Attic Ladder Installation

Installing an attic ladder can be very challenging, but is possible. You will need several different materials to get started such as; a cordless screw gun, three half inch screws, a compressor, a pin nailer, a finish nailer, an electric miter box saw, drill bits, casing, 20 two half inch two by four blocks, a tape measure, a hammer, and two ladders,

Before you purchase your attic ladder you should see how tall your ceiling is, and whether or not you have trusses or a hand cut roof. Now lay the casing on the floor with the ladder frame down. Take the miter box saw and cut the casing so that it will fit into the jamb.

Someone will need to help you install the ladder, this is not something you can do on your own. Pick the ladder up while standing on the lid. Open the ladder all the way until it locks. Now the other person will drill two holes on each side of the ladder above the arm assembly. Take wood screw and drill them into the jamb until you feel them coming through the back.

Take your loaded finish gun with two inch nails and your screw gun with screws up in the hole. Take your two ladders and use them to hold up the attic ladder. Now you need to nail up resting tabs, you can use any material. Screw the tabs in and then test them making sure they spin, you will need six. Have the person helping you hold the ladder up above the tabs. Now you are ready to nail it into position, use your finish gun and make it flush with the wood.

Use the dacronized screws and put them in the holes that are already in the wood. You can add more if you would like. Spin the tabs so they will continue to support the unit. Take off the four arm assembly and ten close the unit. Check everything out and make sure the jamb is ok, and you make adjustments if you need to. Now your ready for the casing, take your finish nail gun and nail the casing up to the joist.

Now that you have the ladder in place you can trim the legs if needed, you don't want to trim them to short they need to touch the floor. The attic door is complete and you can now store things in your attic.