Attic Stairs

[Spencer Was Here]

Hi guys, first post here. I am building a pole barn and I would like to buy some stairs to access the attic. The kind of stairs that you pull down and then unfold. The problem that I am having is that my ceiling height is about 11' 11" and I have trusses on 24" centers. The only stairs that I can find that are tall enough for my ceiling need an opening larger that 24" wide.

Any links or suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[bimmer95]

The M2254H is really close to working for you, 22.5" wide and will go to 11'6". Due to their design, you might be able to add an additional stair to get the extra height that you need.

http://www.rainbowatticstair.com/attic-stairs-products/prestige-folding-attic-stairs.cfm

 

[dungbeetle]

I built my stairs out of 1.5 x 3 inch steel without any folding parts. I use a $70 Harbor Freight electric winch to pull it up and let it down. If I were you, I would make the stair angle not as steep as what the folding stair shows. I have carried an engine block up my stairs. I don't think it would be all that fun to even try carrying a cylinder head up those stairs.

I'm in Vegas at the CES show right now, but when I get back I could post a picture for you.

 

[comp]

also check the wt. cap.

 

[logical]

Of course the easiest solution is get the Werner alluminum 10' unit made for 24" oc joists and just keep a little 3 step high platform handy to land the ladder on. Only good if you have room to stow that platform out of the way and will only need it once a month.

The easiest better solution is to box in a dropped access area just below the joists. Werner has a 12 ft unit that takes I think a 25 inch rough opening. Get some 2 x 12's the length of the required unit's rough opening and bolt them to the outsides of the joists where you want to get access with 5.5 inches of the 2 x 12 width extending below the ceiling. Complete the short sides of the box (frame, surround, scuttle, whatever) using 2 x 6 (hence the 5.5 inches). Now you have a 25.5 inch by whatever you made it box that extends 5.5 inches below the ceiling. trim on side in with half inch plywood if the ladder needs exactly 25 inches width. The stairs only need that 25 inch opening at the frame...the folded ladder is less than the 22.5 you have up at joist level.

 

[dboat]

Of course the easiest solution is get the 11'6" unit made for 24" oc joists and just keep a little 2' X 3' x 8" high platform handy to land the ladder on.

The easiest better solution is to box in a dropped access area just below the joists. Werner has a 12 ft unit that takes I think a 25 inch opening. Get some 2 x 12's the length of the required unit's rough opening and bolt them to the outsides of the joists where you want to get access with 5.5 inches of the 2 x 12 width extending below the ceiling. Complete the short sides of the box (frame, surround, scuttle, whatever) using 2 x 6 (hence the 5.5 inches). Now you have a 25.5 inch by whatever you made it box that extends 5.5 inches below the ceiling. The stairs only need that 25 inch opening at the frame...the folded ladder is less than the 22.5 you have up at joist level.

taking the last idea a bit further.. then maybe you could insulate the box to keep either the garage or the attic warm..

 

[logical]

taking the last idea a bit further.. then maybe you could insulate the box to keep either the garage or the attic warm..

I had to rethink the first part of my post and edited as you were quoting. I was thinking the 11'6" ladder mentioned was a Werner but it isn't ...and I wouldn't sugest a rainbow in the garage unless somebody has money to burn. The Werners, even the 10 ft, 300 lb capacity alluminum unit I have with gas assist struts was under $200...I think the rainbows are $700 and up.

 

[OldCarGuy]

Attic stairs

At my old garage, I added a folding 2’ section to a standard 22” wide by 10’ long pull-down staircase. Besides being a pain pulling it down, it wasn’t very sturdy. Plus it took two people to put anything big or heavy up there. I would recommend something that doesn’t have such a steep incline and a lot more solid.

When I was younger the narrow precarious pull-down staircase would do. However with age I need something more stable beneath me. So I opted to built a 48” wide staircase to my attic. For my new garage I decided that the extra room it took up was well worth the security.

 

[MCraven210]

I have the same problem. 12'6" ceiling height and trussed 24" oc. I have not come up with a good solution either.

