Everything About the Attic

Installing an attic ladder is not really that hard, but you might need to get your hands a little bit dirty. This article is going to show you how to install an attic ladder, from creating the opening to trimming the stringers.

Adding a folding attic ladder (some people call it disappearing attic ladder) can give you easy access to the attic without taking up to much space inside the house. You need a ceiling opening in order to start the process (if you don’t already have one), and you need to create this opening yourself. The great majority of attic ladders will fit inside a space of 56 (length) by 22 (width) inches.

Step 1: Create a chalk square
First of all, you need to know that in order to create the opening, you will need to cut an attic floor joist. This means that the structural integrity of the attic floor is changed slightly, and the weight that used to be carried by the piece of joist that needs to be cut needs to be transferred to an adjacent joist. This might be easier said than done, especially if electrical wires are involved. Either way, what you have to do is to add a supplemental joist to both of the joists adjacent to the one that needs to be cut.

Chalking the lines is fairly easy, just use 2 nails for orientation. Make sure you have 54 inches between the two nails (or the appropriate dimensions, if specified otherwise by the stairway manufacturer). Usually, the specifications say that you add an extra ½ inch on each side. Once you have chalked the length of the opening, you can use a carpenter’s square to chalk 22 ½ inches for the width, on both sides.

A tip: you need to be sure that you check where the stairway leads you when you step inside the attic. You don’t want to step directly into a wall, for example.

Step 2: Cut the opening
Use a reciprocating saw to do this, and make sure you follow along the chalk lines very precisely.

Step 3: Frame the opening
The opening needs to be framed using joists of the same size with the ones that are already present in your attic. Using joist hangers, attach the joists that meet each other at an angle of 90 degrees. Use hanger nails in the process, not anything else!

Step 4: Attach temporary support edges and shim the supports
Because an attic ladder can be really heavy, you will not be able to install it by yourself, or even with one person helping you. So you will need to install support boards on the sides of the opening. While doing this, you need to be careful so the edges of the boards don’t extend very much beyond the opening.

Then, place the attic ladder on the support, and slowly pull it down in such a way that the hinges are extended. Do not yet place it on the floor though. Shim between the stair and the joists, and drill screws through the respective shims. Think of the weight that the ladder is going to have to support, and use appropriate nails or screws. Make sure that you read the instructions, as most ladders require 16 penny nails. One last caution measure: when drilling, it’s very important that you don’t crack the frame.

Step 5: Secure the ladder on the floor and trim the stringers if needed
First, extend the ladder to the floor, as each foot needs to be flush with the floor. If it’s not, you need to do some trimming, which is not particularly difficult, but it needs focus and patience. Obviously, it’s the bottom section of the ladder that will need to be trimmed (most folding attic ladder are comprised of three sections). If you are anxious about cutting it, ask for professional help. There are lots of online video presentations on the subject, especially for attic ladders produced by Werner or Louisville, probably the most important manufacturers.

Maybe the most important property of radiant barrier insulation is the fact that it has a reflective surface. This surface usually consists of either an aluminum foil or a sheet. The installation can be done either in a house which is being built or in one that has already been built. It really doesn’t matter.

The important thing to know here is the fact that the reflective side of the barrier must face an open area and the installation can be done quite easily by placing the reflective sheets on top of the already existing insulation.

Now here is the trick: you must make sure that the reflective side of the barrier faces up, but also make sure that the barrier doesn’t touch the insulation. The reasoning behind it is this: if the sheet somehow touches the insulation, the heat will be transferred from the barrier to the insulation. This in turn leads to more heat accumulating in summer time and getting out of the house in winter time.

Besides installing the barrier in your attic, you can also place it in the walls of the house. This must be done when the home is being built as part of your home insulation project, for obvious reasons. Another thing that you must do is to make sure that the R-value of your insulation corresponds with the recommended value from your region. This will help you get the best out of your insulation and will make your house much more energy efficient.

This is a selection of articles that provide you with useful information about the attic and other general home improvement issues.

Radiant Barrier Insulation - The most important attributes.

The attic ladder is the most important means of getting into the attic. There are many models that differ in price, and you will need to decide which one is best suited for you. You will find a great selection of articles in this section, with recommendations regarding the best models of attic ladders.

Werner attic ladder s2208: This particular model will offer a great return on your investment. Read the most important features of this item.

