Several readers have asked me for an update on the studio remodel.

Well, throughout the holidays I found time for a little work here and there. And today saw the installation of a new attic stairs.

Previously we just had a little 16-inch square hatch in the ceiling. You can make out where it was by the white outline on the ceiling just to the right of the new stairs.

Miraculously I was able to patch that hole with a square from the piece I cut for the opening for the new stairs. That’s good because texture differences are really conspicuous on the ceiling, and this way the texture will match. There will only be an slightly noticeable discontinuation on one side of the square.

We spent a little extra to get  steel stairs mostly because of the profile in the attic when it is folded. As you can see there is a HVAC duct directly above. The duct won’t be in the way when the stairs are used, but traditional wooden stairs stick up almost 14 inches which would bump up against it. The steel stairs only stick up about 8 inches, barely above the joists.

There are some additional advantages. Although it weighs more than a wooden ladder, this one installed in two pieces, which was easier.

There was one hitch. When I cut the opening, I used the ceiling joists as a guide. Not till I was finished did I notice that the joists weren’t quite parallel. Therefore the opening is almost an inch wider than it should be at the end closest to the viewer. I should be able to cover up the gap with some trim pieces.