How to make a staircase to the attic with your own hands. Stairs to the attic: types of designs and design options Compact stairs to the attic dimensions

Ideally, an external or internal staircase to the attic in the country should be planned at the stage of drafting the house, especially if the structure will be built from the street. In this case, it will be possible to place it in the most suitable place, think over and take into account all the pros and cons. But in practice it often happens that the stairs have to be completed later. Let's figure out what to do in such cases.

Do-it-yourself staircase to the attic - preparation and planning

It often happens that over time, the owners of the house decide to complete or equip the attic. And here the first and most important obstacle arises - the ascent to the top. It is quite difficult to plan and make a staircase in an already finished house, but still possible. A good result will be facilitated by patience, the presence of some knowledge and skillful hands, and, well, small carpentry skills.

The first problem in the question "How to make a staircase to the attic?" - its location. Here it is worth considering the available free space. Only based on the presence or absence of an area under the stairs, you can determine its type, location and other points, which we will discuss in this article. Also, do not forget about the comfortable entrance to the attic floor.

Basically, the internal staircase in a house with an attic is made of wood, less often of metal.. The best option is a combined staircase (a frame is made of metal, and steps are made of wood). For her, you need to select only high-quality materials. The wood must be hardwood. The best varieties for steps are oak, beech and maple. But this is expensive, therefore, in order to reduce the cost of construction, cheaper wood is used, covering the outer, most vulnerable corners with plastic or metal corners.

Having decided on the place and material, we proceed to create a drawing. Buying material and starting construction without fixing all your plans on paper is an unforgivable mistake. Only clear planning and calculations will ensure a good result. For the most correct drawing you need:

• take measurements;
• take into account the height and width - with the right ratio, even compact stairs to the attic will be comfortable;
• consider the angle of inclination - the design should not be too flat and too steep. The allowable tilt angle is 20-45 degrees, the ideal slope is somewhere around 30-35 degrees;
• calculate the size and number of steps. It is believed that there should be an odd number of steps. In this case, the ascent and descent will be most comfortable - one leg will start the movement, and the other will finish.

Only after the drafting of the project can the material be purchased. Remember that before you start working with a tree, he needs at least three days to "take root" in the house. Thus, the tree gets used to the temperature and humidity of the room, and also takes its final shape.

Types of stairs to the attic - convenient and economical!

Options for stairs to the attic are quite numerous. Based on the needs, possibilities and taste, you can create your ideal and unique design. It is worth adding just a little creativity, and the attic staircase will turn into a highlight of the house. She, for example, can originate from the hallway or living room and, mysteriously wriggling, go somewhere far away, dragging the curious glances of the guests at home. Consider the most traditional types.

• Spiral staircase. Perfectly emphasizes the style of the room, gives it an atmosphere of pomposity and high cost. It takes up little space, the steps go in a circle. Suitable for small rooms with low ceilings, while visually stretching the room. Made from a variety of materials. Self-assembly of such a ladder is not very easy, any mistake in the calculation can lead to deformation of the entire structure. Not very practical and convenient ladder for frequent use.
  
• A folding staircase to the attic - like a spiral staircase, takes up a minimum of space. It happens sliding, folding and folding. The best option, if the question is acute, how to place the stairs to the attic - in this case, this can be done even if there is no space for the structure. Suitable for entrance to the attic and in small country houses.
• Marching staircase. Among all the options, this staircase is the easiest to manufacture and is chosen for installation most often. Differs in the increased comfort. In turn, it can be straight and rotated by 90 or 180 degrees. For turns, winder steps or platforms are chosen.

The device and dimensions of the stairs to the attic - do it yourself

Consider the device of a marching staircase - for self-assembly, this option is the most optimal. Safety and comfort are the main points in the design of the device. Therefore, at the planning stage, special attention is paid to the slope of marches, lighting, fencing and dimensions.

In the design, it is important to correctly calculate the ratio of height and width. There are even special formulas with which you can calculate the optimal step, convenience and safety. The traditionally comfortable height of the riser (the vertical separating the steps) is 18 cm, but it can vary from 15 to 19 cm. The width of the step can be 20-32 cm, 30 cm is considered the most comfortable. The width of the stairs should be at least 80 cm, preferably 1 meter.

