How to Insulate and Air Seal an Attic Access Opening to Save Energy

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An attic access opening can be one of the weakest points in a building's conditioned living space envelope. Build this foam lid to air seal and insulate an attic access opening for lower heating and cooling bills. If you found this video helpful please hit the like button and subscribe.
How to Air Seal and Insulate and Attic
• How to Air Seal and In...

[@shawn595]

I would "like" this video twice if I could. Thank you for sharing. I've been racking my head to figure out how to seal up both the attic openings in my house and this is exactly the kind of solution I've trying to come up with!

[@kentschrader3900]

Another great solution - thank you! It was good to see what you did as I used a slight variation of that. I made a 1/2" plywood door about an inch larger than the opening it rests on. I used M-90 spray adhesive to glue six layers of R-5 Styrofoam to the "top" side and refrigerator door insulation (strips) along the edges of the "bottom" to make a nice, firm seal. With the foam layers, it gives a total R-30. It's July, and that door stays cool all afternoon. In my old house, that got hot! I'm looking forward to seeing how this works in the winter. Thanks again!

[@GeoShark3088]

Brillant! Wish I could double like any video that uses stuff I already have on hand.

[@majestyphoto6801]

Brilliant idea! Thanks for posting this, better than making a hinged one. I will do the same in my new build! Merry Christmas!

[@HowtoHacks]

Thanks and Merry Christmas to you too.

[@Mark300win]

You are super smart!!!! How can i like this video 100 times!

[@HowtoHacks]

Thanks

[@luistello1971]

Thanks brother! Your approach makes a lot of sense.

[@HowtoHacks]

You’re welcome

[@almason253]

Nice! Thanks for sharing.

[@HowtoHacks]

You’re welcome

[@danielnorman8208]

Great video thanks!

[@HowtoHacks]

You’re welcome

[@user-wi8nj3oo6e]

This is a great idea! Thanks

[@HowtoHacks]

Thanks

[@cindycinal2201]

Good idea !!

[@HowtoHacks]

Thanks!

[@blokprintzprintwithpaint972]

We have a downwards-opening roof hatch. Can you recommend a way of insulating it?

[@HowtoHacks]

You should be able to do it the same way. Just build a box between the rafters and make a foam lid.

[@MiloradMacesic-MeadowvaleSS]

what does the lower cover look like and how do you finish it around the edges and keep it up there, sorry i'm trying to do the same thing in my new build

[@HowtoHacks]

I made sure the box was going to be tall enough so that I could put a trim insert with a recessed casing and a piece of drywall or plywood on top. If you do this the box in the attic holding back the insulation has to be tall enough to allow the lower piece of plywood or drywall to be removed. You could also make a door that hinges down.

[@jejeking1]

Thanks for the video! Quick question. Why not set the designed lid flush with the ceiling rather than where you have it? Won't you have some leakage in your wooden cube since the R-value of 1" plywood is around 1.25. Even if you have blown insulation behind the plywood, wouldn't it be more efficient if the lid was siting flush with the ceiling and eliminate all the plywood surface where air could potentially leak?

[@HowtoHacks]

You could try that. However you need room for the lid handles and the way the lid is designed the top layer of foam sits on top of the plywood while the other is inside the opening so it creates a very tight seal. I also sealed the plywood joints up with spray foam while the outside of the plywood is covered in insulation.

[@michaelbelt4050]

@@HowtoHacks did you build the wooden tube above the entrance to prevent insulation from falling in when you open the 'hatch'?

[@HowtoHacks]

@@michaelbelt4050 yes

[@hyrumsmith102]

Would you recommend the solid foam or the fiberglass insulation?

[@HowtoHacks]

Solid foam because it blocks airflow.

[@southerncomfort971]

i am assuming you place a additional cover over the ceiling opening for looks?

[@HowtoHacks]

Yep

[@luistello1971]

I really like your approach because it is better in my experience to just adding a fiberglass batt as the attic access lid. In time the fiberglass batt may develop mold due to condensation in the winter as heat escapes. Having said that I would like to know how did you finish off the access panel? It is common to see trim wood around the ceiling opening and sheetrock sitting on top of the trim. But in this case that approach may not make sense because you have to push the access panel up and out. I was thinking of a solution where there is no trim and the sheetrock is removed down and away. In your case what did you end up doing?

[@HowtoHacks]

I’m going to do a trimmed out opening with an inset door on hinges that swings down. I’ll just use some kind of adjustable latch to hold it in place.

[@luistello1971]

@@HowtoHacks I took your feedback, did my analysis, and found a solution.

[@HowtoHacks]

@@luistello1971 what did you do?

[@luistello1971]

@@HowtoHacks Currently, I am in the design phase of a down and away access panel. I have two designs. The first has a hinge with a lock. Instead of sheetrock I am just going to use a plywood because it is lighter and R values are very similar. Behind the plywood would be other plywood along the contour of the access door to keep it flushed against the ceiling. To complete the outside I would add basic wood for support on the hinge and lock. At the top and around I would just apply the foam access lid and add foam board around the access port. The second design would place the foam board at the access panel door. I would create a stack foam boards and remove it from the bottom. Again I would use plywood for the panel access door and wood only on two opposite sides to hold the ply access door. One thing different in this design is that the access panel door splits in two and slides into the wood on the side. This is to allow the handles to not pump into the plywood. I am not looking too much into looks at this point but more into functionality and insulation. I can adjust the aesthetics in later versions.

[@jackspencer8290]

Mold needs two things to survive: water and food. Cellulose (wood, paper) is food. But fiberglass is not food for mold, so it won't grow in it.

[@mattjones3257]

Would it be a good idea to add some kind of adhesive compressible foam rubber or weather stripping around the top perimeter of the attic access and then maybe add some bungees or springs to further reduce air leaks? Thanks for this idea! Much easier than others I have seen.

[@HowtoHacks]

Yeah I think those are both good ideas.

[@Leo-wd8vq]

how about the cover? any videos to make the cover?

[@HowtoHacks]

No I didn’t do a video. Building one that folds down would be ideal. However there are several ways that would work.

[@JamesWhiting96]

What if you have a loft ladder

[@HowtoHacks]

It can still be done. You can build a box out of the ridged foam or plywood to elevate the lid so it clears the folding ladder.