Modify Attic Ladder

[bigbearcountry]

I'm adding an Werner attic ladder for to access storage in my garage. My current opening (and by far the best spot). Is 1 1/2 inches too small as I had to add another beam to support the floor. I was looking at the ladder and it is riveted to the sides of the factory frame. I'm thinking of drilling out these rivets and removing the 3/4" sides to make it fit. Then I would bolt it directly to the beam/joist that it would sit between.

Anyone attempt this before?
Any issues with drilling out the rivets?

Thanks for your help!

 

[nadogail]

In my opinion, you are going to be in over your head, this is a job that should not be done.

 

[75gmck25]

Would a Werner ladder like this work? It does not give you as much clearance to lift things up into the attic, but the design fits in a much smaller opening. I have one in the hallway of my house because a standard pull-down would not fit.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Werner-7...50-lb-Maximum-Load-Capacity-AA1510B/203009104

Bruce

 

[rlitman]

If you needed another support joist, just move it to the OTHER side where it wouldn't interfere with the ladder.

 

[lakeroadster]

As long as your end result is no different than the original design, with the only difference being the type of fasteners used, sure it will work.

Often time it is easier to grind the head off a rivet, sometimes when drilling them they will just spin.

Hope that helps and be sure to include some photo's after your installation.
_____
John

 

[pattenp]

If you are just removing the wood frame the ladder is mounted in and connecting the ladder directly to the joist there is no problem with that. Just use good wood screws or blots, no drywall screws.

 

[rieferman]

In my opinion, you are going to be in over your head, this is a job that should not be done.

How on earth do you know the op's skill set? Also, this job sounds straightforward to me, and I don't have concerns with the approach he describes. He basically stated that he will recreate the same conditions as original by attaching the ladder to his structure rather than ladder to built in frame to structure.

 

[Alan Douglas]

I bought a Werner ladder and used it as a kit of parts to repair my old wooden one, using the original arms and springs (and discarding most of the wooden frame that came with the Werner). It worked fine, far better than what I had.

 

[bigbearcountry]

Thanks all for your replies and thoughts, they definitely helped. I did end up taking half the frame off and mounting it up in the ceiling joists. It was a very tight fit, but worked out. I'm now struggling with the remounting the gas strut. I don't have the muscle to push it inward to reconnect it to the metal bracket. The picture that I attached is what it is supposed to look like. My strut is fully extended and can't push it back enough...

 

[jhelrey]

Close the ladder and have someone hold it shut while you install it?

 

[Worsedog]

Close the ladder and have someone hold it shut while you install it?

This.

I installed a Werner steel one about 15 years ago that had a rack and gear to deal with the gas strut.

 

[Alan Douglas]

I discarded the struts but as I recall, there were a couple of protruding lugs such that you could compress the strut, secure it at that length with a piece of steel strap with a couple of holes punched in it, then install the strut in the ladder, and then use the ladder to shorten the strut enough to take tension off the strap and remove it.

I think that's what I did (in reverse) to remove the strut from the ladder before I cut off the frame.