According to the method of fastening the steps of the stairs, there are:

• on stringers. This method is a fastening of the step from below to the gear elements. The least complicated way to build;
• on strings. This is the fastening of the steps between two wooden beams resting on the floor and ceiling. The structure is fastened with metal rods and nuts;
• on the pains. It is a step fastening to metal rods, which, in turn, are attached to the wall. The mount is invisible, so the whole structure looks light and weightless, although it is quite strong.

External solutions - outdoor stairs

Much less often, an external attic staircase is erected to connect the attic with the rest of the house. Thus, one or more questions can be solved:

1. Saving space in the room;
2. Possibility of an additional entrance to the house (as an addition to the internal staircase);
3. The possibility of entering the attic immediately across the street;
4. A beautiful design solution for arranging the appearance of the house.

The construction of an external staircase to the attic has a number of disadvantages - in particular, robbers and precipitation. In the first case, the issue is resolved with the help of all kinds of protective measures - this is a high-quality door with good fittings, and a good fence, and other popular protective methods. In addition, it is unlikely that you will be able to equip rooms for daily use from above, because in winter the outdoor passage will be very cold - for example, what kind of a children's room can be in this case? But if you decide to equip a dressing room or a creative workshop in the attic, then you can use the outdoor option.

From precipitation, a canopy over the stairs and, of course, a high-quality coating of the structure will help.

Most often, outdoor stairs are made of concrete or metal. The concrete version is recommended to be erected at the stage of building a house. It is difficult to build it yourself. A metal staircase is a more acceptable option for self-construction. By adding forging elements to it, you can emphasize the style of the house, adding grace and chic.

If the house initially has an operated attic room, then the staircase for it is probably provided for by the project. But what to do if you built on the attic floor later? Of course, you will need a ladder to the attic. Moreover, if you rely on your own strength and want to design it yourself, you will need to take into account all the nuances and carefully consider the design so that the staircase is not only comfortable and beautiful, but also the most reliable, safe and durable. Today we will discuss how do-it-yourself attic stairs are built, and what materials and design options are preferable for such buildings; we will bring to your attention more than a dozen visual drawings and diagrams, as well as demonstrate a video with step-by-step instructions.

Metal and wooden attic stairs: photo and design

Metal structures are considered to be very reliable and solid. And in the case of stairs, they are also beautiful, because twisted railings with elements of artistic forging look stylish, rich and exclusive. However, attic stairs are most often made of wood, and not only because most country houses and cottages are wooden. Ladders to the attic with your own hands means that you can handle this task on your own, and wood is an ideal material for creative work. See how beautiful and unusual the staircase to the attic can be, photos from our gallery clearly demonstrate this.

The options for stairs to the attic are very numerous, you can choose the most modest and easy to manufacture, or you can decide on a bold and large-scale project. It all depends on your desire and skill. Below we will consider what shape and design a staircase to the attic can have, where it can be placed, and how to make it correctly.

Types of stairs to the attic: spiral, folding, attic, outdoor

According to the method of location relative to the house, the attic staircase can be internal and external. At the stage of construction and repair of the attic floor, you need to somehow rise to the place of work, and in this case a staircase to the attic from the street would be a good option. However, such a design does not necessarily have to be temporary. Many homes retain a separate entrance to the attic, and for good reason.

Idea If the attic room in the house is someone's private bedroom, and you want to give its owner the opportunity to enter your room without disturbing the rest of the household, an outdoor staircase is a great idea.

The outdoor layout of the stairs to the attic has both advantages and disadvantages. Through such an entrance, thieves and other intruders often try to enter the house, especially if the doors are not very reliable. Therefore, if you put safety first, it is better to equip the entrance to the attic inside the house, for example from the hallway, living room or from the veranda.

Many country houses and cottages cannot boast of a large living area, so the owners, of course, want the stairs to the attic not to clutter up the space. It should be a small, compact design with a minimum of parts, but still comfortable enough that climbing upstairs does not become a dangerous adventure for the residents of the house. This is especially important if there are elderly people and small children in the family.

For small houses, the best option is a compact folding staircase to the attic, which can be made independently from wood and a few simple metal elements.

