How to Install Foam Board on a Walk-In Attic Door

An attic door can be the source of significant heat loss in a home, particularly if it's an older home and the door is poorly fitted or full of drafty gaps. Attaching foam insulation board to the back of the door is an effective way to cut down on heat loss through the door and improve the energy efficiency of your home. The thicker the foam board you attach to the door, the more energy you will save.

Measuring tape
Utility knife
Construction adhesive
Caulking gun
Duct tape

Instructions

- 1
  Measure the area on the back of the attic door.
- 2
  Cut a sheet of 2-inch-thick rigid foam insulation board to the size of the door. If the door is more than 24 inches wide, you will need two pieces.
- 3
  Apply construction adhesive to the surface of the door. Place adhesive in globs spaced every 8 inches in a grid pattern over the door. This ensures that the insulation will make good contact with the adhesive when it is pressed against the door.
- 4
  Tape the pieces of foam board together using duct tape — if you are using more than one piece. Press the foam board against the surface of the door, applying pressure at the points where it contacts the construction adhesive. Tape the foam to the door at the edges to hold it in place while the adhesive dries. Leave it for 24 hours.
- 5
  Remove the duct tape on the edges of the door, but leave any duct tape that is sealing joints between pieces of foam board.

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