Insulating Your Attic Hatch

The energy guardian universal hatch cover improves your home in three essential ways.

Insulating your attic hatch.

Cut a piece of fiberglass or rigid foam board insulation the same size as the attic hatch and nail or glue it to the back of the hatch. This industry leading air seal eliminates drafts in winter and hot spots in summer lowering heating and cooling bills. So what to do. You want a nice big puffy pillow of insulation to stop any air leaks says olson.

If the attic hatch rests on the molding you should add 2 1 2 inch stops around the entire opening. Cut two layers of r 19 fiberglass batt insulation slightly larger than the hatch and staple duct tape to the hatch edges to secure it in place. In the summers it will radiate heat down into the house and in the winter heat and warm air will escape. Attach foil insulation board to the back of the attic hatch panel.

To insulate an attic hatch you need weather stripping rigid foam board and fiberglass batt insulation. You can also inspect the weatherstripping and molding around your attic door to see if it is damaged. Several layers should be applied. Weatherstrip the edges and put a piece of rigid foam board insulation on the back of the door.

An attic hatch can have finished trim and paint look perfect and still be a giant heat sink. Insulating the attic hatch here s a real quick solution. Cover the attic hatch with a pillow of fiberglass insulation. 1 reduced utility costs 2 comfort in all seasons 3 improved indoor air quality.

Always cover the tops of the ceiling joists to make sure the insulation is deep enough to reach your target r value and to prevent thermal bridging the heat loss that occurs through the wood framing. 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. Scuttlebuddy is a do it yourself attic access scuttle hole insulation and air sealing solution that secures insulation to the access panel for optimum performance and energy savings. If you have pull down attic stairs or an attic door these should be sealed in a similar manner.

I used 1 board which has an r 6 5 insulating value. Work from the perimeter of the attic toward the door or hatch so that you don t trample all over the insulation you just put in. The goal is two fold.