ladder. If the roof is made with trusses, then you shouldn't cut or dismantle any of the components as they are situated as an interlocking system.
If the framing is a standard construction, then restructuring can be done to suit your new attic ladder. You can also have rafters and floor joists depending on the design of the whole location.
Basic Space Requirement
If you are going for a full-sized attic ladder, you need to check the available space in your ceiling.
With this type, you need at least 22 1/2 x 54" before you can install one in your ceiling.
The ladder also requires some landing space where you can mount and dismantle the ladder.
This should be checked even though it is most likely to be available too.
Be sure to check there is headroom in the attic as it is unsightly to bang your head against the roof every time you access the attic.
Finally, make sure the rooms you are using have enough space to contain the ladder when it is fully extended. However, if you have tight space, you can search for telescopic ladders instead.
Because these measurements can very between brands, it is absolutely necessary to check manufacturer's specification and gauge it against what you have.
You have to carry out this check before you start any work or change anything either in the room or in your attic.
