How to Install an Attic Access Door for Insulation

How to open up access into your attic space for inspection and/or insulation. Covers how to select a location, find studs, measure and cut a hole, install trim, etc. for the new door. The end result is discrete and looks professional.
In response to a question about insulating the door cutout, we made this video: • Insulating the Attic A...

[@rockynfl14]

8 years later and this video is still helping people like me. Well done. Good job not skipping any steps and explaining things so well. Seriously.

[@JohnSmith-4U]

its 2023......very helpful video

[@joeny1980]

to simplify installation of the trim, i'd probably create the square on a table and wood glue it together and maybe staple it on the back. This will let you get it nice and square without working over your head. Then put the whole piece in place at once. Less need to get it perfect.

[@anthonyroman6726]

9.5 years later and this video is still helping people like me. Well done.

[@stevenmccallan9202]

Way to go dad! teach your children, boys and girls, how to work around the house and fix things. It's an invaluable skill and gives them confidence and a sense of self-satisfaction

[@Snowflakeliberalsaremelting]

Absolutely, you hit every nail on the head 👍

[@shroudedcuteness]

Awesome, thank you so much. And I love that you're teaching your daughter. As a handywomen, I really appreciate that :)

[@heyallenify]

I'm another homeowner finding this useful, years after you posted it. Thank you for sharing your tips and tricks!

[@FulanitoMk2]

I recently moved into a row house in Washington DC, and while the row house had a brand new room (

[@ZeroOne46]

7 years later you're still helping out guys like me. Thanks a lot👍

[@aaronroberts6782]

You saved me man! I was here looking into how in the world was I going to install the mother-in-law's ceiling fan in her condo which has stomp texture ceiling knowing I had to cut a huge hole to install support for the adjustable ceiling fan bracket. There was no way to do this without it looking disturbed and amateurish! I even was going to have to figure out how to redo the texture and repaint the whole ceiling. Now I can just create an access panel in a closet or laundry room and get to the living room without doing much damage. You have a fan for life (no pun intended)!!

[@jebtucker9359]

Fantastic video. No needless chatter. Quick and simple. Bravo!

[@karhukivi]

This is exactly what I need to do, and include some of the ideas below in the comments too (latches, walls for the insulation etc). My daughters are grown up but will probably be happy to help too. Thank you!

[@pushingdasies1]

Thank you. You and your daughter were really helpful with this install. My attic access is partially blocked. I'm thinking of installing a second access point, and this is giving me ideas what to do/where to put it.

[@Digmen1]

Your young helper is great. I bet she liked helping Dad.

[@lauradoiron6095]

I love how your kids are involved. Thanks for your great explanation

[@andycensus]

Thanks for the video, I have two rental homes that were not properly insulated so this really helps in fixing the problem. BTW you have some great helpers.

[@goldengirl54]

Putting one in, but more in the middle of the room where a preexisting hole is to make it nice and neat looking. Doing the insulation ourselves! Thanks!

[@ajn9182]

You should also build 4 sided walls that keep the blown insulation from falling into the access hole when opened. Then use a piece of fiberglass insulation over the door inside the walls you built.

[@patmcbride9853]

I used multiple layers of hard foam board insulation on mine so I would not have to touch any fiberglass when handling the hatch door.

[@packrat4120]

Thank you for the very useful video. I followed your instructions and was able to install my own attic access trap.

[@1stpagelocal]

Perfect walk through of how to do one of my next projects. Thank you.

[@EC4400]

Excellent video! Great teacher, you pay attention to the details.

[@brucelevins]

super simple, exactly what i was looking for, Excellent video!!

[@FogoFox]

Bruce Levins Glad it was valuable to you!

[@vp1514]

This is what exactly I am planning to do but dont know how? Really helpful video.

[@Trilldinho]

Love that you got your daughter helping ❤️

[@goodairin]

Well done! It gave me some good ideas for my attic access hole and how to finish it.

[@paul19067]

Simple clear cut instructions followed by a super clear video presentation.What I first thought was a complicated project made easy. Plus the addition of comments a big bonus.Thank you

[@willvegas702]

Nice. This was the only Video I found online to make a simple ceiling access door. Thank You. I suspect the same thing in my home too!