Advice If you want to save usable space in your house or country house, install a folding ladder to the attic floor, which can be completely hidden in the hatch after use.

However, this is not the only option for a compact design. Spiral staircases also do not take up much space, and they can look very interesting and beautiful. Sometimes such a decision becomes a real highlight of the whole interior. Screw railings can evoke associations with a marine theme, or lead your imagination towards medieval castles. You will learn a lot of interesting things about the beautiful design of the attic and the selection of style for the future interior here.

Not only folding and screw structures can be small in size. An ordinary one- or two-flight staircase to the attic can also be very compact, if you do not overload it with unnecessary elements, and make it narrow, within 90-100 cm.

How to make a staircase to the attic: width and dimensions, calculation and installation

Let's proceed directly to the manufacture of attic stairs. As we said above, wood is best suited for an independent creative project. It should be high-quality hardwood, because it will have to withstand a serious load, moreover, repeatedly. It is important not only to choose the right material for future construction, but also to prepare it correctly.

Important Before starting construction work, keep the wood for at least three days in the room where the finished staircase will be installed. Let the tree get used to the humidity and temperature of the air, and take the final size.

The device stairs to the attic begins with the choice of the project. The most simple to manufacture and install are mid-flight structures of one or two spans. If there is only one span, then such a staircase can hardly be called compact, but under it it is very easy to organize a utility room, pantry or mini-dressing room. And if there are two spans, then a small platform is made between them, or several winder steps are installed. The basis of the design is either stringers, or two supporting bowstrings, or bolts, that is, special bolts screwed into the wall.

How to build a staircase to the attic with the least effort? Of course, using stringers, as in the picture above. But you still have to decide how to place it. The most commonly used positioning methods are 90 degree rotation and 180 degree rotation.

Any staircase to the attic has typical dimensions, strictly designed for convenience and safety when using. The width usually varies from 80 to 100 cm, and the width of the step itself is from 20 to 32 cm, although it is strongly recommended not to reduce this dimension. It is desirable that the average human foot stands completely on the step, that is, 30 cm will be optimal. The exception is winder steps. In their narrowest part, they can be only 10 cm wide. The height of the riser, that is, the vertical part separating the steps, should be 15-19 cm. To select the optimal ratio between the width of the tread and the height of the riser, there are special formulas.

There are three formulas that determine the ratio of riser height (j) to tread width (e): convenience formula, pitch formula, and safety formula. The most important of them is the step formula. At the same time, the ratio between the two quantities (j/e), which is satisfactory for all three formulas, is 17/29. The convenience formula looks like this: e - j = 12 cm; step: 2j + e = 62 (60-64) cm; safety: e + j = 46 cm.

Then you need to choose the slope of the future stairs. Comfortable ascent and descent directly depend on this value. You should carefully consider the choice of slope, so that it is convenient for all members of your family to go up and down.

Important The technological minimum slope for mid-flight stairs is 20 degrees, however, a slope of up to 45 degrees is acceptable. But remember that climbing such steep steps is not easy, especially for an elderly person.

Construction work begins with cutting out the hatch, if the attic floor is only built on, and there was no access to it before. The dimensions of the sides of the hatch are determined by the width of the stairs, and its shape should be square. The easiest way to cut it is with a circular saw. Then the stringers are cut out, milled and sanded. The wall kosour is mounted first, and the second is installed at the required distance strictly parallel. For accuracy, use the building level. Then the risers are attached, and last but not least, the steps and handrails. The entire construction process is clearly demonstrated in this video:

The presence of an attic in the house makes it easy to equip a comfortable and functional room for any needs without the need to add additional floors or rooms. An important element of this room is the staircase, because it is thanks to it that you can quickly and safely get to the attic floor.

What should be the staircase to the attic, what to look for when choosing a design and material, and whether it is possible to make attic stairs with your own hands - we will consider in more detail in our article.

Types of attic stairs

According to the type of installation, the staircase to the attic, the photo below, can be:

• Internal - a universal type of attic stairs, which is located inside the building. It can take up quite a lot of space, so it is important to carefully choose its design if the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe room is small.
• Outdoor - located outside the building, such an ascent to the attic floor is an integral part of the facade. Thanks to this type, the attic will have a separate entrance from the street. It is better to design an external staircase to the attic at the stage of building a house.

