Cutting An Opening To Fit An Attic Ladder

Inspect your attic space to determine the ideal location to install your ladder.

Cutting an opening to fit an attic ladder.

If the attic access hole is being cut for an attic ladder check the width of your ceiling joists. In part 5 of this series using werner s instructions to install the easy access attic ladder we looked at cutting ceiling joists. Locate the joists in your ceiling. How to install an attic ladder step 1.

Roughing an opening for fold down attic stairs 1. Figure 1 shows the floor or ceiling joists after the access hole has been cut to install a new flight of stairs or provide an attic access. How to open up access into your attic space for inspection and or insulation. Make sure you have a space between the joists at least as large as the rough opening shown on the box and that any cut joists are attached to uncut joists.

Saw through the joist s being careful not to cut through the ceiling and making sure the cut ends of the joist s are flat and vertical. Instead you should place the cutout opening inline with the ceiling joists rafter ties. Wear safety glasses a dust mask and work gloves before you begin cutting your rough opening. Cut out the opening.

Now that you ve cut your joists it s time to frame the new opening. Covers how to select a location find studs measure and cut a hole install tr. Make sure there are no wires pipes or ducts above the ceiling near the marked cutting. If the ceiling joists have to modified in order to make it fit properly.

You potentially compromise too many of the rafter cross ties by doing that. This part deals with framing the attic opening. Click here to purchase the easy access attic ladder by werner. Make sure that there are no.

Measure the width and length of the attic access opening and compare the. Cutting and or removing joists to provide an entry or access can be the most difficult part of the overall project. Measure and mark the opening. This way you only need to cut one of them to make the room for the rough framing opening.

Just mark the cut point on both sides of the ladder square it up with your speed square and use a hacksaw or reciprocating saw to cut the excess off. Part 6 shows you how. If the joists are installed at 16 inches on center you will need to cut one joist and attach a.