Loft Ladder

[rs1626]

Any body got any good pics of loft ladders need to build ladder for a cabin Iam building?

[Brian_Weekley]

I was considering a vertical ladder for the loft in the shed I'm building-maybe something like this...

[jander3]

 

  

  

 

[Rooster]

One thing to consider is that ladders that are tipped at an angle like jander's are easier to climb since you are not having to hang on with your arms. Ladders completely vertical make it difficult to carry things up with you since you need you arms to hold you onto the ladder.

Rooster

[mmhailey]

I am right in  the middle of designing a ladder to access a small sleeping loft in my timber frame cabin.If you do a google search for "cabin sleeping loft ladder" or "Ships ladder" you'll find a lot of ideas. I think the problem everyone runs into, is space. While Rooster is exactly correct in a ladder being hard to use, it does take up less floor space. Here is the one I am thinking of building. In my initial sketchup it seems I can can cant the ladder a somewhere between 2-3 desgrees, if I use a 2X8. I would use wood rungs and also set them on the corresponding angle. I especially like this one because of the hand holds at the top, and having something too hold when you start down the ladder.



 

[Weekend_Sawyer]

While they are all very nice, I like Jander3's, Pappy has a very similar set in his cabin.

Jon

[jander3]

If you plan to use the loft frequently, try climbing one of those vertical ladders.   There are great when you are 18.  At 50 something...not so much.   

As Rooster indicates, I can climb the ladder with no hands.  And, when I get up in the middle of the night, it is a little easier to get to the floor without bouncing.

In the final design we are using the space under the ladder for storage.

[addicted]

 

 
one of the coolest loft ladders I've seen.
notice the treads, they are on a straight plane while the sides wave.
Rusty

[Rooster]

I think we have a winner!!!

What's next on the agenda?

At this rate, we will have all of the design aspects of RS's cabin finallized by Friday! 

What a team!

[beenthere]

The last ladder pictured looks great, but I would be concerned with the alignment of the leading edges of each step. They, IMO, should be in a straight line such that coming down the "feel" of where the step should be is where it actually is (not tucked under so the toe misses it). May not be of concern, but I find a ladder with steps not equally spaced or out of alignment can be an accident waiting to happen.

The ladder shown could have the steps placed in a straight alignment, as I look at it.

(edit: and as pointed out, they could just well be straight and only the illusion that they are not)

[PC-Urban-Sawyer]

Beenthere,

I believe that the ladder treads are mounted with the front edges in a straight line. Of course my old eyeballs may be overdue for calibration.

Herb

[Stephen1]

I agree it certainly seems like the treads are aligned, Great ladder.
I ended up with a drop down attic ladder for my loft, YES I bought one pre built .
But it is great to fold it up during the day. Makes for way more space in the cabin

[mmhailey]

I finally got my loft ladder complete, and had time to take a pic.




 

[MotorSeven]

 

  

 

This was a temp one I made out of Cedar.....took me about 4 hrs.

[wacnstac]

I finally got my loft ladder complete, and had time to take a pic.




 

I'd really love to know what lumber you made to use this ladder.  I want something exactly like it.  How did you cut those holes for the hands?

[Ljohnsaw]

I tend to over-complicate things, but how about this.  Make a ladder with a comfortable angle to climb.  At the top, make long slots in each side that will ride on a pin or dowel.  When the ladder is in-use, the pin is at the top of the slot preventing it from dropping further.  Then, you slide the foot up to the wall to store with the slot riding up the pin and holds the top from falling away from the wall when you don't need it.  Hope that makes sense.

[Kbeitz]

In the cabin I built I did not gave a  lot of room.
So on one wall that had a window that we did not want to cover up I made a chair out of a log.
Off the chair I made two loft ladders as part of the chair.