Loft hatch insultation

[PaulWoof]

In the start of measures to stay warm in the new house. the loft hatch is my first job to tackle. Its a bungalow with an uninsulated loft hatch/ladder.

Now the cold months are here the infrared thermometer is showing a 5 degegree different between the insulated roof around the loft hatch vs the hatch itself. theres also no draft proofing etc around it either.

Anyone have experience of doing theirs?
Looking at common options. seems there the bag of rock/mineral wool in a bag stapled to the underside of the hatch or a Sheet of PIR board glued on.

I have about 7.5cm at the narrowest hinge point to fit insulationo into to be clear of the ladder. the lower lip was looking at using some draft excluder strips that would extend out over the edge to cover the gap when the loft hatch is closed.













Another option i seen but seems to only be americans on youtube is the PIR coffin. basically a box of made out of PIR placed over the loft hatch which is pushed out of the way when needing into the loft.

[RoadToad84]

I used draught excluder around the hatch, and some foil backed underlay I had kicking around to line the hatch itself. The draught excluder was the real help.

[MOMACC]

Try an insulated hatch
https://www.screwfix.com/p/manthorpe-gl250-insulat...

[anonymous-user]

The PIR coffin looks the most straightforward, to cater for the ladder.
Just changed my hatch to an insulated one with ladder attached. Pretty painful as had to alter the ceiling etc as nothing is standard sizes in my place, escalated from there!

[PaulWoof]

James6112 said:

The PIR coffin looks the most straightforward, to cater for the ladder.
Just changed my hatch to an insulated one with ladder attached. Pretty painful as had to alter the ceiling etc as nothing is standard sizes in my place, escalated from there!

that was my fear. I dont mind paying the money for the insulated ladder hatch if it was a drop in solution but ive no idea going about it or the hassle of cutting roofs and plastering. at least not at the moment

[AlexC1981]

I used double sided sticky tape to attach PIR board to my hatch and used a foam draught excluder around the perimeter. It was a bit tricky to get the cuts right without leaving gaps. A plastic sheet stapled to the hatch and stuffed with wool insulation might be easier.

[MC Bodge]

I have a folding ladder that sits within the length of the hatch.

When I raised the floor to insulate beneath it, I made a hardboard cover covered with a layer of loft insulation to rest on the floor above the hatch/ladder.

It works well.

[OutInTheShed]

I have a small area of loft accessed by a ladder.
The trap is 'bought' drop down type, which seals moderately well and has a few inches of polystyrene built in.

I have big polythene sack full of rockwool which I slide over the hole after stowing the ladder.

Not perfect, but I have a bluetooth temp/humidity sensor in the loft that tells me it's 'good enough'.
Nippy up there right now!

[VWW]

I built a coffin. Surprisingly cheap, easy and effective.

[PaulWoof]

Decided to go down the PIR route attached to the inside of the loft hatch, mainly as i found a load of 70mm PIR in the garage left by previous owner which is just the right size for the narrowest point between the ladder and hatch when dropped down.

What is the best way to attach the PIR to the wooden hatch? first throght was some kind of adhesive. quick google says to go solvent free to prevent reactions with the foam. dont think il be able to use screws as the hatch is not very thick

[Bonefish Blues]

Alex C reported he used double sided tape. Seems sensible

[Jakg]

PaulWoof said:

What is the best way to attach the PIR to the wooden hatch? first throght was some kind of adhesive. quick google says to go solvent free to prevent reactions with the foam. dont think il be able to use screws as the hatch is not very thick

I used a combination of spray glue and screws, just did them up by feel and tightened them just past starting to bite. On it's own, the glue failed when it got really hot.

[Chumley.mouse]

You could have fixed the ladder a bit higher up , on a block of wood and been able to fit a full piece of insulation without any cut out.

[LooneyTunes]

Get some aluminium tape from the likes of Screwfix and seal the edges on the PIR.

If you don’t, you’ll likely end up with little pieces falling on you/the floor each time you open the hatch.

[PaulWoof]

Some tape is on the way as will have to make make mine in two pieces and to go around the ladder bracket support add insultation over that.

Any ideas on draft excluding strips. the hinged loft panel meets the bottom of the from all around by 20mm so not sure which side to put the excluder strips