Keep the Cold Out While Saving Money: How to Insulate Your Attic Door Right.

Insulating an attic is essential for your home’s energy efficiency, particularly if the attic door is located in a conditioned part of the home. Insulating your attic door improves your home’s comfort level, reduces your energy bills and prevents drafts and thermal losses. While you’re welcome to hire a contractor to insulate your attic door, you can also do it yourself. Follow these steps to insulate your attic door properly and make your home more energy efficient.

First, apply weather stripping to the perimeter of the attic door to ensure a good seal between the door and the opening. Make sure the door and the opening are clean and dry before moving on to insulating. If you’re insulating a knee-wall door, also insulate the walls to ensure efficiency.

Next, measure the width and height of the attic door and then cut out two sections of rigid foam board that are each 1/4 inch smaller than the attic-door cover. Glue the two sections of foam board together, and then onto the inside of the attic door. Use foam glue, as many other adhesives will actually damage the foam.

After that, cut the fiberglass insulation to size and glue it onto the top of the foam board. Wearing protective gloves is highly recommended when handling fiberglass batt. Allow the insulation to dry completely before installing the door latch. A latch is essential for a knee-wall door and will help ensure an airtight seal; for a larger attic hatch, handles may be necessary for easier opening and closing.

To finish, spray a light layer of sealant around the perimeter to ensure air tightness. Ensure that the latch and hinges are in working condition by lubing them up with oil. It’s best to oil up your hinges and latch at least once a year.

In conclusion, proper insulation of your attic door will help save you money on energy costs and ensure a more comfortable living environment. Insulating your attic door is a straightforward process and doing it yourself will lower the cost. Follow these steps carefully, and you’ll have a well-insulated attic door in no time.