How to make a wooden ladder correctly. Wooden ladder - how to make it yourself? Strengths and weaknesses of wood

Wooden ladders are a “must have” for every summer resident. This is a universal projectile for a country house, with which you can climb onto the roof of a barn or haystack, use it as a platform for construction work, harvest crops from trees (or animals) or inside, and even periodically help out a neighbor, earning bonus trust points - spheres there are a lot of uses. However, if you are reading this article, then you already have a need for a wooden ladder; now we will consider how to satisfy your desires.

The first and easiest option is to buy it in a store. They prefer aluminum structures, they are very light and look chic, but there is a big drawback - the price of such a product will make even the blind see. The second option is to hire builders or order a staircase made of wood. But they will also charge you about 2,000 rubles for the work; construction is not cheap these days. The third option is to do it yourself. The cost of our design was 570 rubles (depending on the cost of the materials you find).

Interested? Then let's get down to business and make a simple staircase out of wood using improvised tools, improvised materials (you will most likely have to buy beams) and without an auxiliary worker. Here are step-by-step and detailed instructions for making a staircase with visual materials.

Design features of a wooden ladder

Let's first choose the type of staircase we need to make and look at where the “legs” of this product come from. In fact, this is the simplest type of product that exists; there will be no hinged joints or retractable structures. The staircase consists of strings (two large side beams on which the steps are attached), reinforcements (tensioning elements) and steps. You can also nail anti-slip pads to the bottom (bottom) of the ladder or pegs if it is used on the ground. The angle of the ladder can be different, but it is recommended to work at an angle of no more than 70 degrees (when the ladder is installed at an angle of 75 degrees, you must use safety fasteners). This will make the job safe.

We will not use aluminum and steel parts in this type of product, since our main goal now is to consider how to make an attached wooden ladder with a minimum budget and available means, without using a welding machine or an electrical network at all. To do this, we will need to calculate the approximate number of wooden beams that must be purchased in advance and the length of the strings.

As for the side beams (strings), everything is simple here: you need to decide what length of the extension ladder you need and add 40 centimeters - this is the length of the ladder strings. For them, it is better to use a wooden beam with dimensions of 70 by 40 millimeters, so that there is enough to spare, and the ladder can withstand a respectable Russian man weighing 120-130 kg. Now the steps. In most cases, a distance of 30 centimeters is needed for a comfortable step. We take the total length of the stairs and divide by 30 - we get the number of steps. Now we need 2 more M10 steel studs (“ties”) 60 centimeters long (this is optional, the ladder will also hold up well without them).

Materials and tools for making an extension ladder

You won't need much and you can get away with just a hammer, nails and a saw, but we decided to make the strings and steps of the ladder nice, well sanded and protected from corrosion, so the list of tools will be a little longer.

1. Hammer. You can take a small one, with a head of 200-250 grams - this will be quite enough for driving nails.
2. Saw. It should be comfortable, since you will have to cut a lot (at a minimum, cut off all the steps and make cuts on the strings and sole).
3. Axe. This will be a substitute for a chisel, since almost everyone has one, but a special tool for working with wood may not be available.
4. Paint and brush. It is better to use deep impregnations to protect the wood from corrosion, the brush is at your discretion (and you can paint it with a roller if desired).
5. Nails. 80-90 mm will be quite enough, some use screws, but we will make a staircase with nails - it turns out just as reliably and just as durable, proven over the years.
6. Sandpaper or any rough sanding agent for wood.
7. Tape measure or ruler with pencil. This is especially true for those whose eyes constantly malfunction.

Actually, nothing else is needed to make strings and nail the steps of the ladder onto them. If you use metal pins to tie the strings, then you will need a few more nuts and a wrench to tighten it all tightly.

How to make a wooden ladder - step-by-step instructions for beginners

Perhaps our advice will be a little broad, but we repeat that this is an instruction specifically for a novice builder who is picking up all the tools for the first time and trying to figure out how to make a wooden ladder with his own hands. Let's look at the whole process step by step, taking into account all the details.

