Aluminum ladders are fire resistant and generally more affordable than their steel or wood counterparts. Steel attic ladders are stronger—and pricier—than wood and aluminum; they are also moisture- and fire-resistant. Invest in one if the attic will be used on a regular basis, particularly as a living space.

Can you open an attic from the inside?

Attic doors can definitely open by themselves.

What angle should an attic ladder be?

The feet should rest firmly on the floor, and the ladder should be at a 68 to 80 degree angle.

What size are attic stairs?

You need 22.5 inches by 54 inches of clear opening in your ceiling for most attic ladders. If you have less than this, you may be able to make it work with a special installation.

Can you cut ceiling joists for attic access?

Mark rough opening of new fold-down staircase on the ceiling joists in the attic. Use a reciprocating saw to cut joists and nails holding any joists that must be removed. Cut around ceiling trim with a utility knife. Using the reciprocating saw, cut away all the old joists from within the new rough opening.

What is attic ladder swing clearance?

You can watch a video or read this short article about how to measure the projection space or swing clearance for an attic ladder. The projection clearance, also known as swing clearance is defined as the amount of clearance needed as is determined by the arc of stairway as it swings open.

How do you measure opening for pull down attic stairs?

Measure the length from the hinged side of the attic ladder frame to the opposite side of the attic ladder frame. Place your measurement along the edge so that your measuring tape stays in a straight line. The next measurement will be for the length of the stairs.