Stairs! Folding, hinged, etc

[biggziff]

I'm using Attic trusses for my build and want to have better access to the space than a pull-down ladder. Some type of hinged stair would be great so I wouldn't lose any floor or wall space. I've found videos like this one:

I'd love to do something like that or use a winch or even a pulley (manual) to move the stairs up and down.

I'm trying to figure out how to gain more than 24" between the trusses for an entryway to the attic storage area. Will the truss company do this by modifying the truss or will they suggest moving the spacing wider between 2 trusses for this purpose?

If anyone has plans or suggestions on how to accomplish the stair hinges, etc. please let me know.

thanks

 

[Musicinabottle]

I built a set for a fellow who had a a car museum and so he needed his stairs to fold up. He wanted them 4 feet wide for hauling things up, and they had to have handrails. I used large counter weights so that they just lifted up and out of the way.

 

[kwschumm]

http://atticladderlift.com/other-attic-lifts/the-stowaway-attic-lift-500/

 

[biggziff]

http://atticladderlift.com/other-attic-lifts/the-stowaway-attic-lift-500/

ha!

I suspect that would double my budget on my build!

 

[rsanter]

I'm using Attic trusses for my build and want to have better access to the space than a pull-down ladder. Some type of hinged stair would be great so I wouldn't lose any floor or wall space. I've found videos like this one:

I'd love to do something like that or use a winch or even a pulley (manual) to move the stairs up and down.

I'm trying to figure out how to gain more than 24" between the trusses for an entryway to the attic storage area. Will the truss company do this by modifying the truss or will they suggest moving the spacing wider between 2 trusses for this purpose?

If anyone has plans or suggestions on how to accomplish the stair hinges, etc. please let me know.

thanks

Have the engineer design this into the structure. You may need to double up or reenforce the trusses on either side of the stairs as they will carry added load of the stairs but they will also carry a little more load when spaced a little farther from each other.
For an engineer that does this type of thing all the time this is a piece of cake.

Bob

 

[biggziff]

Have the engineer design this into the structure. You may need to double up or reenforce the trusses on either side of the stairs as they will carry added load of the stairs but they will also carry a little more load when spaced a little farther from each other.
For an engineer that does this type of thing all the time this is a piece of cake.

Bob

I'm going to ask the Truss co to take care of that part, but I'd like to see what others have done for the hinge, etc.

thanks

 

[biggziff]

I built a set for a fellow who had a a car museum and so he needed his stairs to fold up. He wanted them 4 feet wide for hauling things up, and they had to have handrails. I used large counter weights so that they just lifted up and out of the way.

OK, care to share any details like how you hinged it?

 

[biggziff]

OK, care to share any details like how you hinged it?

guess not

 

[poppinjohnnies]

I'm getting ready to install a hinged warehouse ladder next week. I plan to use a small electric winch to raise & lower it. I'll post up some pics when I get it done.

 

[LB-1911]

Might give you an idea or two -

We just finished building our garage. Probably the most interesting feature is the attic stairway.
Most people with attics have used those weak and narrow pull down folding or telescoping stairways. They are narrow and steep and not very strong. I wanted to be able to easily use the attic storage area so I wanted a really good stairway.

It is important to understand that attics need to be designed properly to support the weight. From the beginning of the garage design this stairway has been planned for. I discussed it with the truss engineer and we made sure to design for the truss spacing, the weight and the point loads. Additionally, the whole system has been designed to account for the various loads and weights on all of the components.

I did lots of drawing to design and build the stairway and components but this one sketch illustrates the basic function:

And here is a video of the stairway in action!

Details
The counterweight:

The pivot:

The cane bolt and my stick to extend my reach:

The pulley system:

The stair to cable attachment:

 

[biggziff]

Might give you an idea or two -

Excellent!

May I ask your ceiling height?

How about stair angle?

Just got off the phone with the truss co and they're building 2 trusses for 36" spacing to accommodate the stairway.

Thank you

 

[biggziff]

I'm getting ready to install a hinged warehouse ladder next week. I plan to use a small electric winch to raise & lower it. I'll post up some pics when I get it done.

Thank you!

 

[Jeepsnvettes]

Know this is an old thread but this is the exact attic stair design I am hoping to build.

poppinjohnnies - I was thinking of doing a similar design using a Warn PullzAll. Please post pics if you have them

LB-1911 - I been searching online to try to find something similar to what you used for the pivot joint. Any specifics on what you bought to hold the pivot rod?