Insulate a Fold Down Attic Ladder Hatch
An uninsulated fold-down attic ladder hatch can allow a considerable amount of heat to escape from the interior spaces of your house in the winter. Similarly, in the summer, insufficient insulation on the hatch can let in a lot of heat from an overly hot attic. Attic ladder hatch insulation kits are available for as much as $250, but you can easily make a sufficient insulation kit with some more inexpensive materials and some basic hand tools. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Open the attic hatch and fold down the ladder.
2. Climb up the ladder, and measure the length and width of the hatch opening. Verify that there is a ceiling joist or cross-brace on each of the four sides of the hatch opening, and that the tops of these members are all flush at the top with one another.
3. Add three inches to both dimensions that you measured in the previous step.
4. Using a utility knife, cut a single piece of rigid foam insulation to these dimensions. Also, cut two strips of foam at eight inches by the longer of the two measurements. Finally, subtract three inches from the shorter measurement, and cut two more strips of foam at eight inches by this length.
5. Place the large piece of foam on the floor. Position the other four strips on the edges of the large piece to create a box shape. Apply construction adhesive to all adjoining edges and allow the adhesive to dry.
6. Turn the box over so that the large piece of foam is facing upward. Position the two fiberglass bats onto the top of the box, and trim them if necessary to eliminate any overlaps. Glue the two batts onto the top of the box with construction adhesive.
7. Climb the stairs, and apply a strip of adhesive-backed weatherstripping to the four ceiling joist members surrounding the attic hatch opening. Be sure that the strips are continuous with no gaps.
8. Carry the foam box up the attic stairs, and lift it into the attic. Place the box over the hatch opening so that the open portion of the box is facing downward. Adjust the positioning of the box so that the four edges are resting firmly on the weatherstripping, with no gaps that air can escape or enter.
9. Climb down the stairs, and close the attic ladder hatch. Verify that the folded ladder does not interfere with the newly installed box.
Tags: hatch opening, ladder hatch, large piece, attic hatch, Attic Ladder, attic ladder