[@matthewl1187]

Nice vid. I am in need of an access door in my ceiling for some electrical work and for long term storage. Excellent work and thanks for sharing.

[@FogoFox]

matthewl1187 Thanks! If you get a chance to post a photo or video of your work, that would be cool to see.

[@danarichards2763]

Just what I was looking for!! Thank you so much

[@digicourvoisier9545]

Just what I was looking for. Thank you for sharing!

[@GaryThomo]

Great advise. Thanks from the UK

[@redball4093]

Nice to see the involvement of the kids. Great job.

[@Exodus3360]

You make it look so easy!

[@livingmywinedreams]

thanks so much!! I Love that you are teaching your daughter!

[@TheGazza636]

great info you made a possible disaster look a fairly easy job thanks

[@jorgeub27]

I get tired just watching you do everything by hand. Great job man 👍

[@BJOlson]

I have a 4 year old daughter and I can only hope she will be that confident and comfortable working on a ladder. That kid looks like a mini contractor, backwards cap and all!

[@FogoFox]

Thanks for the compliment, John. Good luck with the install.

[@kiritlemaila2350]

Thank you very much to keep it simple who will we be without you your channel is worth to subscribe no video time to watch unnecessary everything I need just here thank you very much

[@daquilema2011]

Your video have helped me a lot thanks :)

[@ipeteagles]

Really helpful & precise. Thanks!

[@glennglazier4046]

OUTSTANDING instruction!

[@BeckiePeacock]

You make this look so easy! It's giving me the confidence to have a go :o)

[@davidsimpson8108]

excellent this is a great time saver and money saver!!!

[@FogoFox]

Thanks for the question - we updated the video description above with a link to a video showing how we insulated the access door.

[@jm39509]

Thank you this was exactly what I was looking for, very helpful.

[@JohnSmith-4U]

its 2023...thank you

[@heyitsmecarl1]

thanks-very informative!

[@perryhannah7021]

I think your service is great

[@lancedyer4870]

Very nice. I feel empowered now.. thank you!

[@icespeckledhens]

How are you going to insulate over the access door and with what? thanks for the video

[@Ironbuket]

Ive got a similar situation to this one where I want to fit my new hatch. There is a beam laying across the other beams right where I want the hatch to go. I did some online searching and I think it is called a hanging beam? Apparently it is there to support things in the room hanging off the beams and to stop the beams going at right angles from sagging. Does anyone know what the best way to support those beams when you cut through them? Just connecting across the two beams eitehr side of the the hatch wont spread the weight of people hanging off the hatch edge any further than those two beams? Should it be suported across 4 beams maybe or how many to return original strength?

[@pazzmatt]

I live an apartment and there are raccoons in my attic. The property managers have tried repeatedly but they can't keep them out. I've come up with my own plan to get rid of them hehe, but I was skeptical about opening the attic on my own. I wanted to know what I was in for and how to hurry and close it quickly if needed LOL. There's no string hanging and it just didn't look like a regular attic door. This vid helped me to understand why. The access hole in my closet looks exactly like that. You have no idea how many times I've stared at that thing trying to figure out what those panels around the hole were for. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I understand now how to open it and close it.

[@vince8691]

Very nicely done.

[@jcancel53]

Thanks very much for the video!! It help me very a lot.

[@DS1JohnB]

Thanks for this excellent tutorial. The time lapse was nice too, it saved me from spending 15 minutes watching you set up and saw. Was that an electrical wire I thought I saw running along the stud closest to the wall? Good idea to saw by hand for safety. I will probably wear a full face respirator mask when I do mine, I have no idea what is going to fall down out of there.

[@FogoFox]

It's been a few years, but yes, it was an electrical wire. It would have been faster to do it with a sawzall, but doing it by hand allows you to "feel" if something isn't right and to adjust your procedure - it can definitely help avoid chopping through things you don't want to chop through....like wires.

[@anakinlola]

Good video, easy and basic.

[@henrychinaski5223]

Great video! I need to install an access door in the hall and this really helps.

[@FogoFox]

Glad it was helpful!

