Better/safer attic access
abmathews456
2 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (13)
mtvhike
2 years agoRelated Discussions
Spray foam in part of attic (seperate from rest of attic)
Comments (19)There are gaskets you can get for cans and you can caulk the penetration with the trim off also. I'd do that first and see if it helps. The knee walls are a problem but I bet the cans are the real issue. Radiant barrier is not worth a retrofit usually. During new construction, the OSB with barrier is just a small upcharge. I think it was like $200 for our house and so it is worth it. I have a friend who had a similar house to mine built but with no extra insulation etc. He is having a similar problem as yours and he has gotten several quotes including foaming the rafters. His plans include finishing the attic someday (why I don't know since he has a finished basement and is over 6k) so he is thinking of foaming the rafters. I encouraged him to get his cans sealed - sorry I don't know what he did and summer is over anyway... It frustrates me to no end when I hear this story over and over. Comfort issues that are really failures of sealing and insulation. GCs are so oblivious to energy costs but the comfort issues should come back and bite them. Cans into an attic are just always an issue. They are so rarely handled ideally especially in the South. But you can get a lot of mileage from the gaskets and caulking the edge when you take the trim off. I bet you can fix 50% of your problem. You can certainly reduce air movement 80% but you can never have the space taken up by the can to be any better than r-2 that lowers your r-30 by a significant amount. If you can get above the can (and I am guessing you can't), then you can seal 100% and insulate some. The knee walls are an issue for 2 reasons which you probably already know. They often around here are a r-13 batt with no enclosure. Batts work pretty poorly when not enclosed in a space. Also r-13 wall against a 140 degree attic is pretty bad when you are trying to maintain less than 80 inside. The rigid foam encloses the batt, deals with the thermal bridging at the stud and adds another r-4 to the wall. It probably cuts the heat gain by 50% by a combo of all these benefits. It really should be code. The 4x8 sheets cost $12 or so....See MoreMoving Attic Access -- Same Rafter or Different ??
Comments (2)I agree, either bay is fine. I would use joist brackets and double that header. Cut back 2 bays if a larger opening is more useful. No problems if done correctly...See MoreAttic placement and access
Comments (16)Do not put your attic access in your primary bedroom closet unless the attic space is used solely for storage. The air handler for our air conditioning system is in the attic accessible only through our primary suite closet. Consequently, every six months service personnel have complete access to the most private areas of our home - my bedroom, my bathroom (have to walk through bathroom to get to closet), and my closet. Not to mention the two times our air handler had to be replaced - a team of four people had complete access and the clean-up afterward is terrible (had to wash almost every Harley of clothing). This total invasion of privacy in my own home could and should have been avoided simply by placing the attic access elsewhere!!!...See MoreHow to insulate skylight shaft with limited attic access?
Comments (2)I think you installed a skylight too wide for your truss spacing. The Velux installation manual shows the finish drywall running up into a milled slot in the window frame, not drywall applied to the inside of the frame as you propose. https://www.veluxsolutions.com/apps/LPI.nsf/0/40227A3E7C9E4D6385257964004C30C9/%24file/FS%20Installation%20Instruction.pdf...See Moreabmathews456
2 years agoHALLETT & Co.
2 years ago3onthetree
2 years agoRMC
2 years agoPatricia Colwell Consulting
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoabmathews456
2 years agomtvhike
2 years agoapple_pie_order
2 years agoLyndee Lee
2 years agomtvhike
2 years agobpath
2 years ago
Related Stories
BATHROOM DESIGNHow to Design an Accessible Shower
Make aging in place safer and easier with universal design features in the shower and bathroom
Full StoryHOME OFFICES7 Ways to Make Your Home Office Work Better for You
Have more energy, be more productive and feel better while working at home with these ideas based on science
Full StoryMOST POPULARThree Magic Words for a Clean Home and a Better Life
Not a natural tidying and organizing whiz? Take hope in one short phrase that can change your life forever
Full StoryBATHROOM DESIGNHow to Build a Better Shower Curb
Work with your contractors and installers to ensure a safe, stylish curb that keeps the water where it belongs
Full StoryHOUZZ TOURSHouzz Tour: 21st-Century Accessibility in a Traditional Home
Old-world charm and modern conveniences combine in this wheelchair-accessible house
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNA Kitchen Works Better After It Gets Smaller
The island was too big, and the gap between the counter and cabinets too small. A makeover adds function and beauty
Full StoryUNIVERSAL DESIGNKitchen of the Week: Good Looking and Accessible to All
Universal design features and sustainable products create a beautiful, user-friendly kitchen that works for a homeowner on wheels
Full StoryGARDENING AND LANDSCAPING11 Ways to Make Your Sleeping Porch Even Better
Turn off that air conditioner and tune in to the delights of slumbering in the nighttime breeze
Full StoryUNIVERSAL DESIGNIs Your Home Accessible for Aging in Place?
Review our checklist to find out if your house will work for you and your family as you get older
Full StoryREMODELING GUIDESRoom of the Day: Storage Attic Now an Uplifting Master Suite
Tired of sharing a bathroom with their 2 teenage kids, this couple moves on up to a former attic space
Full Story
HALLETT & Co.