Stairway Ideas Welcomed Here!

[Rickochet]

I have a 32' X 32' attached garage that I would like to use the attic area for storage. It is an 8' ceiling with a step pitched roof that gives me about 12' X 32' of unobstructed storage overhead. I would need to access the attic at one end of the garage near the center with the stairway leading down toward the overhead doors.

I really wanted to avoid the old pull down stairs as I would not use it nearly as much if I were to build it with typical tread stairs.

I am really looking for pictures, tips and suggestions for the proper construction of this project. After reading so many posts, you guys have just about done it all!

Thanks and have a Blessed Easter!

Rick

 

[kbs2244]

32 feet is a pretty good span. Do you have center posts and a beam at 16 feet?
It is easier to put in stairs the do not cut across the joists, so depending which way they go will have an effect on the ease of orienting the stairs.
Make sure your joists will take the load of what you are thinking of putting up there. Xmas decorations and winter coats is one thing. Bumpers, fenders, and engine blocks is another. You might want to think of sistering 2 x 8’s to your 2 x 6’s before putting a floor down.
If it isn’t already done, most fire codes will want the wall between the garage attic and the house attic dry walled.
A 4 x 4 spanning a couple rafters with a cheap Harbor Fright electric hoist attached will make getting stuff up and down a whole lot easier.

 

[IHI]

If your dead set against a pull down, make a dead waiter like kbs is talking about, not too much money, just some dinking around sistering up and installing beams, then framing in whatever sized opening you want for your make shift elevator....nothing hard, just PITA factor...but easier than making stairs that will take away all kind of usuable floor space since you'll have to frame the opening in the attic that the steps will be going upto so you have at least 6'6" of headroom off any given riser per code....

As for laying out the stairs, they're pretty simple. If you decided you want to go this route for sure, go out and buy a L shaped framing swuare if you dont already have one, then buy the brass stops they sell that will go on the framing square so it's jigged up for the layout typically based on 7/10 rise/run. but you give me your exact floor to ceiling height, and i will provide all the numbers you'll need to layout the stringers...but the dead waiter will probably take less time to fab up, a bit more money since your buying a hoist, but at least this way your not going to have a big staircase taking up room in the garage.

Josh

 

[Rickochet]

Has anybody used one of these: http://www.wernerladder.com/newprods/televator.php

If so, a review would be appreciated!

Thanks,
Rick

 

[Stuart in MN]

The first thing I'd ask is what kind of roof do you have? Is it rafters or trusses? Is it designed to hold any amount of weight up there? With a 32' span, I suspect it's trusses, and if so they need to be specifically designed for storage use.

 

[Rob Hughes]

When I did mine I was thinking about one of those televators but it's WAY WAY too small if you are going to put anything even semi substantial up there....just look at the opening.

Instead I went with a pull down http://www.wernerladder.com/newprods/s2200.php snf I can't beleive how nice it it...easy down easy up.....now if I had only choose where I cut the first hole better...d'oh

That's ok I need to learn how to patch up drywall anyway...lol

 

[russlaferrera]

I use a 16' extension ladder. To climb up on the loft roof. I leave it standing in the corner of the garage.