Do It Yourself Attic Stairway Insulator

One often-overlooked source of winter air leaks in a home is the hatch covering drop-down stairs to the attic. Often made of flimsy, uninsulated plywood, these hatches can be the equivalent of leaving a window partly open during the winter months. A hatch can be quickly and easily sealed with a few inexpensive materials in a couple of hours, leaving the stairs functional but blocking cold attic air from your home's interior.

Foam board
Caulk
Foil tape
Tape measure
Utility knife
Insulating tape

Instructions

- 1
  Measure the hatch opening. The insulation box is going to fit over, not in, the hatch opening, so measure around the outside of the opening to get accurate dimensions. Measure the height of the folded stairs in the attic to determine the depth of the insulation box.
- 2
  Measure and cut sides and ends for the box from the foam board according to the measurements you took of the hatch opening and the folded stairs. These will be used to construct a box that will enclose the folded ladder.
- 3
  Caulk both ends of the shorter foam pieces and attach them to the longer pieces to form the frame of the box. Use foil tape to reinforce each corner until it is solid. The frame should slip over the folded stairs with an inch or two to spare.
- 4
  Cut a sheet of foam board to fit on top of the box, place it on top of the frame and tape one long side to form a hinge.
- 5
  Tape the edges of the wooden hatch cover attached to the stairs with insulating tape, except the hinged end, to provide a better seal.
- 6
  Clean the attic floor around the hatch so tape will adhere. Place the box over the hatch and tape the sides of the box to the attic floor. Tape the edges with insulating tape. Add caulk to provide a better seal, if needed. Close the box top on your way downstairs.

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