Loft hatch insultation

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Discussion

PaulWoof

Original Poster:

1,652 posts

163 months

Wednesday 20th November
quotequote all
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

784 posts

42 months

Wednesday 20th November
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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

366 posts

45 months

Wednesday 20th November
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James6112

5,447 posts

36 months

Wednesday 20th November
quotequote all
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

Original Poster:

1,652 posts

163 months

Wednesday 20th November
quotequote all
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

5,061 posts

225 months

Wednesday 20th November
quotequote all
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

22,701 posts

183 months

Wednesday 20th November
quotequote all
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

9,439 posts

34 months

Wednesday 20th November
quotequote all
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

55 posts

70 months

Wednesday 20th November
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I built a coffin. Surprisingly cheap, easy and effective.