Attic stairs with a hatch: simplicity, practicality and accessibility

Folding attic staircase with a hatch will save space in the room

The main types of attic stairs

Depending on the design, there are several types of attic or, as they are also called, mansard stairs:

• monolithic (stationary);
• portable;
• folding.

Monolithic (mid-flight and spiral staircases) are a stationary structure. This is the most traditional type of attic stairs - solid, aesthetic, comfortable, safe, but its significant drawback is its massiveness and high cost. These stairs take up a lot of space and are not suitable for small spaces.

Foldable loft ladders are very easy to use

Portable ladders (ladders and ladders) do not take up much space; after use, they can simply be removed to the closet. They are cheap and easy to use, but they are temporary and not secure enough. They are used only during construction work or in small summer cottages.

Folding ladders combine the advantages of the first two types and, at the same time, are devoid of their disadvantages. They are safe, easily fit into any design, save space, are extremely easy to use, and the quite affordable price of attic stairs with a hatch will be a nice bonus when buying.

Metal retractable mansard ladder

Types of folding mansard stairs

Folding ladders are made of aluminum, wood (for example, Fakro attic ladders are made of selected pine timber, other manufacturers also use beech, maple and oak) or both of these materials are combined in the structure. In this case, wooden steps reduce the weight of the structure, and the metal mechanism and fasteners give the stairs additional strength.

Useful advice! Folding aluminum loft ladders are worth choosing if you intend to use them often. Such ladders are characterized by greater wear resistance and strength, which greatly facilitates their operation.

There are several types of folding loft ladders:

• retractable (scissor);
• sliding;
• folding;
• folding.

Examples of the use of portable (attached) ladders

The retractable attic staircase is most often made entirely of metal and looks like an accordion with oval or diamond-shaped sections. This type of ladder is extremely compact and provides minimal stress on Lukehowever, it has one major drawback. Over time, retractable ladders begin to creak, so they will have to be lubricated periodically. Cheap, low-quality material or improper assembly can also lead to a squeak.

Sliding or telescopic attic stairs are not particularly popular in the domestic market. They are made from aluminum and look like separate metal tubes that fold into each other. When folded, the steps of the stairs fit tightly to each other, and when opened, they are clearly fixed at a certain distance from each other. This design has weight restrictions and is not particularly stable.

Extendable telescopic attic ladder

Folding ladders consist of two to four sections, the first of which is firmly fixed in the hatch cover and completely coincides with its size. The rest of the sections, opening up, take the form of a regular staircase. This mobility is due to the presence of hinge loops or carriages. This species is not particularly compact, but it is very popular. Folding stairs are made of metal, wood and combining these two materials.

Important! Due to the large, in comparison with other types, dimensions and weight, when choosing combined folding ladders, you should give preference to the lightest materials - aluminum or pine.

Folding attic staircase with hatch

Folding ladders are quite complex in design, but provide maximum space savings and perfect order. When folded, such a ladder is fixed to the wall. The steps are fixed on the bowstring with card loops. The folding ladders are independent of the hatch.

Folding attic stairs are equipped with a hatch that hides the entire mechanism. The hatch performs not only aesthetic functions, but also provides reliable sound, steam and heat insulation. For this purpose, the hatch cover is insulated with expanded polystyrene or mineral wool, a vapor barrier film is attached on top and a finishing decorative coating is applied. For greater effect, the hatch is often supplemented with a seal.

Mansard ladder folding / unfolding principle

Optimal dimensions of an attic staircase with a hatch

The dimensions of the attic staircase with a hatch are very diverse. If you wish and additional funds, you can order a staircase according to an individual design, or you can buy an attic staircase with a hatch in one of the standard sizes available in hardware stores. However, there are some general rules for choosing the optimal attic staircase:

• the height of the folding ladder should not exceed 3.5 m, since, due to excessive massiveness, the structure will lose the necessary rigidity, and its weight will complicate the operation process. In this case, you should prefer a stationary ladder, refusing to save space;

Dimensions of the foldable two-knee loft ladder

• the most comfortable is the width of the flight of stairs about 65 cm, the height of the steps is about 20 cm, and their number should not exceed 15;
• it is worth paying attention to the angle at which the stairs are located. Ideally, it ranges from 60 to 75 degrees. If the angle is larger, the ladder will become dangerous for operation, if less, it will take up too much space;

A - 270/300/335 cm; B - 120/150/185 cm; C - 158/172/188 cm, D - 120/153/192 cm

• it is important for safety reasons that the steps are parallel to the floor and equipped with anti-slip grooves or pads;
• the dimensions of the attic staircase with the hatch must ideally match the dimensions of the hatch. If the ladder is too wide, it will constantly get stuck in the hatch.If the staircase is too narrow, then you will have to forget about any heat and sound insulation.

