Installing Attic Ladder Between Trusses

When installing an attic hatchway and retractable stairway unit the normal strategy is to position them in the gap between two trusses.

Installing attic ladder between trusses.

Use your drill and two wood screws to hold the frame of the ladder to the header of your support structure. Where possible pick a size and location for your attic ladder that enables it to fit between existing ceiling joists or trusses. The frame is designed to fit the standard space between ceiling joists or trusses which is about 22 1 2 inches wide. When locating your attic ladder ensure all time low of the ladder will undoubtedly drop in a safe place where there is space to maneuver.

In other instances however the access hatch could need to be more significant or an entirely new opening will be reduced. Most attic ladders come preinstalled in a rectangular wood frame. Using the roofing nails and straps provided attach one strap using two nails on the outside of the attic ladder frame at the extreme right hand corner near the door stop block. Standard framing using rafters and floor joists on the other hand can usually be reorganized easily in order to frame a hatchway opening or install a new one.

Begin to secure the ladder by pre drilling four 1 8 inch pilot holes at the top of the frame. Standard attic ladders fit an attic opening of 22 x 54 and if you wanna supersize it you can get one up to. Attic access openings often are close to this width and run parallel to the joists just like the ladder unit will. The wall and ceiling between an attached garage and the house living area is required to be minimum 1 2 drywall.

Most garages have a ceiling secured to the bottom chord of the roof trusses or rafters and that has to be 1 2 drywall also when the attic is continuous over the garage. Whether you ve tackled an attic ladder install before or not follow along with our detailed experience including obligatory before and after shots. Easy access but keep chris christie off this one attic ladder sizing. Joist or truss spacing and orientation.