EcoRenovator  

Go Back   EcoRenovator > Improvements > Conservation
Advanced Search
 


Blog 60+ Home Energy Saving Tips Recent Posts Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 10-08-13, 07:54 PM   #1
RobbMeeX
Eco OWNER!!
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: ATL
Posts: 99
Thanks: 25
Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts
Cool Building an attic door insulation enclosure. Thoughts/Help needed...

So, we've got the house and of course, now I've gone into saving obsession mode! I currently want to design an attic door enclosure to insulate the hole that is in my ceiling.


You guys know what i'm talking about. Any of you have any pics?

I'm thinking base box "frame" 2*"x5*"x10"x3/4"thick. This looks like it will net a lowly R3 of something like it... can I place a batt on top like the toupee of a hot air breathing bald man?

I was suggested by my inspector the "Battic Door" R50 insulation kit for $100. I am crafty and want to try to do my own, but if i'm going to spend more and not get good results, then premade will work... HELP!

__________________
In it for the money (savings)

Last edited by RobbMeeX; 10-08-13 at 08:04 PM..
RobbMeeX is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-09-13, 06:25 AM   #2
hikerjohnson
Submarine Renovator
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Southern Maine
Posts: 35
Thanks: 4
Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts
Default

I am working my way up to doing the same thing, and would recommend using 2" foamboard, even doubled up in thickness if you want the extra R-value. In the past, I have had very good luck using high-quality duct tape to hold Dow foamboard together semi-permanently, which allows you to dispense with framing something up out of wood and then having thermal bridges.

Of course, I've never tried taping something in an attic with the summer heat issue - so an adhesive might be a good idea, too.
hikerjohnson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-09-13, 06:50 AM   #3
MN Renovator
Less usage=Cheaper bills
 
MN Renovator's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posts: 939
Thanks: 41
Thanked 116 Times in 90 Posts
Default

This 'batticdoor' kit thing looks way overpriced for what you are getting. They want to sell you something that puts insulation on top but foil on the outside that isn't covered in insulation in a setup that looks easy to make a mistake with how it lines up on the weatherstripping?

For $99.50 + $24.50 S&H
For $124 you could buy a measuring tape, a saw capable of cutting foam, a caulking tube of foam adhesive, some foam weatherstripping, and some 4x8 foot sheets of foamboard and make something much better at insulating and air sealing for not a ton of effort.
MN Renovator is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to MN Renovator For This Useful Post:
RobbMeeX (10-11-13)
Old 10-11-13, 09:23 PM   #4
RobbMeeX
Eco OWNER!!
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: ATL
Posts: 99
Thanks: 25
Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by MN Renovator View Post
This 'batticdoor' kit thing looks way overpriced

For $124 you could buy... ...for not a ton of effort.
Thats what I wanted to hear. I was thinking I could, but the math wasn't with me. I would love to do something like this but wasn't sure about the actual R value being high enough to make it worth it. Battic is sold as R50. I'd need 4+" of foam for that. Is that necessary?
__________________
In it for the money (savings)
RobbMeeX is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-09-13, 07:48 AM   #5
Daox
Administrator
 
Daox's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Germantown, WI
Posts: 5,525
Thanks: 1,162
Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts
Default

You can see my method of sealing my pull down attic door here:

http://ecorenovator.org/forum/conser...g-house-3.html

Unfortunately, I never finished it up...
__________________
Current project -
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.



To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
&
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Daox is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-09-13, 08:07 AM   #6
Ryland
Master EcoRenovator
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Western Wisconsin.
Posts: 913
Thanks: 127
Thanked 82 Times in 71 Posts
Default

I insulated my attic with 2" foam board, foam board adhesive, soft weatherstripping strips, a string drilled and glued in to it to pull it down and some Seal&Peel caulk.
Ryland is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-09-13, 08:21 PM   #7
jeff5may
Supreme EcoRenovator
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: elizabethtown, ky, USA
Posts: 2,428
Thanks: 431
Thanked 619 Times in 517 Posts
Send a message via Yahoo to jeff5may
Default

here are a couple of pics from Daox's thread, for the lazy:







I leave it to the readers to figure out which view is which

Cost: zilch, built from leftovers and scraps.
jeff5may is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-10-13, 08:04 AM   #8
Daox
Administrator
 
Daox's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Germantown, WI
Posts: 5,525
Thanks: 1,162
Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts
Default

The plan still is to put some great stuff over the top on the side pieces and throw some paper/plastic over the top of it while curing so it creates a flat surface for that top piece to seal against.

Thanks for posting the images Jeff.
__________________
Current project -
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.



To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
&
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Daox is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-11-13, 11:16 PM   #9
MN Renovator
Less usage=Cheaper bills
 
MN Renovator's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posts: 939
Thanks: 41
Thanked 116 Times in 90 Posts
Default

I don't see how the batticdoor thing could possibly be any more than about maybe R30 if it used two layers of the more dense R15 3.5" fiberglass. There is no way it could even be getting that because they don't insulate the sides of it at all. That product is just a lie to try to sell something to people who want to meet code in new construction, I think. Not sure but the product is junk in my opinion.

I think that 4 inches of XPS(blue or the pink) foam would be plenty. That's R20 and in general its a small area so even if it is less than what you have in the rest of your attic the difference won't be huge, it will be far less heat loss/gain than even one small window in the house. Your walls probably have R13 or R19 of fiberglass in them depending on how thick they are. The important part is getting a good air seal between the joints in the foam and a good gasket seal at where this will sit.
MN Renovator is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to MN Renovator For This Useful Post:
b4u2 (11-07-13), RobbMeeX (10-13-13)
Old 11-07-13, 08:19 AM   #10
Daox
Administrator
 
Daox's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Germantown, WI
Posts: 5,525
Thanks: 1,162
Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts
Default

Have you done anything with building an attic door enclosure RobbMeeX?
__________________
Current project -
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.



To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
&
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Daox is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:59 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Ad Management by RedTyger
Inactive Reminders By Icora Web Design