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Started By
Message
Need new pull-down attic door. Suggestions?
Posted on 6/20/23 at 11:38 pm
Posted on 6/20/23 at 11:38 pm
In my 70s now and am a disabled veteran so I can’t do it myself. Any suggestions on who replaces these older wood, trap doors with a newer insulated type? Cost estimate?
The other day I walked under the attic door in my hall way and felt the heat coming down from the attic. The door is sort of warped/sprung and does not seal completely.
Brick, 2000 sq ft, hip roof, built in 1980. In BR near ONeal Lane and I-12.
The other day I walked under the attic door in my hall way and felt the heat coming down from the attic. The door is sort of warped/sprung and does not seal completely.
Brick, 2000 sq ft, hip roof, built in 1980. In BR near ONeal Lane and I-12.
This post was edited on 6/20/23 at 11:41 pm
9
Posted on 6/21/23 at 12:38 am to MDB
I installed a Werner insulated aluminum ladder unit a few years ago, definitely cuts down on the heat and cold seeping through. They run about $275. As far as who could install and the cost I have no idea, I installed them myself when I worked as a trim carpenter and I think we only charged about $80 for them in new construction. Took all of 30 minutes or even as long as the framers got the rough opening right. I would guess someone experienced would charge about $200 - $300 just to hang it, painting would be extra.
Posted on 6/21/23 at 1:23 am to Clames
Pretty spot on. I used to install the aluminum ones for 550-600.
Wooden ones a little cheaper, but heck, the last wooden one I bought was 229
(I think).
Wooden ones a little cheaper, but heck, the last wooden one I bought was 229
(I think).
Posted on 6/21/23 at 7:42 am to MDB
It isn't a difficult project for a DIY. Do you have a capable son or grandson locally? Materials cost to replace would be $400 on the low end, assuming no issues, just a simple removal and install. That would include the new ladder and an insulated "zippered" envelope for above the folded ladder.
I've done this fairly recently. Definitely easier for two people but I did it by myself twice over the years.
Finding a local handyman to take the small job will take some asking around your neighborhood/friends. Expect the low end including labor to be $1000 at least.
I've done this fairly recently. Definitely easier for two people but I did it by myself twice over the years.
Finding a local handyman to take the small job will take some asking around your neighborhood/friends. Expect the low end including labor to be $1000 at least.
Posted on 6/21/23 at 8:40 am to MDB
A local lumberyard may be able to suggest a carpenter who would do it for you.
Posted on 6/21/23 at 9:39 am to MDB
Agree with others on the aluminum instead of wood. I’d also advise getting one of those zip-up insulating covers for when the ladder is closed. Made a huge difference for me as far as letting hot, humid air in from the attic.
Posted on 6/21/23 at 9:40 am to MDB
If it's only insulation you are concerned with there are these:
Amazon Link
Amazon Link
This post was edited on 6/21/23 at 9:52 am
Posted on 6/21/23 at 9:43 am to ItzMe1972
quote:
A local lumberyard may be able to suggest a carpenter who would do it for you.
This! When I moved to Tx, I went to a local Plumbing Warehouse, asked one of the guys there for a fair and honest plumber. He gave me a family company. Great work at fair prices. Want to find the best, go to where the Best Buy their materials.
Posted on 6/21/23 at 11:08 am to MDB
Call the Honest Handyman
Byron and Nick
225-223-0881
Byron and Nick
225-223-0881
Posted on 6/21/23 at 12:35 pm to MDB
Thanks so much for good advice. Will proceed with an aluminum ladder and zippered door.
????
????
Posted on 6/21/23 at 1:07 pm to Tigers4Lyfe
quote:
f it's only insulation you are concerned with there are these:
Did not know these existed. Thanks!
Posted on 6/21/23 at 1:39 pm to LSUengr
Call the Honest Handyman
Byron and Nick
225-223-0881
Called Byron, all set up. He said 'wow, tigerdroppings did something great' and chuckled. Nice guy. Quoted me a fair, all-inclusive rate for aluminum setup.
Thanks TD.
Byron and Nick
225-223-0881
Called Byron, all set up. He said 'wow, tigerdroppings did something great' and chuckled. Nice guy. Quoted me a fair, all-inclusive rate for aluminum setup.
Thanks TD.