Mike

 

[Roadster]

The M2254H is really close to working for you, 22.5" wide and will go to 11'6". Due to their design, you might be able to add an additional stair to get the extra height that you need.

http://www.rainbowatticstair.com/attic-stairs-products/prestige-folding-attic-stairs.cfm

Damn, that is the coolest thing! I've been looking for a good attic stair that would work for the ceiling height in my garage (11'-1"), and the Prestige M3060H with the extra step looks perfect! I had just about given up, thinking that the ultra-spendy Bessler was my only option for any kind of reasonable amount of weight, but the Rainbow is rated for 350 lbs, which is perfect for me (250 lbs) and up to 100 lbs of additional load.

 

[Roadster]

Hi guys, first post here. I am building a pole barn and I would like to buy some stairs to access the attic. The kind of stairs that you pull down and then unfold. The problem that I am having is that my ceiling height is about 11' 11" and I have trusses on 24" centers. The only stairs that I can find that are tall enough for my ceiling need an opening larger that 24" wide.

Any links or suggestions would be appreciated.

Spencer, have you considered the Bessler Model 26 Truss? It is specially designed to fit between 24" O.C. truss ceilings, and the Size 9 apparently is good up to 11'10" floor-to-floor.

http://bessler.com/mod26.htm

 

[DaveL.]

that's slick

 

[Old Moparz]

I did the set up in the attached picture as a long term, temporary solution until & build a permanent set of exterior stairs. I found a guy selling some used, oak, library ladders that were about 10 feet. I bought 2 of them & mounted them at the rear wall of my garage so I can get to the 2nd floor. The first one lands on a large shelf that's built like a storage loft. The second one goes from the shelf to 2nd floor thruogh the opening. It's hard to see in the photo, so I highlighted them. I have the space to do it & knew it wasn't permanent. The ladders cost me about $35.00 each & already had a railing on them.

Maybe something like this will work for you? The angle isn't any different than a pull down scuttle.

 

[Old Moparz]

I did the set up in the attached picture as a long term, temporary solution until & build a permanent set of exterior stairs. I found a guy selling some used, oak, library ladders that were about 10 feet long. I bought 2 of them & mounted them at the rear wall of my garage so I can get to the 2nd floor. The first one lands on a large shelf that's built like a storage loft. The second one goes from the shelf to 2nd floor thruogh the opening in the floor. It's hard to see in the photo, so I highlighted them. I have the space to do it & knew it wasn't permanent, so it works okay for me. The ladders cost me about $35.00 each & they already had a railing on them.

Maybe something like this will work for you? The angle isn't any different than a pull down scuttle.

 

[gary whipple]

I have a 10' ceiling.
Picked this attic stares a Lowe's

Gary

 

[White Chocolate]

I bought a set of Rainbow attic stairs for my new garage and love them! The price is pretty steep, but they were the only stairs I found that would fit high ceilings and didn't need a bunch of clearance to extend and fold up. They installed relatively easily if you have 2 people lifting from below and someone from above attaching them into place. They are made really well (in Austria) and are an overall really nice design. If you can spare the $$, I highly recommend them.

 

[sboxs]

what did they cost did you get the power ones or the regular ones

 

[White Chocolate]

the regular ones were $650

 

[astroracer]

The ceiling in my addition is only 10' but I can't see spending 2 or 300 dollars on attic access that will be used only a couple of times a year, if that... I bought a pair of heavy strap hinges and will build a ladder out of 2 x 4"s. Attaching the hinges vertically on a boxed section will be plenty strong at the top and a pulley in the ceiling at the other end will pull it up, out of the way, just fine. I doubt I will have more then 30 bucks into it... Yea, I'm a cheap SOB...
Mark

 

[Robbo]

I built my stairs out of 1.5 x 3 inch steel without any folding parts. I use a $70 Harbor Freight electric winch to pull it up and let it down. If I were you, I would make the stair angle not as steep as what the folding stair shows. I have carried an engine block up my stairs. I don't think it would be all that fun to even try carrying a cylinder head up those stairs.

I'm in Vegas at the CES show right now, but when I get back I could post a picture for you.

I'd like to see those pics

Rob