My shop is a Monitor style barn that has a loft on each side of the downstairs that is between the downstairs and the upstairs. If you are not familiar with the Monitor shape it's the barn that has an upstairs over only the center of the downstairs and the rest of the downstairs on either side is covered by a roof that intersects the sidewall of the upstairs. As an afterthought I put a loft on each side of the downstairs for storage. The loft floor is 87" from the floor of the downstairs. I use half of an A frame ladder with a 2x4 cleat on the end to hook onto the loft floor along with a rope hanging from the rafters to climb into the loft. I'm trying to figure out a better ( safer) access stair. I have considered getting a metal rolling stair and cut it down to the height I need. The problem with these is they take up a lot of space. I have also considered building something like a ships ladder with the railings on either side so I have something to hold on to. The main issue is I need something to hold on to ascending and descending especially while carrying something; which is most of the time, and the pitch of the ladder I currently use is steeper than I would like.
I have also considered buying a ceiling mounted attic stair and somehow suspending it off of the entrance to the loft or build a stair that hinges off of the entrance to the loft and pull it up with a pulley when not in use.
As you can see, I have been thinking about this for a long time. I'm just looking for other ideas or suggestions I may not have thought of.
Thanks
Chris