[@bathfun]

fantastic video. Thanks

[@kelmed4954]

Love your helper!

[@ecordy]

That was an excellent video.

[@DaFireman33]

mind blown... very nice...very simple...much thnx

[@DecoratingMagic]

Nice job. Do you have a video on how to lay an attic floor? Thanks, Susan

[@macgyver_diy]

Very good video!

[@LAndre2874]

Great video turned out excellent any suggestions from anyone if there's lath and plaster ceilings?

[@PnoyWonderBoy]

im thinking of expaning my attic entry, I have no experience but where can I get the trim? I looked on home depot and all I'm seeing are corner trims.

[@guyin916]

wow! amazing! thank you for this!

[@ShabbirHussain-dm5lt]

Next project in my garage. Cz we dont have access to inside but only removing tiles from the roof. This makes it easy and more storage space for small things if we put some plywood on those framings .

[@lukemartin7029]

Neat idea using the vice grips on a sawzall blade.

[@mr.nguyen3222]

Appreciate this video.

[@chrisjozsa9987]

Thanks!

[@lawpilot8526]

4/1/2022 Excellent presentation. Thank you.

[@johnharris49]

Great job. I like the FF to get us to highlights. Your kids are great too, :) Thanks for the info...I'll put mine in using your video. jH

[@vd2597]

This was great. Thanks

[@jayytklpy]

Thanks for sharing this

[@aevoss]

Curious as to why you’re gonna blow in insulation rather than used bats and foam core in the rafters. I just bought this house and I’m thinking of taking all the blown in insulation out of the attic and putting in bats and foam core in the rafters. What’s your take on this? Thank you

[@Eastbaypisces]

what was that piece you cut going to or holding up? and how long was it anyway?

[@WittyVictory]

With an attic access like this, is there a way to add a lock 🔐 to it from the inside of the house?

[@jamestoyworld6818]

That's what I had in mind. I'm glad I saw an example though.

[@g8auto]

great video thanks

[@wilg4654]

thank you sir

[@Eastbaypisces]

what kind of trim can you use?

[@jessicaviva]

That little girl is my hero 🤗 🤗

[@valkor73]

good video

[@Digiphex]

The door itself needs some foam glued on it as insulation and a baffle can be installed in the attic to prevent insulation from coming out the hole when you open it.

[@HumveesandConstruction]

safety glasses my friend!

[@Eastbaypisces]

wait so if I get this right, u never had an access door or the insulation guys closed it up to cover up there unfinished job?

[@JungleYT]

*That's cool teaching your daughter how to do this... Plus, she seemed to be into it*

[@JohnSmith-4U]

its 2023 and this video its DA BOMB

[@bluesmanreturns]

good job nice you had hepler

[@jokacentaur2071]

Much appreciated

[@RickUzubell]

Nicely done! You better keep your helper busy before she loses interest Lol!

[@linettearnold519]

How far away from the outside wall in the attic should the access be placed? It is a ranch house.

[@twobunnyrabbit]

Thanks for sharing this.

[@evab4479]

Thanks , was just looking up at my ceiling and wondering, what in the world am I going to do about it . Now I know

[@cynthiasandor2928]

Excellent video! I need access from my master bedroom into the attic in order to fix my duct work. Now, I do not have to crawl from the other side of the house over the rafters (I have cathederal ceilings) possibly damaging existing duct work.

[@cynthiasandor2928]

Had to cut the trim about 1/2" shorter than actual dimension of opening to allow for a lip around all the edges. Otherwise, all went well. Thank you.

[@djtomins3721]

Thanks

[@lunaburnt-toast718]

Thank you! This is exactly what we want to do with our place. edit: 10 years later :-p

[@Linda-rn7pg]

How much would something like this cost in the UK?

[@mashurst]

Very well done. Gives me the coincidence to take on a similar project blocking an existing access hole

[@DarkGhostHacker]

I already have an access door but it's sealed. There's screws in the wooden cover. Raccoons are in the attic. How do I remove the cover, and then reseal it?

[@mariacarrasquillo3699]

what size access?

[@evelyntorres6820]

👍thk you