A 200lb man with a box of books, for
example, could easily exceed a 250 lb ladder rating. Attic ladder maximum load
capacities vary with manufacturers/styles and can range from 200 – 800 lbs, so
there are plenty of options to choose from.
Attic ladders typically come in
lengths of 54” inches and widths of 22.5”, thus fitting easily between ceiling
joists on 24” center spacings.
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Location for
Installing Attic Ladder
Installing an attic ladder
requires some forethought on where it should be located. You want to
position it in an area where you have easy access from the lower level, e.g.
a hallway, and also have plenty of headroom access as you enter into the
attic via the ladder. Ideally the attic ladder should be located somewhere
near the peak of the roof, where there is maximum attic head room.
Fortunately most homes have hallways that are fairly centered underneath the
roof peak.
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The other consideration when
installing an attic ladder is the relationship of the ceiling joists relative to
the preferred installation location. The attic ladder should preferably be
installed parallel with the existing ceiling joists to minimize framing
modifications.
Framing in an
Attic Ladder
Attic ladders are designed to fit
nicely between ceiling joists that are on 24” centers. However in many homes,
ceiling joists are set on 16” centers. In these situations, a center joist will
need to be cut and replaced with two headers and a short ceiling joist to fit
the required attic ladder width.
Caution: If
your roof is constructed using trusses DO NOT cut the truss without first
checking with a building inspector or licensed building contractor. Trusses are
specifically engineered as a single functioning unit. Cutting portions of the
truss may threaten the integrity of the roof.
If you are installing the attic
ladder perpendicular to the ceiling joists, multiple ceiling joists will need to
be cut, and additional framing required. Again, I would suggest you speak with
your local building inspector or a building contractor before cutting multiple
ceiling joists.
The actual installation of the attic
ladder requires the dropping in of the attic ladder assembly via the attic. This
is a pretty heavy job and another pair of hands will be required. It also helps
to nail temporary board stops on the outside edge of the opening down below (on
the ceiling of the lower level). This way when you lay the attic ladder into
place it can rest on these board stops. You can then easily fasten the attic
ladder to the adjacent ceiling joists with screws. After fastening the attic
ladder to the ceiling joists can then be removed.
To complete the project, trim
moulding should be installed around the perimeter of the attic ladder door
opening. Also, the attic ladder door panel should be painted.
Insulating an
Attic Ladder Area
Attic ladders can be leaky in terms
of airflow. Make sure to apply insulation between the sides of the attic ladder
frame and the ceiling joists. Also, apply weather stripping around the attic
ladder door perimeter.
Some attic ladder models come with
weather stripping already integrated into the door panel area.
For help on Attic Conversion and Attic
Renovation Projects, see HomeAdditionPlus.com's
Attic Conversion Bid sheet. The
Attic Conversion Bid sheet will help
to ensure that you hire the right contractor so that your attic conversion
project is built
correctly, on time and budget.
How to Finance your Attic Project -
can help provide funds for your new home improvement project if financing is
required.