Werner aa8 telescoping attic ladder: The smallest of attic openings will not be a problem if you are equipped with the aa8.

Attic ladder installation: Is installing an attic ladder difficult? If you know what you are doing and with a little help, not really. But this doesn’t mean that you don’t need to be careful and precise. Find out how to install an attic ladder in 5 steps.

The Werner AA8 telescoping attic ladder is going to provide you with quick access even to the smallest of attic openings.  It will let you utilize untapped storage and it is slip resistant, a very important attribute of a quality ladder. The ceiling height range that it is able to fit starts from 7 foot 4 inches and ends with 8 foot 4 inches. The most important feature of this ladder is that it only needs a 22×22 inch opening for you to be able to use it.

The best places where you can install the Werner AA8 Televator telescoping attic ladder are closets, hallways, and other tight spaces. It can safely support a load that weighs up to 250 pounds. Another great feature of this ladder is that it has non marring feet. This basically means that it will not scratch or leave any marks whatsoever.

Other features of the Werner AA8 telescoping attic ladder include the fact that it is possible for just one person to install it, it is very easy to use due to the opening device, it has 2-7/8 inch extra wide steps. Its shipping weight is 42.8 pounds. As always, the best place to purchase it is at the Amazon online store, although there are a few other very good options available also.

Werner attic ladders are some of the best you can get in terms of price and quality, and the Werner S2208 is no different. Made from steel, this 8 foot attic ladder is perfect for attics that have heights between 7 foot 3 inches and 8 foot 4 inches.

The installation is very easy, and it can be done in just a few easy steps. Using the 4 hanger brackets, you are able to adjust the height. Then, in order to secure the frame, you must put in the lag bolts. Smooth ups and downs are provided by gas shocks, which also feature extra clearance. In order for you to get a firm grip on the ladder, there are integrated hand rails on the Werner attic ladder S2208. Your save descent will be ensured by the steps’ slip resistant treads. The steps have a width of 3 inches. From a durability point of view, you need not worry. Because it is made out of steel, this ladder is very durable and reliable.

This attic ladder by Werner is actually meant to be an alternative to the spring operated ladder which are usually very difficult to install. The innovative installation model of the S2208 ensures a quick and painless setup. The shipping weight of this product is 78.8 pounds, and its dimensions are 56×24x7 inches. The best place to get it is the best online store, Amazon.

Spray foam attic insulation has tremendously increased in popularity offering a good alternative to pink fiberglass. It has many benefits and is especially popular in the Midwest. Spray attic insulation is usually made of polyurethane foam, about which you must know that it has been in use for a long time in water heaters or refrigerators.

So what’s the process? Through some pressurized spray nozzles, the polyurethane in its liquid form is being pumped. However, by the time it lands on your attic floor, attic walls or whatever you are insulating, it expands and forms a very good insulating barrier.

So what are the most important benefits of foam insulation? First of all, it is able to go where nothing else can go. This means tiny cracks or places holes you might not even notice. Standard fiberglass or cellulose can not accomplish this feat. Spray insulation will completely eliminate energy waste, in ways in which no other type of insulation is able to.

Also, the R-value of the polyurethane is higher than the R-values of other insulation products, at a given thickness. The higher R-value per inch makes it possible for homeowners to use 2×4 construction on exterior walls. With the other types of insulation, you must use the the 2×6 studs. This, in turn, makes you save money when framing. Another advantage of the foam insulation is the fact that it controls moisture condensation, and it is also fire resistant and insect resistant.

The only major drawback of spray foam insulation is the fact that it is not a diy project. You must absolutely call a professional to do the job for you. If you can get over that, you are left with a superb insulation product that will deliver excellent results.

The cost of installing spray foam insulation is 3 times greater than that of installing insulation using traditional materials. However, you will be able to pay back its installation costs on energy saving in less than 5 years.

One of the best aspects about installing a solar powered attic fan is the fact that you need no county permits to do this operation. Additionally, you may very happy to find out that it can be installed anywhere.

The way in which a solar fan works makes perfect sense. When the sun shines over the PV modules, it starts working. And the hotter the sun shines, the more air the solar fan starts pumping in. There is a specific temperature that must be reached in order for this fan to start working. As for the investment, this item is probably one of the best investments you can make especially if you live in a hot and dry climate.

