How To Build Ladder Stairs

Do you know the steps involved on how to build ladder stairs? A staircase is very useful in any household, but there are some times where it’s not feasible. For example, an apartment with a small living area may not have the space to accommodate a full staircase.

Luckily, ladder stairs are an easy-to-implement alternative solution to help you construct a staircase that won’t take up too much space. This article will teach you how to build them!

You’re about to learn how to build a set of ladder stairs. Ladder stairs are perfect for attic conversions, or any place where you need more head height. If you’re looking to build ladder stairs, this is the guide for you.

Building ladder stairs is usually done by cutting two pieces of plywood for each stair and attaching it together using construction brackets or L brackets with screws and glue.

For the steps, you can use untreated lumber, cedar planks, or any other material to make them.

For the railings, you can use treated lumber or OSB with a sawtooth profile. After installing the stairs (and by using some support under each of the stair treads), you need to cover them. The simplest way is to place tar paper strips on top of the stairs and screw it down on every side. You can also use wooden platforms for this purpose.

Why Are Ladder Stairs Important?

Ladder stairs are incredibly useful for any attic conversion, they make it possible to renovate the loft without compromising on access. Ladder stairs are also a good idea if you want to maximize your space on a budget.

Ladder stairs will make your life easier when it comes to cleaning, moving and furniture storage. They are long lasting.

Ladder stairs run along the wall and are very easy to mount. They can be mounted in only a couple of hours, without the need for a professional carpenter. The installation is very similar to the other types of staircases.

Ladder stairs will take up less space than the traditional staircase and they are a much easier way to renovate an attic. Ladder stairs are perfect for you if you want to be able to reach high areas and clean them too.

Ladder stairs have one main advantage over the traditional staircase: they don’t need to be nailed to a wall. That means the installation is much easier than with other stairs types.

It’s important that your ladder stair has a sturdy structure in order to hold its weight. The staircase will have to support the weight of both people and any furniture that you may place on it in the future. You won’t be able to use this staircase if your building is slanted or has a high pitched roof.

There are several types of ladder stairs. You can choose between wooden ladder stairs, ladder stairs made from wooden planks, or you can build a set of stiles and railings. Each style has its own advantages and disadvantages.

The most popular staircase types are plywood and OSB staircases, the latter being more expensive but also more durable than the former. Whatever type of staircase you choose, you must consider that it should be wide enough.

The OSB plank arrangement is one of the simplest ways to build a ladder stair. These stairs are very similar to wooden stairs, but they’re made from OSB (oriented strand board).

This material will make your stairs more durable than other materials such as treated lumber. Some people even prefer these stairs since they’re lighter than treated wood.

You can also use pressure-treated lumber to build your ladder stairs. It’s usually more affordable than OSB but it is more expensive than the other materials.

The finish of the OSB plank stairs is simple and elegant. You can paint them or stain them so they look nice.

OSB plank stairs are very sturdy and they have a good lifespan. That means you won’t have to build new steps every 3-5 years.

Moving on to the main topic of this article, let’s discuss on the step -by-step procedures on how to build ladder stairs.

How To Build Ladder Stairs?

Here, we will be discussing the step-by-step procedures on how to build ladder stairs. This steps are as follows:

Step 1: Cutting And Preparing The Plywood Sheets

First, you’ll need to cut the plywood sheets into the right-sized pieces of lumber. It’s best if you have a second person to help you with this step.

First, measure the space that you want to cover with your staircase. Then, mark it out on the sheet of plywood and mark a pencil line on each end of the sheet.

Next, use your circular saw to make two parallel cuts at both ends of each piece of plywood. Set these floor sheets aside. Now cut each piece of plywood into four equal segments by making two long vertical cuts in between the marks that we’ve made on them before.

You should now have eight pieces of plywood which you can use to create the steps.

Step 2: Making The Ladder Rails

The next step, is to make the rails. You can use any kind of lumber for best result. For example, treated lumber would be a good choice because it’s durable and weatherproof too. You can also use cedar planks or pine planks if you prefer a natural finish.

Start by measuring the distance between each stair tread then mark it on both sides of the lumber you’ve chosen for your railings. Mark a pencil line on both ends of the planks so that you’ll know where to cut them from later on.

Cut the wood along the pencil mark with a circular saw. Keep in mind that the distance between each plank should be the same. It’s best to make one cut on one side and then do it again on the other side.

After cutting one side, you can flip it over and use it as a pattern to create an identical piece of lumber. To do so, line up one side with the other, holding them both against your hand or a wall for support. Make sure that you’re lining them up correctly based on the marks you made earlier on.

Use a handsaw to cut through both sides of the lumber at the same time. After cutting all sides, clean off your workspace, apply glue to the joints and assemble two side steps before doing so on all four segments. The same process can be applied to all remaining pieces of lumber.

Step 3: Assembling The Ladder Stairs

Before you start assembling your staircase, read the instructions for your specific hardware. It’s best that you have all of the necessary tools before you begin so that you don’t get lost in the steps.

Begin by attaching a board with screws to each side of each of your stair treads. Then, screw together all four parts together so that they’re tightly fitted against one another and make sure that it’s level and straight like before.

After attaching both sides, you can now attach the bottom ties to each side in order to finish off your ladder stairs. This will make it very sturdy and safe for anyone who uses it.

Use screws to attach the bottom ties to each side piece. Be careful not to over-tighten the screws so that you don’t crack them. After attaching the last bottom tie, you can now test your staircase and see if anything is loose or damaged.

If there are any cracks or gaps in between your steps or railings, apply wood filler and sand it off after dry.

Step 4: Installing The Ladder Stairs

After you’ve glued and nailed each piece of wood, set it on its place making sure that it’s level with the other steps. To do so, nail a screw through the end that sticks out from underneath your ladder stair base and into one of the floorboards or beams in order to secure it there.

Next, measure the distance between the side rails to make sure that they’re the same height, and adjust them if needed. After you’ve made sure that everything is level and straight, use a level to mark where you need to install the bottom ties.

Step 5: Making The Top Chuck

The last step is making a top chuck for your ladder staircase. This piece will be used for extra safety and stability on top of your staircase. It’s made from two pieces of wood that are nailed together.

Use a circle saw to cut the top chuck out of both pieces of lumber. Make sure that you’re working with the same distance between both ends of the lumber, so that you can cut an identical shape.

After cutting out a rectangle, use a table saw to rough it down. This will make it easier for you to mount two boards together. Nail it together from top to bottom and from side to side so that you won’t have any wobbly or jagged edges. If you want extra stability, you can nail the sides of the wood together.

After you’ve nailed it together, set the top chuck on top of your ladder stair and bounce up and down on it to make sure that it’s sturdy. If the top chuck moves and jiggles significantly, try to nail the sides together with support nails or by filling in the gaps between joints with wood filler.

Conclusion

Ladders can be used for many different purpose. It may take a while to build a ladder, but it is definitely worth the time and effort put into it. You can also fill in any gaps that you notice with wood filler or by nailing the wood joints and edges together.

If you want your ladder to look nicer and more appealing, you can use stains or paints on the wood before applying a protective coat of polyurethane. You can also paint your ladder a new color to make it stand out.

If you want to make sure that it’s sturdy and safe for use, always attach the bottom ties securely. You should also cut the top chuck out of two boards and use a saw to rough it down before attaching them together. You can also add any important safety features as well, such as safety gates or railings if you would like.

Ladder stairs are a great way to get around while doing chores or just getting around in your house, but they’re not appropriate for very high-rise buildings since they might cause someone using them as an emergency escape route if the floor collapses underneath them.