Insulating And Weather Stripping The Attic Hatch

Attach the pieces of foam board to themselves and then attach them to the hatch.

Insulating and weather stripping the attic hatch.

Insulating the hatch cut foam board to 1 2 less than the size of the hatch on each side. Access shall be provided to all equipment which prevents damaging or compressing the insulation. Cut two pieces of foam board that are about 1 4 smaller than the hatch. Once you have the appropriate materials you can start the process of sealing and insulating the attic hatch.

The insulation will both slow heat loss and add ballast to the hatch to improve the seal at the weatherstripping. Air seal the trim the first step is air sealing the finish trim and enclosure around the attic hatch. How to insulate and air seal an attic access 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.

Apply a bead of glue to it and attach it to the plywood hatch. The stops provide a wider surface for attaching the weatherstrip and a space to mount hook and eye fasteners. 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. Carefully pull down the finish trim.

Cut four pieces of polystyrene rigid insulation about 1 2 inch smaller than the dimensions of the hatch. Sealing the attic hatch or door finish up by sealing the access hatch with self sticking weather stripping. Insulate the hatch remove your existing attic hatch and measure its size. If your hatch rests directly on the moldings add 2 1 2 inch wide stops around the opening.

My apologies for the lack of photos but you can surely imagine how it works glue layers of insulation to hatch. Wash rinse and repeat until you have added at least 4 of foam board but preferably 8 of foam. When the sash locks are rotated in use they form an air tight seal with the foam weatherstripping. Pray that the installer used finish nails and not say ring shank nails.

First install foam weather stripping on the inside of the trim or directly onto the hatch. To insulate an attic hatch you need weather stripping rigid foam board and fiberglass batt insulation.