Posted on 6/21/23 at 6:40 pm to MDB
Great and the insulating cover is a great addition especially in winter.
Posted on 6/21/23 at 10:50 pm to Macfly
Installed two a year ago. Just stapled down in less than 5 mins. No more heat drafts coming from the attic.
Posted on 6/23/23 at 7:32 pm to MDB
Posted on 6/23/23 at 9:47 pm to MDB
Heat rises, so you should not have it blowing out of your ceiling-mounted attic steps. Unless you just happened to have the clothes dryer on when that happened, you need to find the root cause.
I’m betting you have some air ductwork leaking in your attic. Find leaks and seal them with some foil duct tape.
I’m betting you have some air ductwork leaking in your attic. Find leaks and seal them with some foil duct tape.
This post was edited on 6/24/23 at 12:03 am
Posted on 6/23/23 at 11:12 pm to Spankum
quote:
Heat rises, so you should not have it blowing out of your ceiling-mounted attic steps.
If you have a leaky house there is a chance of creating negative pressure in the living space (with HVAC operating) and drawing some of that air in from the attic. My attic door is right next to both my return air duct and my thermostat. The HVAC doesn't cycle nearly as much as it used to because that air isn't seeping in.
I agree that the covers will generally do a better job keeping cold air out during winter but for reducing heat and humidity it also does a good job.
Posted on 6/24/23 at 10:45 am to Spankum
quote:
Heat rises, so you should not have it blowing out of your ceiling-mounted attic steps.
Far more complicated than that.
“Convective” heat rises b/c hot air is less dense than cold air, so that’s correct.
But then we have conducive heat. “Conductive” heat, by the the 2nd law of thermodynamics, moves/transfers from hot (attic) to cold (conditioned area of the house) in summer, and vice-versa in winter. In other words, “heat chases cold” Hence why insulate the floor of our attic to mitigate conductive heat transfer from “hot to cold”. If heat only rises logic would suggest there would be no need to insulate our attics.
And then we have “radiant” heat which is the primary source of heat that causes our attic to become hot in the first place and why the use of radiant barriers in an attic can help to reduce attic temperature.
We deal with all 3 when it comes to cooling and heating our homes - a little more complex than most of us realize.
Then as bapple said negative air pressure inside the house from any source - running your dryer as you mentioned, your range exhaust hood, HVAC return plenum (negative air pressure zone) in close proximity to an attic stairs & thermostat (mine is as well), etc - will draw warm or cold air into the conditioned area from the attic, outdoors ….
This post was edited on 6/24/23 at 4:16 pm
Posted on 6/24/23 at 12:53 pm to MDB
Need a recommendation myself on a new attic pulldown door. I have a different situation. My attic pulldown is in the garage, so insulation concerns are not a big need for me. However, the ceiling over our garage does have insulation and the metal doors are insulated and we are on a wooded lot, so the garage does stay comfortable most of the time and the existing wood attic pulldown stairs are not insulated.
My priority is that I want as wide as possible an attic pulldown door with wide stable stairs. I have some large lightweight items I want to store in the attic like some of those empty blue plastic water barrels that are 24" in diameter. I've seen some pulldown doors that show a 30" wide installation opening, but then people say you can get 24" or 26" wide items in it but the steps are only 15" wide and the steps themselves are only 3" deep instead of the standard 5" deep, and there are no safety handrails on each side of the ladder for the top section.
The ceiling to floor height is 9'-4" in the garage. The existing wood attic pulldown stairs are just not very wide and sturdy. Any recommendations on a quality wide attic pulldown would be appreciated.
My priority is that I want as wide as possible an attic pulldown door with wide stable stairs. I have some large lightweight items I want to store in the attic like some of those empty blue plastic water barrels that are 24" in diameter. I've seen some pulldown doors that show a 30" wide installation opening, but then people say you can get 24" or 26" wide items in it but the steps are only 15" wide and the steps themselves are only 3" deep instead of the standard 5" deep, and there are no safety handrails on each side of the ladder for the top section.
The ceiling to floor height is 9'-4" in the garage. The existing wood attic pulldown stairs are just not very wide and sturdy. Any recommendations on a quality wide attic pulldown would be appreciated.
This post was edited on 6/24/23 at 1:06 pm
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