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

In need of an attic ladder installation? Here are 5 easy steps how to install one of these basic Louisville foldable aluminum or wooden ladders from my favorite hardware store.
Ladder can be purchased on Amazon or HD:
amzn.to/44qgJl8
amzn.to/3VBlfdj
Steps
1. Cut the rough opening
2. Install header frame - 2 small 2x4s.
3. Install temporary supports
4. Install ladder and lag bolt it in
** Exiting the attic is tricky if you are by yourself! Have another person to lower the ladder for safety.
5. Install trim, seal, and paint!
Materials Needed
• Louisville Attic Ladder: www.homedepot.com/p/Louisvill...
• 1 each. 2"x4"x8" for header frame
• Scrap wood for temp supports.
• 1 each 1"x4"x8" for trim
Tools
• Saw for Wood
• Tape Measure
• Drill or Ratchet for lag bolts
00:00 Intro
00:15 Step 1 Cut Rough Opening
01:03 Step 2 Install Header Frame
01:53 Step 3 Install Temporary Supports
02:39 Step 4 Install Ladder and Bolts
06:59 Step 5 Install Trim and Paint
#AtticLadderInstall #DIYAtticLadder

[@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 !

[@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 ^^

[@etiquettefiend]

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

[@BrandonTran]

Nice! I hope your project turned out awesome!

[@3OBTPA]

Looks beautiful! Thanks for sharing

[@BrandonTran]

Awesome thank you!

[@f.demascio1857]

Did mine solo a couple weeks ago. Satisfaction!

[@BrandonTran]

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

[@jkritselis]

That was nicely done!!

[@BrandonTran]

Heyo James! Thank you, I try hard :)

[@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.

[@rlg222]

Great Job Sir!

[@BrandonTran]

Awesome thank you!!

[@BobbyBowker]

Great instructional video

[@BrandonTran]

Awesome thank you!

[@tdlewis103]

You did a nice job!

[@BrandonTran]

Awesome thank you! The ladder has been very handy!

[@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 :)

[@user-ry5cx5lf2q]

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

[@robgracia509]

great job thank you for doing this

[@BrandonTran]

Thank you! Best of luck for your project!

[@eduardomanzo2805]

Nice video, thanks a lot.

[@BrandonTran]

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

[@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.

[@andyfromdenver]

A++++ Thank you.

[@BrandonTran]

Thank you too!

[@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!

[@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.

[@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 :)

[@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

[@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"

[@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!

[@Billnn54]

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

[@BrandonTran]

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

[@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.

[@lach0125]

What’s the product?

[@BrandonTran]

Louisville ladder. Link in the description.

[@marksandor2830]

Step 0: ask someone to help.

[@BrandonTran]

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

[@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.

[@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,

[@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.