Construction of attic stairs

Standard single-march is a straight structure, located at an angle, the value of which depends on the height of the ceiling. The optimal angle of elevation should be 30-45 degrees, so such an attic staircase should not be installed if the floor height is more than 2.5 m - the steps will be too steep and uncomfortable, and the structure will take up a lot of space. In addition, this type requires a long opening in the ceiling, which will reduce the useful area of ​​​​the attic.

In the photo - a straight attic staircase

Two-march - an option suitable for spacious rooms, since it requires the allocation of space for it, designed for a turntable. Suitable for any height of the ceiling, keeps the dimensions of the steps convenient. The turn can be either 90 degrees or 180, and to save space, it is better to install such an attic staircase in the corner.

One of the options for the location of the attic stairs

With winder steps - instead of a turntable, trapezoidal steps are installed, which are laid with a narrow side in a smaller turning radius. For convenience, the width of the middle of the step should be at least 0.3 m. Such a design will take up less space than a rotary one, while providing a comfortable climb to the attic.

Here is such an attic staircase you can do with your own hands

Screw - the most economical option of all, because it takes up the least space. Able to transform and make any interior original. It consists of winder steps attached to the central axis (support column). But at the same time, spiral attic stairs are very inconvenient, because you can easily stumble on them. In addition, it is worth taking care of installing reliable railings and additional lighting for lifting to the attic.

How to properly position the stairs to the attic without losing usable space

Folding - the simplest and most inexpensive version of the attic stairs, but it is better to install it if the attic is used intermittently, for example, in the country. It is a compact design of several sections, which, when folded, are easily removed into the ceiling hatch. Such attic stairs are easy to install, do not need planning and are convenient to use, do not take up space, are durable and reliable.

Small Folding Attic Ladder

What material is best?

The attic staircase is a full-fledged part of the interior, and in the case of outdoor installation - an important architectural element. Choosing the material and design of the stairs to the attic, you should focus on the interior of the room.

Wooden attic stairs, photo below, can be of any design, shape and color, they are very easy to fit into the interior. In addition, wood is a strong and durable material that can give the room additional comfort. But wood needs timely treatment with special compounds that can extend its service life.

Important: The surface of the steps should not be too smooth, since varnished or polished, they cannot provide a safe ascent or descent from the attic.

Metal attic stairs emphasize the unique design of the room. They are strong and reliable and look very original. They can be painted in any suitable shade or ordered chrome - it all depends on the design of the attic and the whole house. Attic metal stairs are suitable for any houses: brick, wooden, stone.

How to make a spiral staircase to the attic

Stone - solid and reliable structures for climbing to the attic floor. But it is better to install them in brick houses, because visually they are heavy and can overload the interior. It is best to install such a ladder outside. It can be plastered and painted in the color of the facade.

How to build an attic staircase with your own hands

You can buy a finished staircase to the attic, but there is a risk that it will not fit into the internal dimensions of the house. Custom-made production is a very costly and long-term production. Therefore, the easiest way is to make a staircase to the attic with your own hands.

Important: For construction, it is better to use coniferous wood: larch, cedar, pine. From hardwoods, it is better to choose oak, beech or ash. Lumber must be well dried, smooth and without knots - this will ensure the strength and stability of the future structure.

The layout of the stairs to the attic

The construction of a staircase to the attic begins with determining the place of its installation: for a residential attic floor, it is better to make an exit from the hallway or living room, and for a temporary one, from the veranda or street. The easiest way is to make a staircase to the attic along the stringers (wooden or metal beams located along the wall).

Basic concepts for calculation

A string should be stretched along the wall, connecting the upper point of the attic subfloor and the place where the stairs begin on the first floor. After that, you should calculate the number of steps. It is advisable to first draw up drawings with a work plan and focus on them during installation.

The dimensions of the tread and riser will depend on the angle of inclination. In this case, the maximum step height should not exceed 20 cm (at 45 degrees) and be less than 12 cm (at 30 degrees). The depth of the step should be within 30-38 cm. The optimal span width is about 100-120 cm.

Angles are marked on the stringer based on the number and position of the steps. In the upper part of the board, a spike with dimensions of 50-100 mm should be left, depending on the section of the beam, designed to secure the hatch to the attic. In the overlap under the spike, a groove is hollowed out with a chisel.

