How to Install and Replace Attic Door Springs

Attic door springs help to secure the ladder in the attic and prevent it from swinging too far out when it has been opened. The springs keep the ladder firmly connected to the attic door. Springs for the ladder can usually be bought from local home improvement stores, or hardware suppliers, but there are also plenty of places on the Internet that can supply attic door springs. Installing them or replacing them is not terribly difficult, so long as you follow a few handy tips and take care.

Step 1 - Remove the Old Hinge

Whether you have previously fitted an attic door spring or not, you will need to remove the hinge that is currently connected to your attic door, which is to be found at the far end of the attic door, connecting it to the floor above. Hold the door in your left hand, and unscrew the hinge using your screwdriver with the right. Keep your hinge, as you will need to re-install it at the end of the project. Move the door out, and leave to one side.

Step 2 – Remove the Old Spring

Once the door has been removed, insert your stairs. If you are replacing the attic stairs, then you will need to unscrew the springs which already exist. Do this by removing the screws from the ladder side first, and then folding the spring back so that it is level and not about to snap down, and then unscrew the spring which is on the attic floor joist. Clean around the area where the new spring will be fitted. You should then bring up the first new spring.

Step 3 - Add the New Spring

The spring will need to be attached to the attic floor first, so pull the latter fully down, and lay the spring along the line of the steps to measure where the spring will need to be fixed to the opening. The spring should be fully extended, and reach down so that you can fold and unfold the ladder. Next, mark on the attic door opening where the spring should go. It will most usually attach to a piece of the floor just above the opening, and mark on the ladder where the other end should be fixed.

Step 4 - Add the Spring

Ensure that you are fitting the spring the right way around (it should extend outwards over the top, like a book being opened, rather than from beneath the body of the spring). Take your screws, and screw tightly into the attic flooring where you have previously marked. Fold up the ladder, and screw on the spring where you have marked on the ladder itself. Repeat this procedure for the other side of the ladder. Test your ladder to make sure that it unfolds in the correct manner.

Step 5 – Add the Hinge

With the ladder in place, you should now be able to reinstall the door, using the hinges you removed earlier. Once the door has been put into place, you should fix the ladder to the door on the side facing in to the attic, this will allow you to reach the ladder without having to stretch, or use a pole to get it to descend.