Need help with attic access ideas????

[bop_pa]

My ceiling is almost 12' off the ground. I recently built a nice storage loft up there and moved a ton of stuff up there to store. Luckily when I redid the garage I bought scaffolding, so I was able to pack it full, climb on top of it (under the access in the ceiling and put the items in the hole.) Then I would have to climb down, get my ladder out and climb up. This method *****. So I am wondering what other do to get into their over heads. I really dont want to lose a bunch of floor space by putting in permanent stairs and the one 12' attic ladder I found was really expensive. Anyone come up with a "build your own" pull down stair case... Any ideas, suggestion, or pics of what you did or think ,would be helpful.

 

[skeletonizer]

I am currently building a 26 x 40 with 8/12 attic trusses. I am going with an outside stair and small landing deck for three reasons.

1: Eats up no space in the garage.

2: Far stronger than any pull down.

3: Can maneuver much larger items up it.

 

[35mastr]

Mine also was 12' high.I framed it all in at 8 foot with 2x6 lumber and plywood on top of that.I put in one of those pull down ladders from HD.I left another larger hole for the bigger stuff.

I can walk around up there just bent over a little.Not to mention that it is another 20x21 storage.

 

[thammel]

My new garage is 32 x 28 with 12' ceiling. I used attic trusses and have a 12' x 28' attic with 7' ceiling. I decided to go with permanent stairs on one side. You do lose a little but I'm taking advantage of the room underneath for my bathroom and radiant heat setup. My prior house had a garage with pulldown stairs. This just can't compare to a full 3' wide stairway that is really solid. It's up to you but for decent access think about this seriously.

Tom

 

[mw_98]

My garage has a finished sloped ceiling that is about 14' high in the center with some storage above. At the time I couldn't find an attic stairway that would go high enough so I framed in a 2'x4' access hole between the trusses, I then made an access panel and attached one end with hinges. I then added a simple rope and pulley so that the panel could be opened from the floor. To get up to the storage area I bought a 16' Articulated Ladder ( http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=161406-000000287-M1-8-16&lpage=none ). This ladder works great because it can be used as a 16' ladder, fold it to make an 8' step ladder, or a 4' high scaffold, or fold it to work on stairs, etc.

 

[thdewey]

I am currently building a 26 x 40 with 8/12 attic trusses. I am going with an outside stair and small landing deck for three reasons.

1: Eats up no space in the garage.

2: Far stronger than any pull down.

3: Can maneuver much larger items up it.

This is what I did on my 24X36. Also I can use this space flexably. In the future I can convert the area for other uses. The room above is 15'X36'. That's a pretty big room. I'm planning on splitting it up into a storage room and a TV/movie room. Not really a 'home theater'. I'm really too cheap for that. The point is you can make it whatever you like. I just couldn't see putting the stairs on the inside. That's square footage lost and cheaper outside. I guess if I lived in Alaska or Minn. I might feel differently.

 

[JohnK007]

To get up to the storage area I bought a 16' Articulated Ladder ( http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?actio...-16&lpage=none ). This ladder works great because it can be used as a 16' ladder, fold it to make an 8' step ladder, or a 4' high scaffold, or fold it to work on stairs, etc.

I've got one of those too. It is a pretty handy ladder.

 

[D KRAGER]

Do a search, there have been some guys use a winch system in the attic to raise stuff up there.