After that, the board should be grabbed to the wall and draw the calculated number of steps (draw the lines strictly according to the level). In this case, the first board from the bottom is drawn taking into account the thickness of the tread board.

Then the board can be removed and sawed teeth on it. The second board is cut according to the pattern of the first. For wide stairs, it is better to prepare three beams.

Mounting

At the beginning, the base of the stairs is installed, which should be fixed with a bar. Kosours are screwed to it with self-tapping screws, with upper spikes they must enter the prepared grooves, smeared with carpentry glue. The strength of the structure will be given by the reinforcement of the structure with metal corners and threaded studs (the stringers are connected in 3-4 places). After that, the first beam is screwed to the wall.

The lower step is mounted first, you can fix it on self-tapping screws that need to be drowned and closed with wooden plugs. After that, the riser is installed.

Important: All joints must be coated with wood glue.

The tread is screwed on the back. Thus, the braids are sewn up to the top. The outer line of steps is sheathed with board or plywood.

If the width of the attic staircase is more than 120 cm, then the railing is not necessary, otherwise the vertical posts are bolted to the stringers, and the railing to them. The optimal height of the railing of the stairs to the attic is about 85 cm.

You can learn more about how to make a staircase to the attic in the video:

If you have an attic in your house, then the stairs to it must be provided for by the layout. It is quite possible to make such a design with your own hands, but for this you need to acquire some knowledge.

This article will tell you how to make the stairs to the attic yourself, how to correctly calculate it and correctly position it in the house. You will also get acquainted with photos of various stair systems and a useful video for their installation.

Stairs to the attic - which type to choose

So, you set out to make a high-quality and reliable staircase to the attic with your own hands. And the very first question that will be in front of you is what type of staircase is better to choose.

There are only three main types of stepped systems in the attic:

• Marching.
• Screw.
• Foldable.

And, since we are talking about planning and installing stairs with your own hands, it is better to opt for the simplest marching structure made of natural wood (for these purposes, it is better to use pine tree species). It is about its calculation, choice of location and manufacture that will be discussed further.

The layout of the stairs to the attic

Before proceeding with the calculation of the staircase structure, you should decide on its layout, that is, the location of the system in the living room.

Most likely, during the construction of the house and the attic, the designer has already determined the place where the structure will be located, and then you just have to calculate and build it with your own hands.

When designing a house, the place where the staircase leading to the attic will be located must be selected and taken into account.

Calculation of the ladder system

The calculation of the stairs to the attic is carried out according to the following plan:

• Determining the dimensions of the structure.
• Making the necessary calculations.
• Building a drawing.

Sizing

First you need to determine the height of the structure, for which the distance from the floor to the ceiling (attic floor) is measured with a tape measure. This value is recorded.

Other required dimensions can be taken from generally accepted GOSTs:

• step height - no more than 20 cm;
• small clearance width - about 80 cm;
• step width - no more than 40 cm;
• riser height - about 20 cm;
• fence height - 90 cm;
• the angle of inclination of the stairs is not more than 45 degrees.

All measurements must be recorded in order to be used later for the production of a ladder structure.

Making calculations

At this design stage, two missing values ​​\u200b\u200bshould be determined - the length of the stairs and the number of steps in the structure.

Since we took the slope of the stairs at 45 degrees, then its length should be slightly greater than the height. For example, the distance from the floor in the attic is 285 cm, which means the length of the system will be about 320 cm.

Based on the length value, you can determine the number of steps. To do this, divide the length of the stairs (320 cm) by the height of the steps (20 cm):

320: 20 = 16 steps.

Building a drawing

We draw a sketch of the staircase structure based on the measurements and calculations made (see photo below).

The main components of the design

A practical and easily accessible option for production on your own is a single-flight wooden staircase on stringers. This design consists of the following main elements:

• stringers;
• tread;
• risers;
• fencing (balusters and railings).