STEP 1: AND making a ladder string(support beams). They should be the same length, say exactly 5 meters. From one edge of each string we cut a piece of wood at an angle for better adhesion to the soil - this will be the bottom of the stairs. Now we lay 2 beams on a flat surface so that there is a distance of approximately 65 centimeters between the lower ends (the width of the ladder at the bottom), and 40 centimeters between the upper ends. It would be better to fix the bowstrings in this position in any convenient way.

STEP 2:D eat "notches". We retreat 35-40 centimeters from the bottom of the stairs and apply transverse marks to the wooden beams every 30 centimeters - this will be the frequency of the installed steps. Then exactly according to the marks we make a cut to a depth of 2 centimeters. Above the mark (5 cm), we place a chisel (or ours) at an angle of 30 0 with the blade directed towards the mark, and little by little hammer it in so that it chops off a piece of wood, forming a small step in place of the mark. This should be done with all the marks on the bowstring. It is advisable to treat the grooves with paint and varnish products to protect against corrosion.

STEP 3: AND making steps. We will need wooden blocks 60 centimeters long (then we will cut off the excess from the top of the stairs), with side parameters of approximately 40x25 mm. We cut them with a hacksaw, using only wood without knots or cracks. There should be about 15 such steps (for a staircase 5 m high).

STEP 4: U installing wooden staircase steps. The step is inserted into the groove we made on the bowstring (the notch is chipped), nailed or screwed to the main beam. This must be done with all the sawn steps, and then cut off the excess wood on the sides, because at the top the staircase narrows and the beams 60 cm long will necessarily be larger than the width of the staircase.

STEP 5: U installation of couplers. If you want to install them, then you need to drill 2 through holes with a diameter of 10 mm in the string under the lower and upper steps, push in the studs, put a washer on each and screw on 2 nuts on top, which are tightened with wrenches.

Important: requirements for wooden ladders may vary, but many still prefer to wear safety boots. These are rubber pads or pins on the lower supports of the stairs. They prevent slipping on hard and wet surfaces, ensuring maximum safety for the builder.

Now we can assume that we have already made a wooden ladder with our own hands and we just need to sand it with sandpaper and do a production test. If the angle of use of the ladder is too large, it is necessary to use safety hooks. This could be a metal hook to the very top step.

Protective treatment of a wooden ladder

The product is durable and has a good appearance, but it will not remain that way for long if the product is not protected with anti-corrosion mixtures. After a few months bacteria penetrate the fibers and cause wood rotting, which significantly reduces its strength and durability. In order for the extension ladder in the house to last as long as possible, you need to treat it with deep impregnations and varnish it. A simple instruction for implementing this task looks like this:

1. We open with impregnation, a thin layer. We wait about 1-2 hours until the materials dry a little.
2. Apply a second layer of impregnation and wait another 1-2 hours until the materials become much thicker.
3. We open it with varnish for the most neat appearance. It adds shine. Let the product stand for about 1 day and it can be used for its intended purpose.

This is how you make an extension ladder with your own hands, which will serve the owner from several years to decades, depending on the correct use and periodic care of the product (re-painting).

We recommend reading these simple but very useful tips for assembling an extension ladder, which can help you avoid the main mistakes of beginners. By following the recommendations on how to make an extension ladder without mistakes, you will be able to assemble a reliable and beautiful structure the first time, regardless of your construction skills.

1. The recommended height of the stairs is no more than 5 meters with a string beam height of no more than 70 mm. You should not make the ladder too high unless necessary, since its weight will already be about 25 kg in a perfectly dry state, and it will be difficult to carry.
2. To use a ladder in the garden, the rubber shoe is replaced with a “pin” that is driven into the ground, this will be much more convenient.
3. The place where the steps are attached to the string must be opened with anti-corrosion impregnations before installing the steps, since the general treatment of the stairs will not be able to reach that place later.
4. The design of ladders can be different. You can use the cheapest joint to create a stepladder from two wooden ladders. Leave 30 centimeters after the last step at the top - in case you ever get another ladder and want to make a stepladder out of them temporarily (for harvesting or repairs at the dacha).
5. All parts must be free of cracks and chips - they reduce the reliability of the structure.
6. Make sure that the markings of the stairs are “mirror”, do not allow the marks to be at different heights, first put all the steps in their place and see if everything works out smoothly.

