Hi,
I am planing on replacing my access door to the attic for a long time. Not surprisingly the condition of the piece of the drywall that is used as a door/hatch is pretty much - dead.

Initially was thinking to replace it with a piece of plywood, so it survives my constant visits to the attic. All my internet hardware is located there so I go there pretty often I was thinking that I was been smart placing all of the hardware and cables in the attic, Bad Idea...
After looking at plywood option I realized that I probably will never be able to make it look like the rest of the ceiling becasue the texture will not stick to plywood as well as it will to the piece of a drywall.
Any suggestions on how to approach this?
Should I make a sandwich of thin plywood & drywall? Should I use the corner bead for drywall to "keep it together"?
Also want to insulate the hatch somehow to seal the drafts. Please don't tell me this is a $150 cardboard box
Reach Barrier Air Double Reflective Pull-Down Attic Ladder Insulation Protector-3139 at The Home Depot
Thanks,

 

It's a $150 cardboard box with insulation on it. And it is for attic stairs. What you could do is visit a jobsite someday and ask if the insulation guys would be willing to part with a batt of R30 insulation. Couple of cups of coffee should do it. Then face down, staple the batt to the plywood. Lift the door and the insulation moves with it. Maybe too simple? Not sure.

 

You'll never be able to make an attic access completely disappear. You can trim out and make something look proper and professional but it will never be invisible. So, I'd go with what's usable and durable... and staple a thick batt of insulation to the back side. I'd also get some weather stripping and ring the perimeter of the hatch to minimise air leakage.

 

I've always detested those drywall 'doors' for the attic. IMO a piece of plywood will look fine. Just prime/paint it to match the casing that holds it in place. As the others have said, add insulation to the backside.

 

Thank you all!

Simple and durable is what I need/want.
A plywood with insulation stapled that is

 

Gluing some 2" thick foam on top was always my preference. Caulk works great.

 

There are a few products on the market that solve this problem which is often overlooked in old and new construction. Some products require substantial carpentry and don't always fit in the space where the scuttle hole (attic access panel/door) is. Some are costly - upwards of $150. One problem with staples and glue is that they let the insulation pull apart when it's pulled down into the frame of the scuttle hole which reduces the R-value significantly. I use one called ScuttleBuddy and it worked just fine. It was about $30 and took about 20 minutes to install. It used the existing attic panel and insulation so in your case all you would need to do is replace the panel and use your insulation with this product. Good luck!