Attic Ladder DIY Solo Install - 5 Easy Steps How To Install

[@patrickkoehr]

Nice job man. Made it super clear and simple! Can you post a link to the exact ladder you used?

[@BrandonTran]

Awesome Patrick, thanks a ton for the compliment. Yep here it is at HD. It was in stock for me. I’ll also add to description. www.homedepot.com/p/Louisville-Ladder-7-ft-8-in-to-10-ft-3-in-22-5-in-x-54-in-Aluminum-Attic-Ladder-with-375-lbs-Maximum-Load-Capacity-AA2210I/311317155

[@joezapiain]

@@BrandonTran huge thanks man. I was going to recommend the description too 😂 That's the first place most people look for products used in videos so that's perfect

[@BrandonTran]

@@joezapiain Haha thanks for the tip :) Got it done!

[@jerrydc818]

I’m a DIY’er for most part. I’m currently installing an attic ladder. Thanks for posting. Your vid helped with my install. Good luck !

[@user-fc7ki5tb3n]

Brandon, this was a really good video! The step-by-step process made it seem like a very doable DIY project. I'll be installing mine very soon... Thank you for sharing!

[@kimwhitacre7622]

Best install video for a single install I've found. Thanks, will make mine much easier

[@BrandonTran]

Amazing thank you! How did I create the best video out there :) I was just winging it lol. Cheers And best of luck up there!

[@etiquettefiend]

Installing the footer last was a good idea. Thanks for sharing!

[@BrandonTran]

Nice! I hope your project turned out awesome!

[@irishRocker1]

It was a good idea to wait till the frame was in place to add the tail support. However, it's possible if you just screw it in like that it might end up out of square. Maybe not enough to matter but prob worth measuring the diagonals first and adjusting the tail end left or right to square it up

[@BrandonTran]

Good point I didn’t take the time to call out square. I did check it after and it was reasonable. Not perfect but good. Anyone reading, do this ^^

[@essinkd]

still better than the lowes instructional video lol. Great work! looks good.

[@BrandonTran]

Wow, thanks! I’m trying over here :)

[@holtonhamilton1551]

Didn’t the lowes guys cut THROUGH THE JOIST?!?!? My biggest peeve ever. Don’t cut a joist if you don’t have to. That thing will sag in 30 years.

[@rlg222]

Great Job Sir!

[@BrandonTran]

Awesome thank you!!

[@FriendM2010]

I’m finally at the stage of solo installing my attic stairs and have added two temporary supports from below. I just realized, you had to have had someone remove those from below, else you’d not be able to open the door from above as you did in this video. Gottcha!

[@BrandonTran]

The temporary supports are installed to hold the frame but not block the door. The same as your door trim does not stop a door from opening. Does that help clarify the temp support strategy? I wouldn’t lock myself in the attic and count on my wife or 9 year old to help me out :) haha.

[@FriendM2010]

@@BrandonTran Interesting. I can see if mounted just to catch the lip of header and footer, you’d be correct for solo install. The instructions I have mount those 3 inches from header end and 8 inches from footer end. Hence, requiring a second person to remove from below at appropriate time while person is in attic. I see a path forward, thanks for the reply! 👍

[@BrandonTran]

Oh I like that description better! The temp supports should only catch the lip of the frame. Depending on the name brand the instructions could be different. My ladder was clear on the lip edge rule but I could see a different company with a different strategy.

[@f.demascio1857]

Did mine solo a couple weeks ago. Satisfaction!

[@BrandonTran]

Awesome! High five. It was tricky and took some brainstorming but absolutely doable!

[@amazingheroart]

Great video. Thanks!!!! How do you know if the attic floor joists are strong enough to support this pull down ladder structure and a heavy person climbing the ladder?

[@goodcitizenryan1589]

Great job. Thank you

[@BrandonTran]

Thank you too!

[@markhall8874]

Very Nice, thank you for the great video. 👍👍

[@BrandonTran]

Thanks for watching!

[@BobbyBowker]

Great instructional video

[@BrandonTran]

Awesome thank you!

[@kathykwasnica6228]

Thank you for this video! The handyman we hired didn’t cut the ladder to length so my husband was trying to fix it. I got on here to figure out how to get the exact length and while my husband had the extra steps(or so he thought 😂) it was this video that allowed me to help him cut the correct length and attach the additional feet. How did we do things before you tube???