There are different drawings of wooden ladders that you can make yourself, but we chose the simplest and cheapest assembly option. When purchasing wood at a regular sawmill, the cost of all materials will not exceed 600 rubles, while the cost of a finished structure in a store will be 4,500 rubles and more. Thus, you can save from 4,000 rubles by working with your own hands.

We invite you to watch the detailed process of making a wooden staircase in the video:

Without a ladder on the farm it is difficult to either remove fruit or climb onto the roof. In this master class we will tell you in detail how, in just a few hours, using the simplest tool, you can make a wooden staircase for household needs: solid, reliable and with a fairly aesthetic appearance.

For such a ladder you will need two 60x40 mm timber, which will go on two bowstrings. Choose the length for yourself, in this case it is 3.6 m. A smaller beam - 50x35 mm - will be used for the crossbars. To determine the number of steps, divide the length of the stairs into sections equal to the height from the floor to the foot when the leg is bent at the knee. In the above version, this is 11 steps every 30 cm.

To work, you will need a hacksaw, a hammer, a pry bar, and a small hatchet - preferably a carpenter's hatchet, with a hammer-shaped head. Power tools include a drill, a belt sander, a plane and a jigsaw (instead of a hacksaw). Nails can be used as the main fasteners, but self-tapping screws will be more reliable. Black hardened ones are not suitable, they can burst under load, so buy regular steel ones with an anodized coating and a countersunk head.

To make the staircase more durable, and to make the upper edge of the step horizontal when tilted, notches need to be made on the short edge of the bowstring. First, mark marks along the length of the block in the places where the steps are installed, step back from them the width of the crossbars - 50 mm, and apply a second mark, drawing the edges of the notches for the square. Transfer the marks to the side edges on both sides, mark the depth of the notch on the bottom - 15-20 mm, and make a cut to this depth. Connect the labels with a slash.

Place the hatchet with the tip on the top mark and, tapping the butt with a hammer, chop off the wood.

Using the ax as a plane, trim the resulting bevel of the notch.

Make notches on both strings to speed up the process - knock them together with nails.

The bars on the bowstrings need to be lightened a little by sanding the edges.

Pay special attention to the nicks and carefully sand the bevel.

Paint the inside of the nicks and set them aside for now.

For further work with steps, you will need to make one end the base. Draw marks for a square on one of the ends.

Saw off the uneven edges and sand the end with a grinder; for beauty, you can remove a small chamfer. Similar to the bowstrings, lighten the wood a little and make the surface smooth.

Now you need to make the upper and lower crossbars. To visually quickly distinguish the top and bottom of the staircase, it is made with a slight narrowing, so the top rung is slightly shorter than the bottom. Choose the width of the stairs that is convenient, in the above version it is 65 cm at the bottom and 55 cm at the top. Mark the length using a tape measure.

And draw a cutting line under the square.

Cut off the excess timber.

And sand the ends.

Draw a line under the square, stepping back from each edge by half the thickness of the bowstring - 20 mm. Mark the center of this line, you will get this marking:

Drill a through hole at the crosshair so that the screw thread can pass through it freely.

Make a small countersink with a larger drill bit.

Install the top and bottom rungs into the notches and level the ladder so that the ends of the steps are flush with the sides of the strings.

Measure the diameter of the thread rod and select a drill 0.2-0.3 mm smaller. In this case, the diameter of the rod was 2.8 mm, so a 2.5 mm drill was installed in the drill.

Through the hole in the steps, mark the bevel of the notches, maintaining the position and direction of the drill. Then remove the crossbars and drill a hole 2/3 of the way down. It is necessary to drill holes for the self-tapping screw so that it does not split the wood, otherwise all the work will be in vain.

Paint the edges of the steps on the back side where they meet the bowstring. Then return the steps to their place and tighten the screws.

Now the staircase has the required dimensions, all that remains is to screw in the missing steps. Place the bars into the notches and align the base ends flush with the side edges of the bowstrings.

Mark on the crossbars the desired length along the opposite string.

Prepare and install the steps as you did the first two: draw cutting lines for the square, cut off the excess and sand the ends. Mark the edges for drilling and make holes with a countersink. Then touch up the edges and install the steps in place, after drilling the string with a small drill.

