Aside from code and structural implications of an attic conversion there are also design considerations to think about.
Attic ladder considerations.
Basic space requirements for an attic ladder.
If you decide to go with a folding option you ll need around five and a half feet of floor space so the ladder can touch down easily while giving you plenty of room to safely mount and dismount as you climb up and down.
Local building codes specify minimum room sizes and ceiling heights but beyond that minimum it s up to you and your designer to determine the room boundaries and functions of the space.
Looking for a space adequate to this opening is your first step.
Full size attic ladders usually need an opening in the ceiling that is at least 22 1 2 x 54 inches.
A lot of attic ladders also have restrictions on how large the actual ceiling access hole is and they can t be any bigger or the ladder won t close up properly.
But even if your ceiling space is tighter than chris christie s speedo don t despair there s.
If you plan to move large items up to the attic or if you have larger members in your household you may want to.
Standard attic ladders fit an attic opening of 22 x 54 and if you wanna supersize it you can get one up to 25 x 66 in aluminum or 30 x 54 in wood.
Depending upon your previous means of access you may need to replace your attic stairs.
One of the first considerations to make when installing an attic ladder is the amount of available floor and roof space.
Pull down attic ladder buying considerations.
Many attics feature a folding staircase or a stair that folds up to be concealed behind a ceiling panel.