O/T Shop stairs

MN Rick · Sep 7, 2008

Like most shops, mine has turned out to be too small. 33' by 48' with 16' sidewalls. Just built a 8' loft running the lenght of the building and across the back adding a total of 614 sq.ft. As of now, just been using a ladder to get up there and am already tired of it. Going to add a set of stairs but giving up the floor space for them kind of defeats the whole purpose of saving floor space. I'm contemplating using hinges on these stairs to pull with an electric chain hoist thats been sitting around for years not being used. Would appreciate any experience or ideas you guys might have. Thanks

TomH in PA · Sep 7, 2008

How about some of those prefabricated attic stairs that fold up? They're spring loaded so all you need to do is pull on a piece of rope.

evilboweviel · Sep 7, 2008

I build a conventional set of stairs with a header across the stringers at the top. used strap hinges to fasten it to another header on the second floor. when in place it looked and functioned like a converntional stairs and was nice and sturdy. used a rope hoist to raise it up and out of the road.
Ron

Leroy · Sep 7, 2008

I would say they are not heavy enough or wide enough to get anything either up or down. Have them in my house and just trying to get a bag of insulation up them is going to be a job, only big enough for me.

Sid · Sep 7, 2008

In my opinion a set of permanent stairs would be better. For one thing you would have shelving and cabinet storage space underneath. With stairs that raise you have a complete loss of space. You have to keep that area clear anyway. Then there is the hassle of raising and lowering them whenever you want to go up. If I had a good hoist I think I would consider an elevator, you could get some pretty bulky and heavy items up there that you could not with stairs.

ddl · Sep 7, 2008

what about ships stairs? I have been told they take some getting used to but require only half the space. There is a website lapere.com (i think thats the name) or do a search on ship stairs.

HemiMoparMan · Sep 7, 2008

I also have a loft in my shop, I built a nice set of stairs on hinges with a rope and pulley attached to a counterweight so all that it takes to raise or lower them is about 1.5 pounds of pull or push.
I had an old overhead hoist motor that was only rated for 640 pounds, so I made a 4'X4' platform with 2 guide posts and mounted the hoist up in the trusses with a long cord to operate the hoist controls. It is a nice home made elevator now, and I no longer have to use the stairs.

El Toro · Sep 7, 2008

You're close its Lapeyre stairs. Hal

Anonymous-0 · Sep 7, 2008

My shop is just less than half the size of yours. I have become a scientist of space management. As much as possible I have my cabinets, TV, etc. mounted high enough on the wall to allow me (6-2") to walk under. I have a full "haymow" and a 16x30 addition off to the west for storage. Nothing is STORED in my shop.

All that said, up to now I too have been accessing my haymow with a ladder. I plan on welding a steel ladder similar to what Ron suggests. I also plan on mounting a permenant ladder on the south exterior wall for haymow axcess.

Glenn F.

J.C.in AZ. · Sep 7, 2008

How about an Elevator? In my former shop we had one 4'x8' centered in the building, lowered and raised by a Electric Chain Hoist . Upper Deck was for storage only. Shop was 36' wide so designing a suspension for the Hoist to hang from was a no Brainer. Crafted a Steel Truss to hang it from. The Platform had Angle Iron Rails around three Sides,at four Cornors 2" Angle Iron vertically engaged a guide at each cornor of the Platform opening. The Platform Deck was 3/4" CDX Plywood and it eventually showed wear so I put a 4'x4' Piece of 1/8" Deck plate in the Center and the wear problem was solved. Had about $1500.00 in it including the Chain Hoist. Never exceeded 600 Lbs. weight on it. Is still working and never had a breakdown in 22 years. JC

MN Rick · Sep 7, 2008

Thanks for all the quick comments and ideas. I have contemplated the elevator idea as well, but made a pallet-crate to lift heavy things like gas engines, motorcycles and the like up there with my skidloader. Also, hanging that type of weight from the trusses makes me nervous with the elevator idea. The hanging tube heater and the winch to lift the stairs are my only only concessions to that. Not being a carpenter or structural engineer, my major question would be in the attaching of hinges to the stairway. I want to overbuild this as to never have to worry about strength. A suggestion was made about a header at the top of the stairs. Could you elaborate on how you would go about that?

Don L C · Sep 7, 2008

I used a set of steps that fold up into the floor of the loft.....spring loaded to assist in lifting .....works great .....get a good one at a big lumber yard......not Lowes or Home Depot........Don

Russ from MN · Sep 7, 2008

We have one set of those at work, we call them the stupid stairs, and everyone knows what we are talking about!

Ron Anderson · Sep 7, 2008

You could buy a older scissor lift and use that after fastening it to the floor. I installed one in a pickup bed that worked good. The first step would be maybe 18 inches off the ground

Mattlt · Sep 8, 2008

How about building the stairs outside? Put in a door to your loft from outside at the top of the stairs. Might even be easier to handle long materials that way.

O/T Shop stairs

MN Rick

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TomH in PA

Well-known Member

evilboweviel

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Leroy

Well-known Member

Sid

Well-known Member

ddl

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HemiMoparMan

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El Toro

Well-known Member

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

J.C.in AZ.

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MN Rick

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Don L C

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Russ from MN

Well-known Member

Ron Anderson

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Mattlt

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