One of the first considerations to make when installing an attic ladder is the amount of available floor and roof space.
Attic ladder considerations.
Depending upon your previous means of access you may need to replace your attic stairs.
But even if your ceiling space is tighter than chris christie s speedo don t despair there s.
While this is fine for an attic that isn t living space you may want something that s more stable that can hold up to heavy foot traffic.
A lot of attic ladders also have restrictions on how large the actual ceiling access hole is and they can t be any bigger or the ladder won t close up properly.
Aside from code and structural implications of an attic conversion there are also design considerations to think about.
Many attics feature a folding staircase or a stair that folds up to be concealed behind a ceiling panel.
Local building codes specify minimum room sizes and ceiling heights but beyond that minimum it s up to you and your designer to determine the room boundaries and functions of the space.
Also make sure there is a suitable landing space in the attic so you can safely mount and dismount the ladder while carrying items.
If you decide to go with a folding option you ll need around five and a half feet of floor space so the ladder can touch down easily while giving you plenty of room to safely mount and dismount as you climb up and down.
Pull down attic ladder buying considerations.
Looking for a space adequate to this opening is your first step.
If you plan to move large items up to the attic or if you have larger members in your household you may want to.
Basic space requirements for an attic ladder.