Attic Drop Down Stairs

[gto65goat]

All,
Now that I have to drop my garage height from 19'8" to 15'5"...I'll need to revert back to drop down stairs.
I know of Werner drop down stairs.
I would appreciate your thoughts and recommendations?
Thank you!!

 

[wrigh003]

The aluminum/metal kind is easy to put in, and relatively cheap. I think I paid about $150 or so for my 300# rated set, and it all was in and done in a day, even with my kids running around underfoot and me having to go borrow a reciprocating saw to cut the joists to enlarge/create the opening where I had a trapdoor before.

What's your ceiling height going to be, though? I think those top out at about 12'- my experience was with a standard ranch house with 8' ceilings, so it may be different for you; might wind up having to build something.

 

[hotrod66paul]

My aluminum attic ladder is a 10ft Louisville Ladder from a big box store and it works great. Sure is easier to lift than the old wooden one that it replaced. Had no problem putting it in with just the other half pitching in to help.

 

[jr2]

I too purchased a Louisville Aluminum 300# ladder. Installation was a snap. Only thing I have a problem with is its pretty narrow. So things I used to be able to store in the loft don't fit anymore and vice versa.

Example: I am storing a friends bench seat from an Excursion for a project of his in my loft. Well, when I had a set of stairs it went into the loft fine. Now since I have removed those stairs and installed the pulldown I can't fit the seat down the pulldown access It's not that big of a deal though as I am going to make an access on the front of the loft under the truss (polebarn) so it will slide out of there no problem. It's not a big thing I just forgot about it.

Just something to think about.

 

[PAToyota]

Revert to drop down from in place? Any reason?

 

[jr2]

Revert to drop down from in place? Any reason?

2 reasons:

1. The existing stairs that were in place when I moved in were 1/2-assed at best. The rise/run was totally wrong which made for an interesting/dangerous climb.
2. The pulldown gave me back quite a bit of wall space that I needed.

I only use the loft for storage so it's fine. Having the wall space back is priceless.

 

[Coach James]

I greatly prefer the metal pulldown to the wood. Previous owner of our house put in wood pull down stairs rated for 225 pounds. First off, I weigh 230 pounds by myself. Second, he, or his appointee, did a shi**y job putting them in. Bent nails, not plumb, short screws etc. My dad has pull down aluminum in his house that are at least 30 years old and still feel sturdy enough to hold three people easily.

Coach