Sealing Attic Hatch

Hardware 2 small bungee cords to seal it tight.

Sealing attic hatch.

If your hatch rests directly on the moldings like ours did add 2 1 2 in wide stops around the opening. Air seal the trim the first step is air sealing the finish trim and enclosure around the attic hatch. Proper attic insulation and complete air sealing is the solution a complete thermal envelope separates every conditioned interior space of your home from outdoor and unconditioned spaces such as your garage and attic with a layer of insulation. If the attic hatch rests on the molding you should add 2 1 2 inch stops around the entire opening.

If your hatch rests directly on the moldings add 2 1 2 inch wide stops around the opening. Then finish up by sealing the access hatch with self sticking foam weatherstrip photos 10 and 11. Carefully pull down the finish trim. Apply your weatherstripping to the top of the new wood stops.

From inside the attic check for any openings holes or fenestrations into the knee wall surrounding area. Cut four pieces of polystyrene rigid insulation about 1 2 inch smaller than the dimensions of the hatch. You can also inspect the weatherstripping and molding around your attic door to see if it is damaged. When you re done sealing your attic bypasses push the insulation back into place with an old broom handle or stick as you back out of the attic.

If there are indications of erratic air movement coming from your attic hatch replacement weatherstripping is necessary. Once you have finished sealing all of the leaks in your attic the next step is to weatherstrip your attic hatch or door. Every thermal envelope is different. If you don t already have wooden boards surrounding the perimeter of the opening you can cut some 1 3 boards and nail them into place with 6d nails.

How to insulate and air seal an attic access hatch. Pray that the installer used finish nails and not say ring shank nails. Remove your existing attic hatch and measure its size. Once you have the materials you can begin to seal and insulate the knee wall access door through these steps.

Apply weather stripping to the door to create a seal. Sealing the attic hatch or door finish up by sealing the access hatch with self sticking weather stripping. Diy sealing the attic hatch seal trim to ceiling create air tight seal between hatch and trim.