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Home & Garden Articles
Attic Pull Down Stairs Must Be Installed Correctly to Be Safe
Fri 13 Nov 2009 - 21:30
Attic Pull Down Stairs Must Be Installed Correctly to Be Safe
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=John_Martino]John Martino
Attic access is made easier by installing a set of attic pull down stairs. The stairs are usually made of wood and fold so they can be stored in the attic access opening. The stairs are often installed by non- professionals and have safety problems. It is imperative that the attic pull down stairs are installed correctly to avoid injury.
Defects and problems are often observed in attic pull down stair installation. One of the common installation defects is that structural members like trusses or floor joists are cut in order to accommodate the stairs. The structural members of the attic flooring should not be removed, notched or cut without proper reinforcements installed. Most attic stairs are designed to fit in between floor joists however when the floor joists need to be cut, professional evaluation should be made to reinforce the floor structure.
Often the hardware, screws and nuts that secure the stair hinges are missing or loose. All fasteners should be installed and they all should be tight in order to avoid hazards. Missing bolts or nuts should be replaced in order to avoid serious injury.
Attic ladders are often cut too short so the bottom of the set of stairs is hanging down not touching the floor. This condition is unsafe and can lead to serious injury. The bottom of the steps should land solidly on the floor in order to avoid putting excess stress at the attachments at the top of the stairs. If the stairs are too long the hinges will bend downward and place too much pressure on the stair hinges. Attic stairs should be cut so that the hinges do not bend and the bottom of the set of steps lay flush on the floor. If the hinges bend downward they can break as you travel up the steps and cause injury.
Attic steps should be secured with the required number of screws. Often too few fasteners are used to secure the attic pull down stairs in the attic access. Check with the manufactures of the stairs and install the required number of screws in the proper locations in order to solidly secure the steps to the hatch frame.
Other problems occur with the springs and the spring arm assemblies. Often the springs slip off the spring guides and this causes the spring arms to bend backwards making it impossible to close the steps without using your hand to pull the arm back in position. Make sure that the springs sit properly in the spring guides.
When a set of attic pull down steps are installed in the garage ceiling to the garage attic, additional measures must be taken to restore the fire rating of the garage ceiling. Install gypsum board over the attic pull down stair hatch so the gypsum board covers the hatch when the stairs are in the closed position. This will restore the fire rating of the attic access hatch.
Heat loss can also occur from the attic access hatch opening. Cold air from the attic will enter the home and increase utility bills. Install an attic access hatch cover that sits firmly above the stairs in the opening in order to properly insulate and seal the area and avoid heat loss.
Attic pull down stairs allow for easy access to your attic space. As with any ladder system the set of pull down stairs require regular inspection and some maintenance in order to keep them functioning safely. [http://www.looksmarthomeinspections.com/]New Jersey home inspectors [http://www.looksmarthomeinspections.com/]New Jersey home inspections
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Martino http://EzineArticles.com/?Attic-Pull-Down-Stairs-Must-Be-Installed-Correctly-to-Be-Safe&id=3254960
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