Air Sealing Attic Hatch

Diy sealing the attic hatch attic hatches are often not air sealed allowing air to transfer between the conditioned space and the attic.

Air sealing attic hatch. These issues results in drafts heat loss in the winter. Pre made insulated attic stair covers are also available from local home improvement centers or on the web. Cut a piece of fiberglass or rigid foam board insulation the same size as the attic hatch and nail or glue it to the back of the hatch. 2 thick foam board 4 8 sheet with an r value of 10 or greater 15 foam weather stripping the wider the better 1 can great stuff foam or similar 1 tube liquid nail or other construction adhesive 8 16 penny nails misc.

Once everything is constructed and air tight we remove the attic hatch top and apply a layer of closed cell foam that exceeds r 19. Treat the attic door like a door to the outside. Then finish up by sealing the access hatch with self sticking foam weatherstrip photos 10 and 11. In addition they are usually constructed from thin wood or drywall neither of which provides any appreciable resistance to energy loss.

If you have pull down attic stairs or an attic door these should be sealed in a similar manner. How to insulate and air seal an attic access hatch. Hardware 2 small bungee cords to seal it tight. Air seal the trim the first step is air sealing the finish trim and enclosure around the attic hatch.

Weatherstrip the edges and put a piece of rigid foam board insulation on the back of the door. When you re done sealing your attic bypasses push the insulation back into place with an old broom handle or stick as you back out of the attic. Closed cell foam is applied to the top side of the attic hatch to increase the r value of the attic hatch. Latches and gaskets are added to make the attic hatch air tight.