How to Install Attic Stairs
Replacing or adding a stair system is a great way to make your attic more useful, and it’s a project you can do yourself in just a weekend using a fold-down attic stairs kit. Learn how to install attic stairs in this Lowe’s video:
In this video, the attic stairs are being installed in the front of the garage.
1. Take a screw and pop it through the drywall. This will serve as your reference point.
2. Go up in the attic and locate the screw. This gives you the general location of the attic stair and which joist to cut. Different kit models require different size holes, but the common size is 22-1/2 inches x 54 inches. Use one joist as the stationary, then cut the other, header it off, and put the attic stair in between.
3. Before cutting the joist, brace it first so that it doesn’t sag during cutting. Start with a circular saw and cut most of the way through, then finish it off with a small box saw so you don’t damage any drywall.
4. Once the joist is cut, put two pieces of lumber in the front to header it off and two pieces in the back. These pieces will run perpendicular to the joists that were cut. Use a double joist hanger for support (joist hangers require load-rated fasteners, so check manufacturer specs before use).
5. Take another joist, run it parallel with the other. Use a single hanger in the front and the back.
6. Once the framing is in place, mark the four corners. Drive a screw down through each one of those four corners and then cut the drywall from underneath. That will keep it much cleaner, and you won’t have to do any drywalling.
7. The stair kit comes with a door, ladder and hinges attached to a frame that surrounds the whole unit. Leave the tie in place until you’re completely finished with the installation; otherwise the ladder could unfold and injure someone. Attach the pull ocrd.
8. Mount temporary support boards to the bottom side of the header. This will give you a temporary place for the attic stair to rest while you work.
9. Now you’ll need a friend to assist as you need one person in the attic and one person down below. hand the attic stair up and get it positioned into place. Once it’s right where you need it, lower it back down onto the temporary supports.
10. You want to make sure the frame is square in the hole, so measure diagonally in both directions. They should be within about an eighth inch of each other; if not, use some shims to square it up. Add temporary support screws so you can get everything shimmed in exactly where it’s supposed to be.
11. Pre-drill on the hinge side for the lag screws, then install the lag screws.
12. Once the attic stairs are in place, test it for smooth operation and make sure it works properly. Remove the temporary supports and trim any shims you used to put it in place.
13. Since the ladders are adjustable, you want to take a measurement from the floor all the way up to the bottom edge opposite the hinge. Once you have this measurement, refer to the kit manual and see exactly how much you need to cut off the legs.
14. Cut the tie. Unfold the ladder and cut the legs off to size. In order to get the ladder to finally fit to size, take the adjustable feet and slide them under the legs in place. Make sure to apply pressure down so they sit squarely on the floor. Take a pencil, mark the holes, then drill the holes and put the bolts through.
15. Add some decorative trim to finish.
