How To Insulate Your Attic Stairs

To fix the problem install foam weather stripping around the perimeter of the attic stair opening or construct an insulating stair cover.

How to insulate your attic stairs.

Then take your self adhesive foam weather stripping and apply it all around the perimeter of where the frame and the door meet. Apply weather stripping first check that your folding attic stairs are able to close securely and tightly. Insulating attic stairs and properly insulating basement walls. From inside the attic check for any openings holes or fenestrations into the knee wall surrounding area.

Insulate the bottom side of stairs. Once the opening has been sealed it can be further insulated by building a foam box in the attic to enclose the stairs. Some areas that get overlooked include. Place the tent over the opening of the stairs to see how it fits.

Add insulation to the exterior of the plywood box. More insulation 6 inches or 8 inches isn t uncommon. With attic insulation we aim for a pretty high standard usually at least r 49 and the coffin insulation should match. Do not apply the weather stripping to the hinge end.

That means that you should glue at least 4 inches of foil faced polyisocyanurate r 26 to the box. Pull down the attic stairs and take the attic tent into the attic. Check the label to ensure it s large enough to insulate an attic with pull down. Begin by checking to see if the attic stairs close tightly then apply self adhesive foam weather stripping around the perimeter where the plywood door meets the frame except on the hinge end.

Effectively insulating a house isn t rocket science but there are a few areas that folks forget to account for which can result in quite a large amount of heat loss. Use spray foam to air seal these openings if they exist.