How to Seal Your Attic Access Door

An attic access door covers a small entrance that leads into an area that is usually only used for storage. In many cases, especially in older homes, an attic is not properly insulated. The attic access door becomes more of an afterthought in trying to seal the home off from the elements. A hard fact to swallow is that an attic access door represents you losing money pennies a day in heating and cooling costs. The article that follows will show you how to seal the attic access door to hopefully save you money instead of losing it.

Step 1 - Measuring the Attic Space

Open the attic access door and place a ladder through the opening and climb inside carrying a portable light with you. Make sure the light is plugged in before bringing it up with you. Turn the light on to illuminate the space in the attic. If the floor is finished then you will have an easier time sealing the attic access door and the rest of the floor. If, however, the attic is a dead space then you will have a harder time moving inside it. Measure the length and width of the attic and multiply the two together in order to get the total square footage. Use this number to buy the right amount of foam, plastic and insulation. Some attics that do not have a floor installed may have insulation already in place between the beams. If this is the case then you can skip that purchase.

Step 2 - Cutting the Material

Take the plastic sheeting, foam and roll of insulation up to the attic space. If the floor is unfinished and there is no insulation you can measure the length and width of one of the spaces between the beams. Cut the insulation material in strips to that size for each space in the attic. Measure the size of the attic access door and cut a piece of insulation of the same size. Cut the plastic sheeting and the foam to the total square footage of the attic.

Step 3 - Material Installation

Stuff the insulation material between the beams and push them down. If the floor is finished; you can simply unroll the insulation over the floor. Unroll the foam over the floor board beams or directly over the insulation if the floor is finished. Follow up by laying the plastic sheet on top of the foam. Trim the foam and plastic as you lay it so that it fits in the space. Locate the attic access door and cut the materials so that it fits on the door. Use a hammer to drive nails through the material to attach it to the beams or wood flooring in the attic and the attic door. Open the door and trim the material around the latch so that you can easily open the door. This won't only seal the attic access door but will also protect the rest of the attic.