How to Build a Scuttle Door for an Attic

An attic scuttle doorway is a small access hatch located in the ceiling. These hatches may be found in the middle of the room, in a hallway or hidden inside a closet. Leaving the hatch uncovered allows your home to lose heat to the attic during the winter months, while allowing too much heat into the home during the summer. Creating a small scuttle door improves the insulation of your home and also allows you to cover up the unattractive access hole with a door that matches the rest of the ceiling.

Ladder
Measuring tape
3/4-inch thick plywood
Jigsaw
Rigid foam insulation
Construction adhesive
Paint

Instructions

- 1
  Use a ladder to reach the attic door opening. Locate the insulation dams that frame the inside of the opening. These are pieces of wood that typically sit 1 to 2 inches out from the edge of the door opening.
- 2
  Measure the length and width of the opening between the insulation dams. Transfer these measurements onto a piece of 3/4-inch thick plywood.
- 3
  Cut the scuttle hatch out of the plywood along the measured lines, using a jigsaw. Slide the hatch into the opening to ensure it fits properly. Sand the edges to smooth them and to provide a better fit, if necessary.
- 4
  Cut a piece of rigid foam insulation so it is 1/4-inch smaller than the scuttle door on all sides. Glue the insulation to the top of the hatch door with construction adhesive.
- 5
  Paint the bottom of the door so it matches the paint on the surrounding ceiling. Allow the paint and insulation adhesive to dry completely before placing the door into the hatch.

How to Repair Non-Sanded Grout That Has Shrunk on Marble Mosaic

How to Remove a Cabinet Knob That Is Stripped and Frozen

General Home Repair