It's time for painting. There are no special secrets here, but if you want the paint not to clog the slots in the head, unscrew the screws 3-4 turns and tighten them after painting.

If after painting the wood is visible in some places, you need to apply a second coat. Alkyd paint completely hardens in 30 hours, after which the stairs can be used.

Photo
A wooden ladder is a necessary, important thing in the everyday life of a private home, country cottage, or summer house. It is impossible to do without it in construction, repair, and landscaping work. You can, of course, buy a metal staircase, which is much more expensive than a wooden one. But in some cases, the best solution to the problem is to make and install a wooden staircase yourself. An extension ladder and stepladder can be made from wood quite simply if you choose the right materials and follow the technology exactly.

Drawing of a wooden ladder.

About the strengths and weaknesses of wood

The wooden staircase is made from softwood. The most popular wood in the manufacture of stairs is pine. There are certain requirements for wooden beams, compliance with which will allow us to produce high-quality stairs and extend the service life of the equipment. The staircase is made with your own hands from even beams. They should not have knots, cracks, or cross-layers. The selection of materials directly depends on the height of the ladder or stepladder to be made. If the structure is less than three meters, experts advise choosing wooden blocks for it, whose cross-section is 40x50 millimeters. If the stairs are higher, then 40x80 millimeters.

The latest building materials cost almost half as much, but the staircase will be stronger from them. The steps of the wooden staircase are also made of coniferous trees. Craftsmen usually choose for them a beam cross-section of approximately 35x40 mm. Before starting work on the construction of the structure, the beams should be treated with an antiseptic solution. There is no need to save money on purchasing the drug. A staircase treated with an antiseptic will last much longer.

One plank, two planks - there will be a ladder!

Diagram of a wooden ladder.

Working with wood is not difficult even for novice craftsmen. It is easy to process; to increase its service life, in addition to an antiseptic, it is enough to use varnish or paint to open the finished item. Wood is an environmentally friendly material, which is important these days when health-saving building materials and technologies come to the fore. If you want your staircase to last as long as possible, it makes sense to purchase higher quality and more expensive materials.

Metal stairs are at risk of corrosion, while wooden stairs are at risk of rotting. In order not to shorten the service life of each of them, it is necessary to take care of the further storage of manufactured equipment. For high-quality storage of wooden stairs, excessive moisture and dryness are contraindicated. Wooden ladders tend to dry out, and then working with them can result in traumatic situations for people. Therefore, it is necessary to initially ensure that the ladder is stored in a room suitable for this purpose, where there are no sudden changes in temperature, direct sunlight and humidity.

In order of importance and priority

To make such a staircase with your own hands you will need:

• wooden beams (with a cross section of 40*40 mm);
• boards for crossbars (size 100*20 mm);
• universal glue;
• scotch;
• nylon cord (2 coils).

Tools for making a wooden staircase.

A do-it-yourself staircase begins with preparing the two largest bars. Their length should be equal to the height of the stairs. If the purchased bars are not dried well enough, you will have to be patient: dry the wood and only then start working. How to correctly calculate the length of the bowstring? Anyone who makes their own stairs for the first time is sure to encounter this problem. The length of the bowstring is calculated by the formula: the planned length of the staircase plus 30 cm. This is how much timber needs to be cut to make a bowstring.

The next step is preparing the pieces of bars from which the steps are made. Segments 65-60 cm long are cut from the timber. Their length depends on the expected width of the stairs. How many steps will it require? The estimated size of the stairs is divided by 30. Why exactly this value? Because the steps of the stairs are best installed at a distance of 30 cm from each other.

The easiest way to attach it is to cut holes in both strings symmetrically (so that they are located opposite each other). There are wise words: measure seven times, cut once. They also apply to the installation of stairs from already prepared beams. There is no need to rush to firmly secure the steps. First you need to check whether the wooden structure is made correctly. How? The steps are first carefully attached, they are checked to see if everything is in order with the stairs, and then they are only “mounted tightly”, for which the rungs are tightly seated in the grooves prepared for them.

Scheme of a wooden stepladder.

