Insulating And Weather Stripping The Attic Hatch

First install foam weather stripping on the inside of the trim or directly onto the hatch.

Insulating and weather stripping the attic hatch.

Insulate the hatch remove your existing attic hatch and measure its size. Insulating the hatch cut foam board to 1 2 less than the size of the hatch on each side. The insulation will both slow heat loss and add ballast to the hatch to improve the seal at the weatherstripping. Pray that the installer used finish nails and not say ring shank nails.

Cut two pieces of foam board that are about 1 4 smaller than the hatch. Install the weather stripping onto the hatch or on the inside of the trim. Carefully pull down the finish trim. Attach the pieces of foam board to themselves and then attach them to the hatch.

Apply a bead of glue to it and attach it to the plywood hatch. Once you have the appropriate materials you can start the process of sealing and insulating the attic hatch. To insulate an attic hatch you need weather stripping rigid foam board and fiberglass batt insulation. When the sash locks are rotated in use they form an air tight seal with the foam weatherstripping.

Foil faced polyiso is the greenest and best performing of the foam options. Cut four pieces of polystyrene rigid insulation about 1 2 inch smaller than the dimensions of the hatch. The stops provide a wider surface for attaching the weatherstrip and a space to mount hook and eye fasteners. Wash rinse and repeat until you have added at least 4 of foam board but preferably 8 of foam.

Air seal the trim the first step is air sealing the finish trim and enclosure around the attic hatch. Access doors from conditioned spaces to unconditioned spaces e g attics and crawl spaces shall be weather stripped and insulated to a level equivalent to the insulation on the surrounding surfaces. Access shall be provided to all equipment which prevents damaging or compressing the insulation. If your hatch rests directly on the moldings add 2 1 2 inch wide stops around the opening.

Cut out two pieces of rigid foam board that are 1 4 inch smaller than the hatch so homeowners can slide the attic access panel open easily. To guarantee a good seal i paired sash locks with a gasket of foam weather stripping around the frame of the attic hatch.