DIY Loft Ladders

Place the two 96-inch boards on a work surface with the 2-by-96-inch sides laying flat. Open the tape measure across the entire length of each board and place a mark every 12-inches with a pencil.

Drill a 1-inch deep hole in the center of the 2-inch width of each board at every 12-inch pencil mark using a drill press equipped with a 1-inch drill bit. These are the holes for the ladder rungs.

Apply wood glue to the ends of the 22-inch dowels, and also inside the ladder rung holes. Insert the dowels into the holes for the ladder rungs and press the assembly together.

Clamp the assembly with bar clamps. Bar clamps consist of a bar with a jaw at each end. The jaw can be tightened to clamp a wide assembly together. Place the bar clamps across the assembly so that the jaw on each end of the clamps are on the outside edges of the two sides. Tighten each bar clamp to hold the sides together while the glue dries. Locate one clamp across the assembly at each dowel location. Wipe off any excess glue with a damp rag. Allow the wood glue to dry 24 hours and remove the clamps.

Apply an even coat of spray lacquer to the ladder assembly. Allow the lacquer to dry for four hours and then apply a second coat. Let the second coat dry for at least 24 hours before handling it.

Hold the ladder upright against the side of the loft where want it mounted. Slide one u-bracket over the outside top end of each 2-by-2-by-96-inch board. Drive the mounting screws through the mounting holes in the brackets into the side of the loft with a screw gun.