Nowadays, various self-tapping screws are widely used for fastening wooden structures, however, experienced craftsmen prefer the usual nails. On the one hand, such fastening is quite sufficient. On the other hand, a do-it-yourself staircase may not be as strong as one made in a production environment. How to insure yourself? Glue designed for gluing wood will help solve the problem. Before the final fastening of the steps begins, it is applied to the grooves. Then the steps are inserted and then secured with screws, nails or self-tapping screws.

What do you get when you put two ladders together?

Ladder! You can easily make it yourself at home.

To save their own time and money, novice craftsmen should not get carried away with overly complex technologies.

Everything reliable and practical in everyday life is really simple if you are smart. First, you will need to make two identical wooden ladders for the stepladder, following the algorithm listed above.

What is required for a high-quality connection of stairs with each other? Metal plates, which are widely used in the installation of stacked cabinets, are quite suitable for stepladders. Such plates have increased strength, wear resistance and are best suited not only for installing cabinets, but also stepladders. The best option would be to purchase plates with an anti-corrosion coating for the stepladder (then the stepladder will last longer).

The upper ears of the plates are cut off, as they interfere with the normal operation of the ladder. In the center of the upper parts of the plates, through which it is planned to mount the stepladder, holes are drilled. They are needed to secure the top spokes of the ladder and are needed to attach the plates to the posts. Bolts and nuts are required for fastening. In order not to make a mistake, you first need to carefully lay the future stepladder on its side, or rather, the parts that make up its structure, and carefully mark the places for drilling.

First, holes are drilled under each step of the ladder so that metal knitting needles can be inserted into them. The nuts are placed along the edges of the spokes and tightened with bolts. A metal chain is quite suitable as a holder. Its recommended length is 60 cm. Ordinary screws act as limiters. It is important not to forget to place them correctly on the stepladder - in the middle of each string. If tool holders are needed at the top of the ladder, they can be easily made from a piece of plastic pipe and attached to the ladder using screws.

The convenience of the staircase makes it an indispensable attribute of the household. And not only its static version, but also its mobile version. This model of a staircase is multi-tasking, as it can help you reach the roof, pick fruit in the garden, and come in handy for repairs.

The most common mobile version of a staircase is an extension staircase without its own support due to its simplicity of design, relative lightness and accessibility.

Such a staircase can be found on absolutely every site, since its design is elementary, and production does not require large investments:

1. Between two wooden supports, horizontal beams are installed to serve as steps.
2. The distance between the crossbars can be calculated individually for yourself by measuring the distance from the floor to the base of the knee, or you can place them 25-35 cm from each other, you can’t go wrong.

To give a certain stability, the ladder rests on any vertical plane at an angle from 70ᵒ to 80ᵒ.

Extension wooden ladder: dimensions

Before the actual process of creating an extension ladder, you need to think about its future length. The higher your ladder is, the more it will weigh, therefore, the harder it will be to carry and transport. The optimal length option is five meters. In this article, the recommended size will be 4600x500.

First, about the materials. In conditions of unprofessional production, the easiest way to use wooden beams of gymnosperms of coniferous trees (for this purpose, pine beams are most widespread and recognized).

The wood itself must accordingly be free from chips, damage and branches. Otherwise, the staircase may last much less than planned, breaking, as always, at an inopportune and unexpected moment.

The bowstring is often made from bars 40x50 millimeters. The dimensions of the crossbars may be smaller, since, due to their short length, their strength is higher. So the most rational is 35x40 mm. The weight of the structure depends on the size of the beams: the larger the steps, the heavier the staircase, and vice versa. Among other things, you need to remember about the fastening elements of the structure: nails/tapping screws/screws and tie rods.

Simple DIY wooden ladder

There should be absolutely no difficulties with production, since the ability to use a saw will be more than enough. First you need to make drawings. Then, from pieces of wood with a larger cross-section, you need to cut two bowstrings of equal sizes. Beams of a smaller cross-section should be cut into pieces of half a meter on average, taking into account that they should be sufficient for the selected height. The edges of all parts should be rounded with sandpaper or another tool.

There are a wide variety of fastening options, but the simplest, most reliable and durable is fastening the crossbars on top of the bowstring. In this option, the beams are fastened with nails/screws/screws.

