DIY Insulation for Drop Down Attic Stairs

Foam Board

• 1

  Apply foam weatherstripping designed to go around a door, all the way around the edge of the access panel for the attic stairs. Apply the weatherstripping to the side of the panel that faces into the attic.

• 2

  Measure the exposed surface of the access panel, in and around the stairs. Cut pieces of foam board insulation with the razor knife to fit these areas. You may be able to use scraps of insulation from another project.

• 3

  Apply hot glue to the access panel and glue the foam board insulation pieces in place.

• 4

  Fill in any gaps with expanding foam insulation. Allow the foam to dry and trim with a razor knife.

Insulation Box

• 5

  Measure the attic stairs access from inside the attic. Measure the outside dimensions of the stair opening.

• 6

  Cut sides and ends from ½ inch insulating foam board to make a box the same dimensions as your stair opening and nine inches high. So, if your stair opening measures 55 inches by 30 inches, the sides of your box will measure 55 inches by 9 inches and the ends will measure 29 inches by 9 inches.

• 7

  Glue the box pieces together with hot glue and tape the edges with duct tape.

• 8

  Cut a top for the box from the foam board, the same size as your stair opening. Glue this top to the box frame and seal the edges with duct tape.

• 9

  Cut a piece of fiberglass insulation batting to the same size as the box cover. Apply hot glue to the box top and glue the insulation in place. If you don't have any fiberglass batting, you can skip this step.