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attic ladder placement ?

7K views 17 replies 7 participants last post by  Fix'n it 
#1 ·
i am installing an attic ladder in the ceiling of my front porch.
i am not sure which way to place it. so here is what i am working with.
1st pic is a view into the front of the porch.
2nd pic is the ceiling of the porch, that is 8' deep.
3rd & 4th pics are the topside of the ceiling. there is about 18" from the porch ceiling to the attic floor. -6" for the framing i will be adding.

idk if i should place the ladder to fold down towards the front door , 1st pic.
or towards me in the 2nd pic.
my main though, is "what if" i have to bring some large/long lumber up into the attic. the 2nd pic may make that harder. but idk.

the wiring and light are going to be removed.
 

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#5 ·
i didn't look for any sagging, but i will now. the roof is not very old, so i wouldn't expect any leaks, though i do not know. that is just one reason i want to make attic access easier = but be able to quickly get up there for inspections.

oh. there are other parts of the roof sagging. they didn't use large enough lumber , sheeesh. i am going to reenforce where possible.
 
#8 ·
ok, the ladder is in, all by myself.

it is a 22.5 x 54 = actually 21.5 x 53 3/4 opening. i don't recommend a 22.5, unless that is all you can afford or can fit. its just kinda narrow.
i went to take pics from above, but my batteries died. some day i will get a nice panel of some kind to cover the generic panel that is on there now.
it is nice to have fast & easy attic access now. plus a lil storage should i need it.
 

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#9 ·
Nice job on the access ladder installation. I probaly dont need to mention this but from looking at your pics, I would be real easy about how much load I would put in that attic around the pull down door space. The ledger beam I am seeing is too small and the center to center spacing on those ceiling joist is way too far apart. jmo
 
#11 ·
Nice job on the access ladder installation. I probaly dont need to mention this but from looking at your pics, I would be real easy about how much load I would put in that attic around the pull down door space. The ledger beam I am seeing is too small and the center to center spacing on those ceiling joist is way to far apart. jmo
i put 2x6 framing in. what was there = no way would i trust that.
 
#15 ·
The framing for your ladder looks fine but I would worry about the rest of the ceiling framing, it looks like 2by4 on pretty wide centers. I would beef it all up before putting much weigh (or your own body) on it.

Also, is that "knob & tube" wiring still live? If it is you are overdue for some re-wiring.
 
#16 ·
indeed. i am going to add more lumber, and then 1/2 osb for a landing.
like i said, no way would i put anything on that original framing.

yes & yes, well, it was . but i think the wires going up to the front, are were the original service entered the building. though i could be wrong.
and, while the K&T does look to be in good condition. 1 of the reasons for the ladder is to aid in rewiring.
 
#17 ·
for the finished look you could add some facade lumber onto the plywood of the door that matches the existing ceiling boards. then trim out around the door with a thicker trim - 5/4 maybe, and this will help hide the fact that the added facade sticks down further than original ceiling boards.

if you consider doing this, be sure to line up the newly installed boards' grooves with the original ceiling boards' grooves so that line of sight is not off :wink:
 
#18 ·
thanx HD. i am not worried about it right now. i come across free stuff now&then. so i will wait till some nice free wood comes along, and put that up there.

here are the almost finished pics. i could not get the 4x 7 1/2' sheet up there. so i had to cut it in half.

last pic is of the catwalk, that is going to be modified somehow.

btw, i am going up there today, to expose the K&T to see what i am working with. and how i am going to run the new wiring.
 

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