[@BrandonTran]

Haha glad the video was helpful! While I’m teaching in this video, I too learned from a KZbin video :)

[@sothathappened]

fantastic! thanks for sharing this!

[@BrandonTran]

Best of luck on your project!

[@3OBTPA]

Looks beautiful! Thanks for sharing

[@BrandonTran]

Awesome thank you!

[@joelandkateromeo8817]

Now I'm trapped in the attic. Thanks

[@BrandonTran]

Yikes did you miss the important step of ensuring that your temp supports were only on the frame? Maybe I did a terrible job explaining that.

[@jkritselis]

That was nicely done!!

[@BrandonTran]

Heyo James! Thank you, I try hard :)

[@tdlewis103]

You did a nice job!

[@BrandonTran]

Awesome thank you! The ladder has been very handy!

[@robgracia509]

great job thank you for doing this

[@BrandonTran]

Thank you! Best of luck for your project!

[@dougpeters1625]

Great video, nice job. Quick question- did you have to do any shimming?

[@BrandonTran]

Absolutely shim! Did I skip that in the video? Whoops. I used precut pieces of hard plank board to shim. Basically use any flat material that is close to the size you need.

[@dougpeters1625]

@@BrandonTran thanks for the reply!

[@eduardomanzo2805]

Nice video, thanks a lot.

[@BrandonTran]

Awesome thank you! I hope you get yours installed smoothly!

[@zackjones8681]

Not installing the footer in advance as a genius move! I have one that I have to adjust this coming weekend and I'm going to remove the exiting footer and do like you did. Thank you so much!

[@BrandonTran]

Hah I like it when others think my logic is genius :) sometimes it doesn’t always work out lol. I think it did here hehe.

[@StanleyGoodman-j7t]

You have a nice delivery but miss some critical instructions. #1 Always install your header and cut the sheetrock to the trusses, header and footer. #2 Always leave 1/2 inch shim space and shim to square.#3 When installing your temporary supports to hold the ladder while temporary fastening it place. It's critical that you position the "footer support" in such a way to allow the door to open or you'll be trapped in the attic:). #4 always prefinish your materials before installing over head to minimize the work and the mess. (your shirt is way to clean for painting with a brush over your head:).

[@BrandonTran]

Thanks for the comment. Best of luck in the project

[@johngraves2071]

Thanks for posting this. How long did the install take you?

[@BrandonTran]

Thanks for watching! I cut out the hole one evening and then finished the install the next day. Maybe 6 hours total. I’m not a fast worker :)

[@ElliotCS1.6]

Hey thx for great video, not sure if i missed it but what type and size screws did you use to screw in your headers, footers & supporters? Thx...

[@BrandonTran]

Good question! You want to make sure good depth. If you are sending in screws through a 2x4 which is 1.5”. 3” screw is good!

[@ElliotCS1.6]

@@BrandonTran thx

[@lsbzcuz]

Did you use pressure treated lumber? Or what wood you use?

[@BrandonTran]

No for pressure treated in this case. Standard pine lumber.

[@mehmetturan6625]

nice work, is there any reason why are you using drill instead of impact driver?

[@BrandonTran]

No functional reason. I think I got a discount and it works fine. An impact driver would be nice!

[@mehmetturan6625]

ok thanks@@BrandonTran

[@licknab]

Any concerns that it is accessible from outside? Anyway to make it lockable but still easy to use?

[@BrandonTran]

Great question! Next project is to make a sunroom out of our porch so it will be closed off. I don’t have a garage. For most this would be in a garage

[@1Tibs1]

Was thinking the same.

[@1Tibs1]

Where do you live to trust people? You can also have it inside your home, hallway or a large walk-in closet.

[@letsdanceonhere]

rookie question but how did you lower the ladder with the supports underneath? I didn't see how the supports were taken off while you were in the attic. thanks

[@BrandonTran]

Great question! The supports should be installed to hold the frame, not block the ladder fold down door. The instructions cover that detail. I believe it was 3/8” of the frame. Just make sure it doesn’t block the ladder door.

