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...

[@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 👍

[@anthonyroman6726]

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

[@heyallenify]

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

[@shroudedcuteness]

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

[@ZeroOne46]

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

[@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!

[@jebtucker9359]

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

[@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!

[@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.

[@jorgeub27]

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

[@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.

[@Trilldinho]

Love that you got your daughter helping ❤️

[@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.

[@redball4093]

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

[@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.

[@glennglazier4046]

OUTSTANDING instruction!

[@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!

[@lauradoiron6095]

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

[@packrat4120]

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

[@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 .

[@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.

[@TheGazza636]

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

[@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.

[@lancedyer4870]

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

[@1stpagelocal]

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

[@MiamiGeneralContractor]

safety glasses my friend!

[@goodairin]

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

[@GaryThomo]

Great advise. Thanks from the UK

[@jessicaviva]

That little girl is my hero 🤗 🤗

[@mashurst]

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

[@EC4400]

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

[@danarichards2763]

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

[@perryhannah7021]

I think your service is great

[@JohnSmith-4U]

its 2023 and this video its DA BOMB

[@RickUzubell]

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

[@daquilema2011]

Your video have helped me a lot thanks :)

[@jamestoyworld6818]

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

[@Exodus3360]

You make it look so easy!

[@digicourvoisier9545]

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

[@leesalazar220]

What a helpful daughter lol! My son is 6 and doesn't care when I'm doing house work HAHA

[@SM-ok3sz]

3:03 MY GOD HE'S A SUPER MAN!

[@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

[@DaFireman33]

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

[@anakinlola]

Good video, easy and basic.

[@kelmed4954]

Love your helper!

[@DecoratingMagic]

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

[@DOLRED]

I have such openings in my house--one in an upper hall. I was hoping to eventually make a more solid, secure hinged "Door" for the openings... so I was checking KZbin for ideas. It is not unusual for our area to have a severe storm (High winds) at least once a year. I have seen access doors get sucked up into an attic and blow down by tornadic winds which sends loose insulation; dust and debris into your house--big time. I have inspected many such occurrences in my working years. It is not pretty to clean up or deal with.

[@FogoFox]

Wow - that would definitely stink. I've never had a problem with this type of door (in Texas, Idaho and Utah) but if its a concern in your area, I would definitely add some sort of latches or something to prevent that. Good advice for those in tornado zones.

[@davidosborne3928]

I like the fact that you have your young ones helping...but especially with young ones helping, you should encourage more safety like safety glasses and masks, you said there will be dust that is why you covered the floor. You never know what may be laying on top of the dry wall

[@mike464946]

Thanks - you made that look easy. Going to do the same (Without the help of cute kids)

[@chrisjozsa9987]

Thanks!

[@bathfun]

fantastic video. Thanks

[@jayytklpy]

Thanks for sharing this

[@vd2597]

This was great. Thanks

[@bluesmanreturns]

good job nice you had hepler

[@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

[@macgyver_diy]

Very good video!

[@linettearnold519]

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

[@johnleodevenecia3832]

Thank you. I bought a remodeled ranch home and somehow does not have any access to the attic. Now I have an idea how is is made.

[@bobdroidsky225]

make sure you don't cut into your A/C

[@southerncomfort971]

sorry nothing i could find shows what part of the country you are in and i am in Ontario Canada where insulation is a must. Both winter and summer.

[@wilg4654]

thank you sir

[@intelligentenergytips5273]

Thanks i like gonna make that one of the diy father son projects, from green energy guy

[@Linda-rn7pg]

How much would something like this cost in the UK?

[@JeffreyFeyh-rb4xk]

But with a multitool you can guage the depth of your cut. So technically you would be safer then using a hand tool that is longer

[@g8auto]

great video thanks

[@mariacarrasquillo3699]

24x24 2 1/2 inch trimming

[@evelyntorres6820]

👍thk you

[@WittyVictory]

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

[@williamlee1950]

So when the insulators come back to insulate the attic, what's to keep the new insulation from falling down the access until it's closed? Did you simply nail the trim to the Sheetrock? What's to keep the trim from falling down when the insulators are crawling in and out or pulling their hose up into the attic?