After completing the main part of creating the staircase, it can already be used. For greater stability, you can improve the lower part of the bowstring support. To modernize it, it is enough to bevel the edges of the support at a certain angle or add beveled ones. To reduce slipping, the bottom is also covered with rubber, which will increase friction with the surface and add grip. If you plan to use the ladder on the ground, then it is necessary to add metal spikes to the lower edges, which will help sink the ladder into the ground and increase the fixation of the legs in place.

The coating of the wood surface must also be treated with care. For example, it is strictly not recommended to paint with oil paints, as they will make the steps slippery, which is life-threatening. It is allowed to cover with drying oil in several layers until completely painted over and subsequent treatment with transparent varnish. This kind of surface will protect the staircase materials from swelling and damage when exposed to precipitation. With the help of such simple steps, the life of the product will be maximum, and the wooden ladder will serve you faithfully for many years.

GOST requirements for wooden ladders

Often, for an extension ladder, people consider it sufficient to connect a pair of bars with shorter ones, which irreversibly leads to injuries and troubles. Operational properties can manifest themselves in very different moments, and therefore it is advisable, without putting yourself and your loved ones at risk, to adhere to generally accepted guidelines and rules. All the most important aspects of the manufacture and use of wooden ladders are written down in several regulatory documents, which can be read and taken into account below.

Requirements:

1. GOST 24258 – 88: Technical conditions for scaffolding and temporary structures.
2. POT RM-012-2000: Rules for labor protection during work at height (interindustry document).
3. SNiP 12 – 03 – 2001: Labor protection in construction. General provisions (part 1).
4. GOST 26887-86: Stairs and platforms used for installation and construction work.

The top of the structure also needs to be equipped with fixed or removable hooks for greater fixation. The distance from beam to beam should vary from 290 to 350 mm. The cross-section of each beam is no less than 40x20. The diameter of the fastening bolts for long beams must exceed 2 mm.

These bolts must be installed under the first and last steps, and along the length of the entire structure at a distance not exceeding two meters.

In addition, it is worth knowing that existing cracks and other types of damage are allowed, but the largest size of the defect should not exceed 15 cm and the depth should not exceed 5 mm. Existing cracks that negatively affect the usable characteristics of the stairs are strictly prohibited. When using the product in production, it must be marked with the inventory number and the section number of the place where the ladder is fixed.

DIY wooden ladder design (video)

As can be seen from the description above, making a wooden ladder with your own hands does not take too much effort and resources, due to its simplicity. The most important thing in this situation is not to move in the direction of least resistance, but to try to take into account all the obligations of correct manufacturing of the product: this way, complete safety is guaranteed with every climb, because the ladder should help in the household, and not add additional problems. If necessary, steps need to be repaired.

The total shortage has long ended; many useful things are sold in stores. The question of how to make a ladder with your own hands can be considered closed. But what pleasure does a homeowner get from making something on his own, especially since everything is quite simple.

What is a portable ladder and its typical designs

The construction of an extension ladder is not complicated; drawings are not required. The crossbars are attached to two strings (the so-called beams on which the steps are laid). Ready. But even in the simplest matter there are nuances, and the construction of such a staircase is no exception. The bowstring is a wooden beam, the cross-section of which is 4 by 5 cm. The steps are 3 by 5 cm, the requirements for their strength are lower, thicker ones will make the product heavy, and if made thinner, there is a possibility that they will break. These are the optimal parameters for a design that can support the weight of an adult.

The length of the support beams is usually about 5 meters, since the product will need to be moved, and an increase in the vertical size will sharply increase the weight of the structure. The bowstrings are located at a distance of 45 - 50 cm. Attention should be paid to the degree of drying of the wood; for each element it should be the same and complete, so that later the work does not fall apart from deformation.

Depending on how the product is planned to be used, ladders can be divided into:

• Ladder. One side of its bowstrings rests on a vertical surface, the other on a horizontal one;
• A stepladder is used when it is impossible to lean the ladder against anything. Its bowstrings look like a triangle, are connected by hinges, and can be installed in the field. Depending on the purpose, they are made from two or one ladder;
• Sliding. It consists of several parts, which allows you to choose a convenient angle of inclination.

