Attic Ladder suggestions

jdp72

I have a weird situation. I want to install an attic ladder, but my attic access, instead of being on the ceiling is on a vertical wall. The ceilings in my home are vaulted, so there is no attic, except in one area. On a wall there is a small cut out that you have to climb 3-4 feet up in to.

I have been unsuccessful in finding an off the shelf product, but my carpentry skills are decent enough that if I draw up some plans I can build one myself. I was thinking of a draw bridge or murphy bed type concept, where if you pull a rope a set of stairs will come down. Have it counter weighted so that it doesn't drop like a stack of bricks on my head. I want it clean and professional looking... Maybe I can take photos of what I am talking about and give dimensions and post it up.

Anyone have any ideas on how to do this?

Thanks!

mdshunk

I'm not so sure that I'd personally go to any special effort for 3-4 feet. I can hop up into that, or grab the closest chair for a boost. Hey, post pictures if you build something.

jdp72

Actually I measured it last night. The "hop" is a little over 4 feet, and it is in a finished off area of the house where there isn't a ladder or chair (or closet to hold such items) conveniently around.

The ceiling is 9 feet in this particular room, and the opening is like 2.5ft wide x 3 ft high... the very badly needed attic space is like 16'x20'. We have a fully finished walk out basement with full bath and home theatre, so there much storage to speak of down there. Garage has 2 Harleys, a wave runner/trailer and bikes and toys for a family of 5... Most of the 2nd floor has 9'-15' ceilings, except in one area, which is this attic I would like access to.

We can cram quite a bit in 320 sq ft, so we would like to utilize it...and have easy in and out access to get at stuff, either daily or weekly.

I was thinking of a simple ladder attached to a board? Since the opening is 4' off the floor and the ceiling is 9' tall, I figured I could just cut the attic opening up a bit to the ceiling...making it a 2.5ft to 5ft opening. Then just make a 5 ft long ladder and attach it to board and hinge it to the wall (like a a drawbridge).

My 2 concerns are, how do I counter weight it? Also, is 5 ft long enough for the ladder, because I wonder if the step ladder will be awkward to climb up???

joasis

You can locate spring assist hinges, or even get facny and use a gas charged lift, like is used on auto trucks and hatchbacks...they are cheap and there are universal ones that you can make work, if you can design the step/stair.

jdp72

I like the spring assist hinges, and the idea of a gas charged lift. I was even thinking of something that utilizes a garage door opener, but I think that would be overkill...although the idea of it being totally automated would be cool, but I don't want to overcomplicate something simple (which is something my wife says I constantly do)... I tend to go overboard on home projects.

Are these spring assist hinges something I can get straight out of a Grainger or McMaster, I have commercial accounts for both.

joasis

Do a google search....spring loaded hinges, spring assist, ...that is where I would go first.