This figure schematically shows the main structural elements in the attic

Kosoura

The kosour is a side deck, which is the bearing support for the steps. In order to make a kosour, a glued beam of coniferous wood with a thickness of at least 65 mm is used. The outer part of the kosour is milled and processed by a grinding machine.

tread

Tread - the surface of the step, which is stepped on when walking. For its manufacture, boards with a width of 35 to 50 mm are used.

risers

Riser - a vertical plank between steps 1–2 cm thick.

fencing

The railing is a supporting structural element designed for comfortable and safe movement up the stairs.

Quick Installation Guide

Now let's talk about how to make a high-quality installation of stairs to the attic yourself.

The construction is carried out in stages:

• First, stringers are made using a circular saw.
• Next, the stringers are installed in the place where the stairs will be located. They are fixed to the floor and ceiling with anchor bolts.
• Then risers and treads are attached to the stringers with a screwdriver and self-tapping screws.
• Next, a fence of balusters and railings is installed.
• The production of stairs to the attic is completed by painting the system or coating with a special varnish for wood.

Video: making stairs to the attic with your own hands

From this video you will learn how to make a spiral-type staircase to the attic yourself.

In order for you to have a beautiful, stylish and safe staircase to the attic in your house, it is not at all necessary to spend a lot of your own efforts, nerves and time. After all, you can make it much easier - visit our online store and choose your favorite magnificent staircase system for your home from the best craftsmen at an affordable and competitive price.

An elegant staircase system from the Prestige series will perfectly fit into a modern interior, its cost is only 42 748 rubles
Spectacular and fashionable design called "Modern" will cost you 125 262 rubles

Below are just some of the photos of the elegant, stylish and comfortable stair systems that we have in our range. You can get acquainted with the catalog of our products in more detail by visiting our convenient and colorful website.

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The owners of country houses, especially those suffering from insufficient space on the site, often try by all available means to expand the living space of their possessions. One of the best and most popular solutions is the arrangement of a residential attic in the attic.

The process of arranging an attic space into a full-fledged residential attic includes many stages, including the creation of an effective and subsequent high-quality finish. But no less important is the organization of a convenient, reliable and safe interfloor transition in everyday operation. This article will describe and show in detail how to gradually build a staircase to the attic with your own hands.

Carrying out preliminary calculations of the attic mid-flight stairs

Stairs to the attic can be located inside or outside the house. Of course, for all-weather use, the internal staircase looks much more advantageous. This option will be considered further.

The staircase itself can be marching, winding or. If you think in terms of maximum security, then it is preferable to make a choice in favor of the marching option.

But mid-flight stairs have one pronounced drawback - large dimensions in projection onto the floor plane. And a common occurrence is when the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe room in which the staircase should be located is not so large that you can stop at the simplest, single-flight option. The fact is that if there is not enough space, such a staircase will turn out to be very steep and extremely inconvenient, and even dangerous for everyday use, especially for children or family members who have some kind of disability due to health reasons.

The maximum angle of steepness for such stairs is considered to be 45 degrees. But it seems a little too much in terms of comfort. rise and descent. So it is better to stop at an indicator up to 40 degrees.

So, a single-march option is obtained very infrequently. And in order to achieve the desired angle of steepness, you have to break the rise into two marches (sometimes more is practiced). Between the marches, a transitional horizontal platform is made (it is easier to install and safer in everyday use). Or the marches are connected by a curved section with winder steps (it looks beautiful, but it is more difficult to calculate and install, and not so safe to operate).

Further, we will only talk about a marching staircase with a platform, as a simpler and safer option. And who is interested in winder stairs - he needs to go to another page.

TO how a winder staircase is designed and installed

Drafting a staircase with a running section, carrying out assembly work - all this has a number of important features. Read more about - read in a special publication of our portal.

So, the construction of a marching staircase must be preceded by some calculations.

BUT. It is necessary to calculate how much area of ​​the room the horizontal projection of the planned staircase with a certain angle of inclination will take. Or, on the contrary, how steep the march will be, built on a specific area allotted to it. If one march for these reasons, is impossible (as often happens), then the stairs will have to be divided into two flights, and the mentioned parameters should be calculated for each of them, taking into account the location and height of the transition platform. In this case, a prerequisite is the same slope angle for both marches.

Prices for wooden stairs

wooden staircase

The dependence of the steepness of the march and the value of its horizontal projection on the floor plane will allow us to evaluate the calculator located below.