Material selection

You can make an extension ladder with your own hands from wood or metal. Self-production involves the use of wood; it is easier to work with and does not require special equipment. For fastening, glue, screws, wooden pins and metal pins are used.

Screeds are used to add strength to the structure. These are metal bolts that are installed in the middle, under the lower and upper steps.

The ideal material for making any wooden structure with your own hands is solid oak. It is practically not subject to external influences and has “metallic” strength, but the weight and cost of the product will be excessively high. That’s why they use pine – it’s easy to process and the price of the timber is low. Before starting work, inspect the material; it should not be damaged or damp.

Product assembly

Making an extension ladder is not difficult. It is enough to have basic carpentry skills and use the well-known rule - measure seven times, cut once.

When you make a wooden ladder with your own hands, the strings are first prepared. Thick pine bars are cut into identical ones corresponding to the selected length of the structure. The number of thin ones is selected from the distance between the steps of 25-30 cm. All have rounded edges using sandpaper or a plane.

It is very important to make accurate markings to avoid distortions in the product.

After the preparatory work, we proceed directly to assembling the stairs with our own hands, connecting the strings with the steps, this is done in several ways:

• The easiest way to make an extension ladder is when the steps are fixed on top of the bowstrings. Sometimes recesses are made in the beams - this will increase the reliability of the connections. The crossbars are fixed with nails or screws. Sometimes they are “planted” with glue and tied with nylon threads;
• When it is planned to operate such a staircase in a stationary mode, most often this option is used indoors; the crossbars are inserted into grooves that are cut in the beams. Their width is equal to the width of the steps, and the dimensions of the grooves correspond to the dimensions of their ends. First, the support beams are connected with metal ties, then the steps are inserted into the grooves. They are reinforced with screws. The number of ties is calculated from the length of the staircase: for every 2 meters of the staircase, one tie bolt is needed, as well as one at the top and one at the bottom. If a three-meter staircase is being built, three ties will be required;
• A very labor-intensive method. It is recommended by professionals. This is a finger joint. Grooves are cut inside the beams, and tenons are cut along the end ends of the crossbars.

In the latter method, the length of the tenons should be equal to the width of the support beams. To support the weight of an adult, their size must be no less than 1.5 by 3 cm.

The best option would be if the spikes are placed at a slight angle to the bowstring.

Grooves are punched inside the beams; they must exactly repeat the pattern of the tenons. To ensure reliable fastening, the grooves are made tenths of a millimeter smaller than the tenons. You should pay attention to the symmetry of the grooves between the two beams. If this is not done, stability will be compromised due to distortions.

All that remains is to collect. One of the strings is taken, its grooves are coated with an adhesive solution, steps are inserted into them and hammered. Then another string is placed on the protruding crossbars. If everything is marked and cut out correctly, then there will be no difficulties. To increase strength, you can tighten screws at the junctions of the tenons and grooves.

Making stairs safe and durable

After the product is assembled, it must be used safely. The lower ends of the beams are square and contact the load-bearing surface of a small area, so it will be unstable. To eliminate this drawback, it is necessary to cut off right angles. Usually based on the expected slope. Upon completion of the work, rubber pads are stuffed from below. To use the ladder in open ground, spikes are installed along the lower ends of the strings.

Wood, especially softwood such as pine, is very susceptible to the external environment and absorbs moisture well. In other words, a product made of such material is prone to destruction, even when it is indoors. In order for a DIY staircase to last for a long time, it must be protected from such influence. This is done by applying several layers of drying oil to all surfaces, followed by varnishing. It is not advisable to use oil paint, as the steps may become slippery.

Other materials

Another option for making an extension ladder with your own hands is to use metal. The design requirements are similar to those for wooden models. For assembly, use a corner, pipe or profile. To make the structure lightweight, it is better to use aluminum. Unlike iron, it is difficult to weld with it - special equipment is required. An alternative to attaching strings to the steps is to thread the edges of the steps into the beam and fold them over from the outside. Can be secured with bolts.

By making a ladder with your own hands, you will get a lot of positive emotions. It will serve you for many years, especially since the manufacturing process is quite simple.