How Do I Insulate My Attic Hatch

Attic hatch or door.
How do i insulate my attic hatch. Insulate and air seal your attic hatch to save money and improve your house s comfort. I secured a couple pine boards cut to size on each side of the hatch to create a level plane with the entry frame. To reduce energy loss and enhance a home s durability there are several prefabricated systems designed to insulate attic access hatches and to prevent drafts through them. Attic ventilation works on the principle that heated air naturally rises primarily utilizing two types of vents.
He is also the author of the energy auditing blog. In addition there are many do it yourself methods and materials available for customized thermal sealing of attic openings. Learn more below about how to insulate your attic door. To keep the blown in insulation from falling through the attic hatch opening make a 2x12 dam around the hatch perimeter.
I went into my attic so many times in preparation for adding the blown in insulation. Then to really seal the attic access up tight says olson lay fiberglass batt insulation on the inside of the hatch or door and wrap it up tight like a christmas present photo 3. Erik north the owner of free energy maine is an energy auditor and home performance specialist in westbrook maine. The attic hatch or scuttle hole is a removable panel in the dry walled ceiling located in a closet or hallway.
Despite both of these attic doors being easy to insulate many contractors don t do it. It was important to me to easily and securely grab onto the attic hatch which is why i added sash lifts to use as handles. Affix rigid foam insulation to the attic side of the hatch or door. First install foam weather stripping on the inside of the trim or directly onto the hatch.
To insulate an attic hatch you need weather stripping rigid foam board and fiberglass batt insulation. Especially with it being winter and all addressing the lack of insulation around your attic hatch is a simple home upgrade for the new year that will save you energy and money year round. Pull down stair or ladder. Add weatherstripping around the perimeter and a sweep to the door of a walk up attic.
Use a zippered insulated tent to keep the enclosure draft free. After market attic hatch insulating products. Treat your attic door as if it was a door leading to the outdoors.