Trimming the Legs of Pull-Down Stairs

Place a sawhorse or card table on the floor under the pull-down stairs. Position the table or saw horse behind the area where the stairs come down to the floor.

Pull the stairs down, folding the last section backward and placing it on top of the sawhorse or card table. This allows the upper and middle sections to extend fully.

Extend a tape measure from the top of the left stair stringer to the floor, keeping the tape measure at the same angle as the stairs. Write down the measurement from the floor to the top end of the stair stringer.

Move the tape measure to the bottom of the left stair stringer and write down the measurement. Repeat the process for the right side of the pull-down stairs.

Transfer the top left measurement of the left stringer to the left bottom of the folded stair stringer. The bottom of the folded stair section is the top of the stair stringer. Transfer the left-bottom measurement to the top of the folded stairs. Draw a line between the two measurements. Repeat for the right side of the pull-down stairs.

Cut the end of the folded stair section at the cut line with a circular saw or handsaw. Fold the middle section up slightly and rotate the bottom section forward. Extend the pull-down stairs fully and check the stringers' contact at the floor. If necessary, sand the ends of the stair stringers to ensure the stringers sit flat on the floor with the stairs fully extended and some weight on the a step.