[@letsdanceonhere]

@@BrandonTranwell, of course. Thanks for the reply and the great video!

[@andyfromdenver]

A++++ Thank you.

[@BrandonTran]

Thank you too!

[@Billnn54]

Did the 2 holes you cut in the ceiling seal themselves?

[@BrandonTran]

Hi Bill, the ladder door filled the space. All good!

[@Jazzilaladi]

wow nICE

[@BrandonTran]

Thanks

[@MarcelloLins]

Newbie question: I noticed your ladder fit in PERFECTLY between the two joists. Was that on purpose? Did you take in account the distance between the two joists when you purchased your ladder ? My joists are 24 inches apart, but my ladder is 24.5 inches wide. Should I have bought a 22.5 instead?

[@BrandonTran]

@marchello Hi there! Yes I purchased the 22.5 on purpose to fit without having to modify the trust framing. You do have some options here. You can modify the trust system by cutting one and re-enforcing it. I can't easily describe it, however, in the instructions they explain how to make a wider hole. 22.5 is actually very narrow and hard to get boxes into the attic. A wider ladder is nicer, but you will have to do more work and need more 2x4s. The materials are cheap so it won't cost much more, but it does require quality framing to ensure you keep the strength of the trust system. Sorry I didn't cover that well in my video.

[@BrandonTran]

Check page 9, Figure 18 and Figure 19 for your case. It's completely doable and you will have a wider ladder! images.thdstatic.com/catalog/pdfImages/21/21ce697d-5a9c-44f1-9912-4c424a907040.pdf

[@cyberdog0802]

Read you response and very informative. I'm a DIYer and want to do the same thing in my garage, but I don't have joist, only trusses that are exactly 22in apart. Most of the standard attic ladder suppliers have products that are with a rough opening at 22 1/2. Is this doable to cut through a truss support? Joist I can understand as the link to the diagram you shared was helpful and I've seen others do the same here on youtube. Trusses on the other hand, read that your NOT suppose to do that. Or are there other products that have what I need that is exactly 22in? I've searched and came across the Fakro brand that stated it had a RO at 22in, but their manual mentions 22 1/2. Pretty expensive and just want to install a doable attic ladder. Not sure what route to take and I really want to make use of that space above the garage. If you answer this, much appreciated. @@BrandonTran

[@f.demascio1857]

yes

[@f.demascio1857]

@@BrandonTran "truss"

[@lach0125]

What’s the product?

[@BrandonTran]

Louisville ladder. Link in the description.

[@rjadragel]

good job now the thief got free access to your house lol

[@BrandonTran]

I know right! The only thieves we have out here are bears. But also the porch is now a sun room! I didn’t get the best video for that. I’ll upload soon :)

[@Trig242]

5 Easy Steps!...."There's our hole...that was NOT easy" lol

[@BrandonTran]

Haha well I didn’t want to title it 5 hard steps :) . Sometimes we need motivation to get it done!

[@marksandor2830]

Step 0: ask someone to help.

[@BrandonTran]

Fair point! If someone is available to help, it’s a great idea.

[@diegojines-us9pc]

FYI. now anyone can climb in it. kick out the ceiling and not set off any door or window alarms,

[@BrandonTran]

The porch is being converted into a sunroom :) videos coming soon. I needed to stop paying for storage 1 year ago. And just now the sunroom project is underway. But yes they could do what you described.

[@diegojines-us9pc]

@@BrandonTran aint a thief, but know enough of them to know how they think,

[@mariofajardo2142]

Great video! But let’s be real. There’s no way in hell. The “average” homeowner can do this alone. Please tell him to hire a professional.

[@BrandonTran]

Good point. This is not for everyone. But the video shows what it takes and they have to make that decision for themselves. It is relatively easy compared to other projects.

[@danielfight3375]

You did everything right but there’s one issue here you’re using Dewalt and not Milwaukee😂

[@BrandonTran]

Haha I was at HD today picking up some mulch. Funny I was looking at Milwaukee :) . When it dies I’m going to start picking up more premium tools.

[@alex1975uk]

Never trust a man who uses his hands as a hammer!

[@BrandonTran]

Lol. I'm about efficiency and I saved a few seconds by not grabbing a hammer.