Dimensions of a monolithic attic staircase made of wood

Advantages of attic stairs with a hatch

The advantages of using attic stairs with a hatch in the house are obvious. The first and foremost of these is the significant space savings. Such a ladder allows you to easily climb to the attic, but it does not take up much space even when unfolded. Due to the wide variety of types (which, accordingly, affects the price), attic stairs with a hatch harmoniously fit into any interior, and when the stairs are folded, all the unsightly parts of the mechanism are hidden in the hatch cover.

An important fact that testifies in favor of folding ladders is their safety. Such stairs usually have special notches on the steps to prevent slipping, and even a railing. In order to prevent the ladder from opening up arbitrarily, and without injuring someone, it is equipped with a special fixing mechanism and an additional locking latch. For added safety, ladders are often equipped with anti-slip feet.

Folding metal ladder with insulated hatch

Attic stairs with a hatch are very robust and reliable. They can support up to 250 kg. They are easy to use and open (close) with one hand movement. This is true both for stairs that open manually (they are often equipped with a special weight that makes it easy to lower the stairs or raise them), and for stairs with an electric motor.

The price of an attic staircase with a hatch (photos of stairs and price lists can be found on the Internet on specialized sites) depends on its type, selected material, number of sections and technical characteristics, but, in general, it is quite affordable. The simplicity of the design allows you to build an attic staircase with your own hands (the drawings are detailed in the reference literature), which also contributes to its popularity and helps to significantly save money.

Wooden ladder in the children's room

Attic staircase with a hatch: do it yourself

Of course, you can buy an attic staircase with a hatch at a hardware store or order it on a specialized website. However, the simplicity of the design allows you to make and assemble a folding attic staircase with your own hands.

The best choice in this situation is a tree. This material is the easiest to process at home, has great aesthetics and good performance characteristics, and if properly processed, it can last for many years. The most common option is pine. It meets all of the above requirements and does not differ in high cost, therefore it will be an excellent choice for everyone who wants to make an attic staircase with their own hands.

The folded staircase is located on the attic floor and does not spoil the appearance of the room

The simplest option for an attic staircase for a private house is a one-march staircase. Detailed videos and drawings of the attic staircase with your own hands can be found in large quantities on the Internet. To make it, you need 2 boards about 50 mm thick, the steps can be fastened with a bowstring (the grooves made milling cutter in the side board) or kosour (special horizontal platforms cut out in the board, on which the steps are laid).

The individual steps are secured with a screw pin. For monolithic staircase on one or both sides, it is worth making a railing from a polished bar, giving them greater reliability with the help of vertical beams.

Related article:

How to calculate the stairs to the second floor: basic calculation parameters. Features of complex structures. Types of stairs and their components. Calculation of rotary and spiral staircases with an online calculator.

Another option that is quite simple to implement is a simple folding ladder.Proceeding from the fact that any ladder of this type is a few simpler ladders, it is necessary to make an ordinary one-flight ladder about 40 cm above the ceiling level. The steps, as in the previous case, are fixed on a bowstring or stringer. A wooden beam is attached to the ceiling under the hatch, and the staircase itself is divided into two parts in a ratio of 1: 3.

All elements are connected to each other with hinges. To securely fix the folded ladder, use a metal or rope loop. This simplest construction is always placed against a wall. And although it saves space, the room will not become more beautiful, because all the details of the folding ladder will remain in sight.

Anti-slip tips are placed on the ladder legs for safety

When making attic stairs with your own hands, the issue with a hatch will have to be solved independently. It is very important to close the open doorway leading to the attic in order to protect the living area of ​​the house from drafts and cold, and to avoid heat loss. As in the case with do-it-yourself attic staircase drawings, all the necessary advice and clarifications for making a hatch can be found on the Internet or in specialized literature.

In order to make the hatch yourself, you will need bars (50 by 50 mm) and plywood sheets... First, you need to determine the dimensions of the future hatch, adding about 8 mm. The bars are cut into pieces of the desired size, and holes are cut along their edges. These grooves are lubricated with glue, the bars are connected and fixed with self-tapping screws.

One part of the folding ladder is attached to the hatch surface

Important! It is necessary to additionally fix the position of the bars with a gusset. This will prevent the structure from diverging diagonally.

At the final stage, plywood is attached to the bonded beams. The hatch is tried on and the latch is cut. The hatch can be insulated with mineral wool or expanded polystyrene, as well as by fixing a seal along the edges.

The listed methods of making stairs are very simple and suitable even for beginners. More complex options and drawings of an attic staircase with a hatch with your own hands and detailed instructions can be found on the Internet.