Pull Down Stair Installation

Extend the utility knife blade all the way out. When you have determined the place where you want to install the stairs, press the knife into the ceiling and cut out a 1-square-foot section. Reach in and pull out or push away the insulation you find there.

Feel around inside the hole to determine where the trusses are located. The stairs will be mounted in the space between two of these trusses. Take note of the location of water or electrical lines. These can be rerouted or pushed aside, if necessary, to make room for the stairs.

Cut the remainder of the hole to the size of the stair frame. The width will be 16 inches, but the length varies according to the size of the stairs. Most are approximately 48 inches.

Mount the two trim boards onto the side of the hole you have cut so that they provide a 1-inch shelf onto which the fold-down stairs can rest. When they are in place, insert the fold-down stairs through the hole and rest them on the trim board shelves.

Pull the stairs down to a slightly open position.

Run screws through the frame and into the trusses beside it to secure the steps into position, using a drill that is fitted with a screwdriver bit. Use at least six screws on each side of the frame to properly secure it.

Unfold the ladder completely to determine whether it is the correct length. If you notice gaps in the joints of the ladder, trim it slightly. To do this, unfold the two top sections of the ladder, but keep the third section folded. Place one of the trim boards on the top of the ladder so that it matches the angle of the ladder and reaches the floor. Make a mark on the trim board where the joint for the lower of the middle ladder section is located. Transfer this measurement to the third section of the ladder and trim the legs with a wood saw.