Looking for attic ladder help

Hi,

I would like to replace my drywall cover access to the attic with an attic ladder system. The opening is about 20" x 28". I am looking for a complete solution with finished insulated door. However, since I am not using the attic for storage I don't need the most expensive model. Can someone suggest an online place and/or brand/model that I should look at?

 

Online would be an expensive way to go, with shipping, etc. Your local big box store would carry several grades of stairs for such use. Owens Corning also has a "lid" that can be brought into place prior to closing the door that offers really good insulation for the door area. You would, of course, have to enlarge your opening to accommodate the size of stairs you want, and make sure you buy the right length, as they come in heights for 8' or higher ceilings.

 

What Chandler said is correct.

I will add that most folding attic stairs require a 22.5 in. x 54 in. framed opening.

 

My local big box store has only limited choices. 22.5 in. x 54 in and a flimsy 1/4" door.
They probably could custom order but I still would need to find a web site to figure out what I need to order. Looks like Werner has some different sizes. I'm guessing there must be some others
.

 

Just a warning should it ever be inspected. BigBox caries several here but only the most expensive one meets the city minimum code size. Check with your building department code people to see if there is a minimum size. Quarter inch is all I've seen in door thickness. Personally I like the ones with aluminum ladders.

 

I installed a "cheapo" a few years ago, with somewhat flimsy wooden steps and the flexible 1/4" plywood door. First thing I did was beef up the door, glued and screwed a layer of 1/2" plywood to it. Helped a lot to stiffen it up. Then I strengthened the steps as well by inserting 4 additional screws into the ends of each tread to keep them from rotating when walked on. Installing the beast was a challenge working solo, but I managed it by installing a few 2 x 4 cross-braces over the opening a few feet apart. Spaced the braces wide enough to let me get into the attic by step ladder, and then drop the unit onto them from inside, before screwing the frame into the joists and headers (2 at each corner, through pre-drilled holes) from the attic side. Had the wife remove the braces from below when I was ready, and lock the folding ladder into place. I then added additional screws through the frame, working from the ladder.