Attic Ladder Installation

There are basically two different “types” of attic ladder (or attic stairs) installation.

One where there is already an attic ladder in place & for one reason or another it needs to be replaced.

The other is where none exists & you want to make great use of the valuable, yet unused space in the attic.

The most common sizes for the rough opening are 22.5” x 54” sometimes referred to standard size or classic size and 25.5 x 54, sometimes referred to as medium or large size. Of course, there are different sizes, but these are the most common.

Generally speaking, you will want the largest size that will fit into the current opening. There can often be options for increasing the size but in general the size you will have will depend on the spacing of your current ceiling joists. A larger opening will make it easier to get larger boxes and items up into the space.

The most common types of ladders currently are the traditional wooden ladders and the increasingly popular aluminum ladders.

If installing an attic ladder in the living spaces or air-conditioned spaces in your home, as opposed to a garage for instance, you may want to consider some of the more insulated options on the type of attic ladders. Additionally, there are insulation blanket kinds of products that will greatly reduce the amount of very hot attic air from coming through the attic ladder and will help keep living spaces cooler and utility bills lower.