How To Insulate Attic Drop Down Access Stairs

Not very good for insulation.

How to insulate attic drop down access stairs.

Insulate add insulation to the exterior of the plywood box. Products designed to seal or insulate attic stairs. The battic door attic stairs cover. Once the opening has been sealed it can be further insulated by building a foam box in the attic to enclose the stairs.

Several companies sell prefacbricated foam or fabric enclosures or tents designed to reduce air leaks and heat loss at attic stairs. You can remove the stairs and replace them with a smaller hatch. Step 1 air sealing the trim. Installing a pull down attic ladder is essential for safer easier access to your attic.

If you need to insulate your entire attic then be sure to read our blog. Before we can get to fixing the entire hatch however let s close the cracks around the hatch itself. Assemble the sides of the box with metallic duct tape. Since with attic insulation we gun for a pretty high standard at least r 49 the coffin insulation should match.

Feb 21 2015 even if your attic is well insulated the folding stairs that provides access can be a major source of heat loss. Measure the size and height of the stairs from the attic. We ll show you how to cut out frame the opening then install a fo. Most drop down stairs are covered on the bottom by a thin piece of plywood.

The hatch should be insulated with at least 6 in. Position the box over the stair opening in the attic. Our smartattic insulation kit seals the entry access and helps to improve the havc efficiency. Watch this video to see how to make an insulating cover from foam board to insulate the stairs leading to your attic.

At least 4 of foil faced polyisocyanurate should be glued to the box though 6 or 8 isn t uncommon. Attach the foam box to the. Begin by checking to see if the attic stairs close tightly then apply self adhesive foam weather stripping around the perimeter where the plywood door meets the frame except on the hinge end. Attic access door is the weakest link in most homes.

Most pull down attic stairs are leaky and poorly insulated. Cut sides and top from sheets of 3 4 foam board with a utility knife.