How To Insulate Your Attic Stairs

Insulate the bottom side of stairs.

How to insulate your attic stairs.

Apply weather stripping first check that your folding attic stairs are able to close securely and tightly. Check the label to ensure it s large enough to insulate an attic with pull down. To fix the problem install foam weather stripping around the perimeter of the attic stair opening or construct an insulating stair cover. Some areas that get overlooked include.

Then take your self adhesive foam weather stripping and apply it all around the perimeter of where the frame and the door meet. Add insulation to the exterior of the plywood box. From inside the attic check for any openings holes or fenestrations into the knee wall surrounding area. Place the tent over the opening of the stairs to see how it fits.

Effectively insulating a house isn t rocket science but there are a few areas that folks forget to account for which can result in quite a large amount of heat loss. Use spray foam to air seal these openings if they exist. With attic insulation we aim for a pretty high standard usually at least r 49 and the coffin insulation should match. The other are that is often overlooked.

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. That means that you should glue at least 4 inches of foil faced polyisocyanurate r 26 to the box. Purchase an attic tent at a building supply store or online. Once the opening has been sealed it can be further insulated by building a foam box in the attic to enclose the stairs.

Spray foam insulation home dependent once you have the materials you can begin to seal and insulate the knee wall access door through these steps. Do not apply the weather stripping to the hinge end.