Pull Down Attic Stairs Installation Cost

The attic can easily turn into a neglected part of the home. More often than not, that happens because the attic is almost an entirely separate part of the living space. Attics in many homes are difficult to access and they mainly end up being used for storage.

You don’t have to neglect your own attic. Making it more accessible is possible with the help of some pull down stairs.

The average cost to install pull-down attic stairs is $540. Homeowners spend an average of $360 on labor to install pull-down attic stairs. It costs another $120 to install an attic door, and permits cost an average of $400.

Improving the accessibility of your attic using pull down stairs is going to cost a lot of money. Find out more about all the expenses involved by continuing with this cost guide.

Building your own set of pull down attic stairs can be a real challenge. You are certainly free to do so if you have the time to spare. Just know that such a project will take up a lot of your weekends.

It’s easier to simply buy a set of pull down attic stairs. Pull down attic stairs, or folding attic ladders as some may call them, are easy to find. You can find ready-to-install kits online or in hardware stores.

So, which ladder kit should you purchase? Take note of the factors detailed below so you can choose the right kit for your home.

Arguably the most important consideration when looking for a suitable attic ladder is the length of the fixture itself. Purchase a ladder that’s too long or too short and you’ve effectively wasted your money. Some of the shorter attic ladders only extend up to seven feet. Others will stretch all the way up to 12 feet. You can also find lengths in between seven and 12 feet.

To figure out how long your attic staircase should be, bust out the tape measure and start noting some numbers. You only need to figure out the distance from the opening in your attic to the floor directly below.

The manner in which the attic staircase extends outwardly can also play a role in pricing. You cannot forget about it while browsing through the available options.

Folding attic ladders are probably what most people think of when picturing pull down ladders. They are meant to be connected to the opening in the attic floor. Folding ladders are also among the least expensive as some kits are priced at $120.

Telescoping attic stairs can be attached to either a stud below the attic floor or a joist in the ceiling. Price points for these pull down attic ladders are pretty similar to the folding options.

Scissor-type ladders are equipped with brackets on the sides. Those brackets allow the ladder to fully extend when opening up. The scissor-type ladders are quite expensive. Even the most affordable options sell for about $600.

Last up are the electric attic ladders. Electric attic ladders are pretty cool because you can control them using a remote or even your smartphone. Electric attic stairs tend to be more expensive because of the fancy features included. You may also have to pay an additional $120 to $180 to get it properly wired in place by an electrician.

Plenty of people prefer wooden attic ladders because of how they look. They blend in so well with the attic and the area close by. Wooden ladders are also prized for their sturdiness.

The only real drawback to wooden ladders is their susceptibility to environmental factors. If you live in a humid home, the wooden ladder may start wearing down earlier than expected.

Homeowners who want an attic ladder that can last for a long time cannot go wrong with a steel ladder. They won’t succumb to humidity and they can also withstand wear and tear for a long time. Steel ladders are expensive, but you can argue that they are well worth the investment.

Aluminum attic ladders are great because they are light yet sturdy. They are also relatively inexpensive when compared to the other options. Aluminum ladders are known to wear down faster so you may have to replace them sooner.

Let’s go over a few more features you should consider when shopping for attic stairs. For instance, you definitely want to check out how easy the stairs are to climb. The angle of the stairs and the depth of the steps will affect the difficulty of your movement along the fixture.

Safety features are great additions to attic stairs. Look for features such as slip-resistant steps, handrails, and latches that help stabilize the ladder. You can also find attic ladders that are designed to provide some form of fire resistance. Look for a special certification on the ladder which tells you that it will help prevent the spread of fire.

The addition of safety features can make an attic staircase more expensive. Even so, paying extra to secure a safer piece of equipment is not a bad deal. Check out these 40 upstairs loft decorating ideas.

Is your attic in good condition? If so, then the installation can proceed without a hitch. That’s not the case for everyone though. The attic is usually not a part of the home that receives routine maintenance. Because of that, it can fall into a state of disrepair over time.

A leak in the roof may have softened up the floorboards. The floorboards may also have holes in them due to pests that have lived in the attic sporadically. Numerous other issues can lead to the attic being in less than ideal condition.

The bottom line here is that a damaged attic is typically not capable of supporting a new fixture. You will have to repair the attic first before you can even think about installing those pull down stairs.

You may be starting completely from scratch when it comes to your pull down attic stairs. That means you may not even have an opening available for the stairs.

The good news is that you can entrust this job to the professional you hired. Creating the opening and installing the attic door may take one to two hours. That translates to $120 being added to your final bill.

By the way, not all attic ladder kits come with a panel that can be used to cover up the opening. If that’s the case with the kit you bought, the handyman will have to create the covering. You will have to pay extra for that as well.

Having attic stairs already installed doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be able to save money when you want to replace them. You may even end up paying more.

The issue here is related to the process of removing the attic ladder. The attic ladder cannot just be unfastened from its current position and removed quickly. Removing it must be done carefully or else the attic floor may be damaged. You could be staring at even more expensive repairs if that happens.

The entire process of removal can take up to two hours. Homeowners may have to pay just as much to get the ladder removed as they would to get an opening created. Choosing the attic ladder carefully the first time around is crucial if you want to avoid an annoying expense.

Related Questions

Is an Attic Ladder Kit with an Insulated Panel Worth It?

As you’re going through available attic ladder kits, you may find that some of them are bundled together with insulated panels. Those attic ladder kits are also likely to be more expensive. You may be wondering if it’s worth paying extra to get that insulated panel. More often than not, the answer to that question is a resounding yes. Adding insulation to your attic is almost always a good idea. Lining your attic with insulation can make your home more comfortable. Running a heater or air conditioner allows you to achieve your desired temperature inside your home. The insulation can help preserve that temperature for an extended period of time.Apart from making your home more comfortable, insulation can also help you cut down on your energy bills. The insulation inside your attic will allow you to cut back on your usage of the heater or air conditioner.Every little bit of insulation helps. The insulated panel along the attic opening will prove particularly helpful in terms of temperature retention.

What Are Some Safety Tips for Using Pull Down Attic Stairs?

Pull down attic stairs are not exactly like your typical stairs. That’s because they can be harder to use at times. Exercising caution is a must while using.Only one person at a time should use the attic ladder. Don’t put an excessive amount of stress on the staircase by climbing together with another person. Also, remember to go slow whenever you’re ascending or descending the attic stairs. Those steps are not conducive to quick movements. Avoid accidents by climbing carefully.You should also stay close to the center of the stairs as much as possible. Placing too much weight on one side can jeopardize the stability of the staircase. Falling off is a possibility if that happens.