Cantilever ladder (37 photos): DIY manufacturing technology, ladder design with cantilever steps

The changes taking place in the style directions of the interior partially affect the appearance of the staircase structure. The cantilever ladder has been in great demand lately. Its advantage is that the design does not interfere with the uniform distribution of light in the living space.

It should be noted that the cantilever staircase will immediately amaze you with its originality and originality. The steps look like they are floating in the air. Despite the bizarre design, there is no need to worry about its safety, since every detail has been thought out by specialists in the field of engineering. If you have construction skills and a great desire to acquire such a structure, you can easily build it yourself at home.

Features of the cantilever ladder

Like any other product, the cantilever ladder has a number of advantages. So, let's take a closer look at them:

  • original appearance;
  • minimal costs for materials - this is due to the fact that the cantilever staircase does not need risers and even a fence;
  • saving space.

An important aspect when planning the installation of a cantilever staircase is to consider all the loads that will affect the tread. It is necessary that it can withstand at least one hundred and fifty kilograms (this parameter does not include the weight of the railing or handrails).

Cantilever ladders with glass railing are easy to assemble with your own hands if you follow the recommendations of experts. During design, a concrete base is often laid. In this case, the correct technology of work must be adhered to and the calculation must be carefully performed.

Given the non-standard cantilever structure, contacting any company that manufactures this ladder will not be able to help you in purchasing fasteners. Since the company has at its disposal only individual elements that can later be assembled into a flight of stairs.

This is due to the fact that each cantilever structure is made purely individually for the consumer, taking into account all his requirements and conditions.

However, the installation work of the cantilever structure is quite laborious and will require a lot of your concentration and patience. It is worth mentioning separately that the installation of a cantilever staircase is carried out either at the stage of construction work, or before the start of finishing work.

At the moment, installation work can be carried out in several ways:

  • fix the steps to the wall surface;
  • fix the brackets into the structure of the fence, into which the steps will be fastened in the future;
  • fix the steps using anchors as anchorage;
  • fix the steps to the ceiling surface;
  • fix the steps using brackets as fastening (they are welded or screwed to a steel bowstring).

Fixing the steps to the wall surface

If you are just building a house using a brick or a heavy block, it is advisable to install cantilever treads at the stage of building a house. To carry out this process, it will be necessary to embed the steps into the wall surface with a distance that will be one fourth of the step length. In other words, if you are making flights of stairs equal to eighty centimeters, then it is recommended to wedge twenty centimeters of the step.

An important requirement for this installation method is the following rule - a minimum of ten rows of masonry is required to give a tread.

In the situation of using a lighter building material, for example, porous ceramic, hollow claydite concrete block or slotted bricks, it is necessary to take the parameter slightly higher for the depth of the tread masonry. Namely: to increase it by one and a half or two times, which is approximately thirty to forty centimeters. This process cannot be carried out provided that the wall surface is thinner than required.

The aerated concrete building also has a number of features for the installation of cantilever staircase structures. On the wall surface, it will be necessary to strengthen the sections for laying the tread using an embedded element, in the manufacture of which heavy concrete was involved. There is no need to fear for external attractiveness, since there is an option for finishing with decorative overlays, for example, imitating wood. A laminated panel in the form of natural or artificial stone will look great.

The style direction of the loft, in general, does not require any modifications when installing a cantilever staircase structure.

Fixing steps with brackets

In this variation of the installation work with a cantilever ladder, an installation of a profile pipe will be required into the wall surface, the length of which should not be more than one meter. For the depth of the masonry, a parameter is taken in the range of twenty-five to thirty centimeters. For the safe operation of the ladder, the protruding part of the step should be two-thirds of the entire length of the product. This method allows you to expand the possibilities for the selection of materials for the stairs.

And also for this method of installing a staircase, it is permissible to use an engineering solid wood and materials based on a wood composite like a chipboard. This is due to the fact that the tread is not a bearing part. All loads are transferred to the brackets mounted in the wall surface. Metal elements are hidden either in grooves or in holes that need to be drilled in the tread.

Fixing with anchors

This method is applicable for erected walls and in the case when laying the finished enclosing structure using fasteners is impossible. It is worth mentioning, however, that material plays a major role here.

A wall surface made of porous blocks or slotted bricks, with the help of anchors, will not be able to support such a huge load.

Nevertheless, it is possible to install a cantilever ladder even if there is a wall surface made of fragile material. To reduce the likelihood of pulling out the anchor, it will be necessary to expand the support area of ​​the structure. To carry out such an installation of a staircase, it is necessary to purchase a certain number of welded brackets that will have a support platform.

It is recommended to fix the finished element to the wall surface in the areas where the step will be located using an anchor bolt. The number of anchor bolts is at least five pieces, the estimated length is from fifteen centimeters and with a radius of more than ten centimeters.

Fixing to the ceiling surface

This is a great alternative and solution for those cases when you are the owner of an already built house or the strength of your wall surface leaves much to be desired, and it cannot cope with a significant load. It is important to fasten the steps before finishing work begins. Fastening the staircase to the ceiling surface is that a heavy-duty metal frame will be used, which is made using a profile pipe or channel.

A similar structure is constructed with a length equal to the height of the room, due to the fact that the metal frame structure is fixed to the ceiling surface.

The metal frame is mounted very tightly against the wall surface, taking into account the entire length of the marching staircase. It also creates the ability to snap to the top and bottom floors. Then it is recommended to attach a cantilever support for treading to the resulting rack using a welding machine. Mounting bolts are used for this process. After the frame structure is completed, if desired, it can be finished with drywall sheets or applied from a light block masonry.

Fixing steps using a steel bowstring

This method is the most time consuming of all, and definitely requires building skills. This method involves the use of brackets. It is they who are subsequently welded or screwed to a bowstring made of steel. This will be the only support for the ladder cantilever structure. It is recommended to fix it on the floor using a strong support area or anchor.

In order to avoid rolling the bowstring under significant load, it is recommended to build an intricate structure. In other words, the structure must have welded trusses with the obligatory presence of a stiffener located perpendicularly and diagonally. Externally, it can be similar to the jibs of a slewing crane. The console will also require a lot of strength and concentration. You will need to plan well its structure so as not to face the instability of the step.

This probability disappears if the console is built into the wall surface.

Errors during the installation of a cantilever ladder

During the installation work of the staircase, you can skip some of the nuances, which can lead to the lack of safe operation of the staircase. Let's consider the main ones.

  • Incorrectly selected fastening method. It is imprudent to fix with anchors if the wall is made of fragile material.
  • Insecure fastening with brackets to the wall. Incorrect selection of the diameter of the steel anchor or the use of plastic dowels - the treads will loosen.
  • Use of heavy materials for handrails. Do not use cast or forged metal for the railing as it places significant stress on the cantilever staircase and steps.

Cantilever ladders are becoming more and more popular today. Thanks to the recommendations of specialists, you will be able to mount this product yourself without any extra effort.

You will learn more about cantilever ladders in the following video.