[@FogoFox]

The trim is nailed through the sheetrock into 2x4 wood studs located above the sheetrock. You are correct that nailing wood trim to sheetrock would be a very poor idea with a high likelihood of failure. To keep blown-in insulation from falling out every time you open the hatch, the best thing is to nail some plywood strips vertically (on all 4 sides of the opening) to the studs to create a barrier.

[@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.

[@mariacarrasquillo3699]

what size access?

[@Eastbaypisces]

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

[@Eastbaypisces]

what kind of trim can you use?

[@mrcbuds]

Can someone help me what was the reasoning for the 2x4s going across and then being cut ?

[@muzzle505]

I think they just got in the way of someone climbing through the hole, and made it more difficult to remove and replace the removable piece of drywall when opening or closing the hole.

[@kotvisbj]

What are you nailing into? I see 2x4s on the shorter sides but nothing on the long side.

[@FogoFox]

Before we even made the first cut into the ceiling, we used a stud finder to locate the existing "rafters" (2"x4" lumber that holds up the ceiling). Then, when we made the cuts, we cut just to the inside of those 2X4s (which run all the way down both of the "long sides" of the hole. Then, we cut the shorter 2x4s and nailed them in to the short side. So, in essence, all four sides of the hole have the 2X4s along the sides and that is what we nailed into.

[@kotvisbj]

FogoFox Thanks! Unfortunately, I need to provide access to water in a drywall ceiling from the basement so I can't add a 2x4. I think I will have to use a bogus vent.

[@FogoFox]

You can actually add the 2X4s from below too, if there is space. Just set them up on top of the drywall and then drive a screw up through the drywall into the 2X4. That will hold the 2X4 in place so that when you go to add the trim to hold up the panel, you can then nail into the 2X4.

[@roennest]

Damn... The only insulation is blocking for ventilation.

[@19dannydude97]

No safety glasses, tisk tisk not smart.

[@JBliehall]

Safety goggles!!!!

[@gamachoduck]

I like the video, well done, informative and not too long, but I have to throw a flag at the ghetto drywall saw. It is worth the $5 for a real jab saw!

[@prockon741]

Glad you didn't hit an electrical wire.... Good video though

[@wowsdd-guy5535]

Dude's fast.

[@autorog1234]

👍 lil girls hat

[@markshepherd3701]

You should be wearing safety glasses when your cutting! And teach your kids to work safely too!!

[@pierreklee7490]

Very good for what I need - but - you and your assistant should have been wearing safety glasses.

[@ryan13msu]

Pierre Klee Theres always one

[@StylebenderCKB]

Bahahahahahha

[@Dabby724]

If you think you need safety glasses for this small project then please hire someone who knows what they're doing :)

[@joeny1980]

While I think some people overdo it with safety equipment, I'd agree on this one. If you're cutting drywall on the ceiling, get ready for drywall dust in your eyes, or worse yet fiberglass insulation, or worse yet mouse droppings.

[@rebhat32]

@@Dabby724 It's a good idea to wear them, or you could end up a student at a blind facility. I've had many a contractor that went blind with this same mentality. "It will never happen to me"

[@bmlennox]

you were using an air nailer with no safety glasses, and shooting nails right near your kids face-again she had no safety glasses either-yikes...not good...

[@xChromerSatanasx]

You need to invest in some power tools. Although cool and simple method. Thanks

[@armandom.5299]

Not pro... That's for sure

[@Metaltrippin2]

Thanks for wasting my time

[@FogoFox]

You're welcome ???

[@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

[@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.

[@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)!!

[@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?

[@beneisenberger6047]

Thanks for sharing but think I would use a piece of plywood instead of putting that messy drywall back in.

[@drumbyte]

Maybe fasten the old drywall onto a new piece of wood for support, then insulation on the back of the wood.

[@BeckiePeacock]

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

[@FulanitoMk2]

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

[@jcancel53]

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

[@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

[@FogoFox]

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

[@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?

[@LAndre2874]

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