500mm attic ladder

toonarmy1

Any one is it possible to get an attic ladder in 500mm or even 550 mm width ?

dodzy

toonarmy1 wrote: »

Any one is it possible to get an attic ladder in 500mm or even 550 mm width ?

Yup, readily available, goodwins do a 550mm. I'm sure plenty of other suppliers have them too. 500mm would be a rarer find I'd imagine.

https://www.goodwins.ie/products/id-8315.html?filter_set%5B0%5D=25%2C469&

toonarmy1

dodzy wrote: »

Yup, readily available, goodwins do a 550mm. I'm sure plenty of other suppliers have them too. 500mm would be a rarer find I'd imagine.

https://www.goodwins.ie/products/id-8315.html?filter_set%5B0%5D=25%2C469&

Thanks ,
I have 550 mm spacing between trusses, will this fit without doing anything to the trusses ?

dodzy

toonarmy1 wrote: »

Thanks ,
I have 550 mm spacing between trusses, will this fit without doing anything to the trusses ?

You'll be cutting out a 4ft section of plasterboard first once you have your position set. I guess you are replacing an existing attic door so you'll need to cut out the 2 cross braces too. Then you are left with an opening approx 1200 x 550. Just present the new enclosure to the opening. Ideal to have a 2nd pair of hands with you at this stage - if not, I just disconnect the retaining screws and disconnect the ladder and door section as this makes the outer frame much lighter (obviously) and workable by yourself.

Don't worry if it needs a little persuasion into the space between the joists but don't over do it. If you are lucky, it'll be a nice snug fit. If it's too tight, DO NOT force it into place as this will cause the door to mis-align and not close/open cleanly.

If needed, just plane a few mm off the inner face of one of the joists. Electric plane for this is perfect. Do that, then present the ladder frame & pop 2x 5" bolts through the frame sides, into the joists and washer & nut them up.

Fit 2 braces at the either end of the new enclosure, fit some mitred archi-traving on the ceiling to cover the cut edge of the ceiling plasterboard and enjoy your easily accessible loft space

toonarmy1

dodzy wrote: »

You'll be cutting out a 4ft section of plasterboard first once you have your position set. I guess you are replacing an existing attic door so you'll need to cut out the 2 cross braces too. Then you are left with an opening approx 1200 x 550. Just present the new enclosure to the opening. Ideal to have a 2nd pair of hands with you at this stage - if not, I just disconnect the retaining screws and disconnect the ladder and door section as this makes the outer frame much lighter (obviously) and workable by yourself.

Don't worry if it needs a little persuasion into the space between the joists but don't over do it. If you are lucky, it'll be a nice snug fit. If it's too tight, DO NOT force it into place as this will cause the door to mis-align and not close/open cleanly.

If needed, just plane a few mm off the inner face of one of the joists. Electric plane for this is perfect. Do that, then present the ladder frame & pop 2x 5" bolts through the frame sides, into the joists and washer & nut them up.

Fit 2 braces at the either end of the new enclosure, fit some mitred archi-traving on the ceiling to cover the cut edge of the ceiling plasterboard and enjoy your easily accessible loft space

Thanks
Great info
Just one final question if you dont mind ?
when the ladder is in use what would be the average distance needed on the floor ? i.e clear space to walk up and down with an 8ft ceiling ? can the slope be adjusted to fit tight spaces ?

Thanks

dodzy

toonarmy1 wrote: »

Thanks
Great info
Just one final question if you dont mind ?
when the ladder is in use what would be the average distance needed on the floor ? i.e clear space to walk up and down with an 8ft ceiling ? can the slope be adjusted to fit tight spaces ?

Thanks

Mine is tight enough with very little room. if you can understand this....stand on your landing and put your back to the nearest obstacle that you can visualise causing you a potential restriction, be it bedroom door or wall. Now, look directly up from this point and if you have the room to accommodate, locate the end of the door 3 to 4ft from this point. I've only 2ft but I manage. Hope that makes sense.

DublinDilbert

toonarmy1 wrote: »

Any one is it possible to get an attic ladder in 500mm or even 550 mm width ?

Do you want to make the opening bigger to accommodate a wooden attic ladder? Or fit an insulated fold down hatch and metal ladder that goes up.

The last one I did, i didn't have room to make the opening longer due to where it was positioned on the landing. So I got an insulated attic hatch from adverts for €30 and a second hand metal pull down ladder for €20. Turned out perfect, very happy with it.

dodzy

DublinDilbert wrote: »

Do you want to make the opening bigger to accommodate a wooden attic ladder? Or fit an insulated fold down hatch and metal ladder that goes up.

The last one I did, i didn't have room to make the opening longer due to where it was positioned on the landing. So I got an insulated attic hatch from adverts for €30 and a second hand metal pull down ladder for €20. Turned out perfect, very happy with it.

Definitely better than nothing but if the landing can accomodate the 4ft stira copy, even if its tight, then do it. You will not regret it. Access to/from attic is changed dramatically. I fitted one in the mother-in-laws a few years back on the smallest landing on the planet. The ladder has to rest in one of the bedrooms when fully extended but still improved access immensely.

toonarmy1

Went up to attic to check spacing between trusses , was only 450mm ,

Will the metal pull down be an option ?

dodzy

toonarmy1 wrote: »

Went up to attic to check spacing between trusses , was only 450mm ,

Will the metal pull down be an option ?

I thought you had 550? Anyhow, the metal one will definitely work. Only thing you have to do is mount the door on hinges so it swings down, that'll involve ripping it. And you'll need a retaining latch and release pole. Far easier option but just the same restrictive space.

DublinDilbert

metal pull down ladder will work fine and easy to fit too for a DIYer. See if you can get a plastic insulated hatch and frame that will work with that spacing, will make that bit of the job easier too.