You can install this type of fan in a number of different ways. For example one of the popular options is to install it on the roof, in the gable. Either way that you decide to install the fan, it will essentially work in the same way. The most important aspect that is influenced by the mounting option is the ease of installation. An important advantage of the aforementioned gable installation is the fact that it is weather proof, since water is much less likely to pour into the attic.

A good efficient setup involves the fan being placed on the rooftop. This is due to the fact that in this way, you can place the fan exactly near the apex of the roof. The apex of the roof collects the most heat because of the chimney effect, thus making the solar powered fan that much more effective.

Even though placing the fan near the apex might be the most logical thing to do, you need to consider other aspects also. For example, try to locate your fan downwind. This must be done in order to equalize the ventilation in the attic. Also, “hot spots” on your roof that get the most sunlight need to be found. If your house is located in such a way that you can’t get much evening sun, you may need to buy components separately.

And this is where another choice needs to be made: the type of fan. You can choose between two types, distributed units and one piece units. A one piece unit will cost you around $350 and it is the easiest to install. As a matter of fact, it is so easy to install, that you will not even need to step into the attic itself. These are the steps to do it yourself:

1.    Cut a round hole in your house’s roof;
2.    Pull back the shingles;
3.    Gently slide the unit exactly under the shingles and then drop it through the hole;
4.    Finally, you need to seal for weatherproofing.

But there is one potential problem with one piece units. Since the solar modules are always placed on the unit itself, the place where the fan must be placed and the place where it would collect the most sunlight may not be the same. The problem this situation poses is obvious, since the fan can’t pump in a good amount of air if the solar panels don’t get enough sunlight. And this is exactly the situation that is best suited for a distributed system.

As a matter of fact, buying separate components can be much cheaper than buying a one unit fan. A 12VDC fan which is powerful enough for the average house costs somewhere around $100. Additionally, the PV module which is able to run it costs around $130. But there is one catch to all this: the installation procedure and its costs. A hood is needed to be placed over the fan. This will prevent water from getting inside the attic or from soaking the fan. A good problem solver in this situation is to install the fan on a vertical surface, i.e. behind a grate. In this case, you will avoid cutting through the roof, a procedure which always presents a risk of leaks, no matter how small. As a final tip, you can tilt the PV modules to the West. This way, you will get the most of the air movement during the afternoon. If you tilt the modules in such a way that they peak around 2 PM, you will increase the amount of comfort inside your house.

Attic Fans help the attic cool down in the hot summer days by taking the hot air out. We present you a great collection of articles about attic fans, providing information on everything you need to know about them, including the most important types and how to install them properly.

Solar powered attic fan: this type of fan has greatly increased in popularity. It is energy efficient, and it only starts when it is needed. Find out everything about it.

If you haven’t thought about how important attic door insulation is, just take this into consideration: if not properly insulated, a door, a hatch or any other type of access may be an important means of energy loss inside your home. This is mainly because conditioned air is able to escape around the perimeter of the access panel, and that’s not even the whole story. An uninsulated attic door or hatch will facilitate heat loss and gain.

Air that is filled with moisture coming from the house can accumulate on the attic’s surface by condensation. This is bound to deteriorate the insulation. There are various solutions that are meant to reduce the energy loss and increase the durability of a house. An example of such a solution is the prefabricated system which are built in order to insulate attic door and hatches. Such a system will greatly reduce the draft. You may be glad to find out that there are also specific methods and materials that will help you insulate your attic yourself. Such do it yourself methods will help you thermally seal the various openings your attic may have.

Attic door insulation systems will usually use hinges and zippers. Each manufacturer will be able to provide you with several sizes which are meant to fit various dimensions of the access ways. Now let’s talk a little bit of the installation.

First, you will need to insulate the attic hatch, door or stairway. This is done because it need to have the same insulation as the rest of the attic. The simplest approach is to simply use the same insulation that is being used in the attic, around and over the hatch/door area. If you use Batt insulation, this can be done by simply creating a cover the size of the hatch/door. If you are using loose fill insulation, you will need to use a backer around the attic opening. This must be done in order to contain the fill. After this, you must insulate the hatch itself with rigid foam.

Contrary to what many people believe, installing an attic insulation system is easy to do and doesn’t take very much time. The tools and techniques used in the process are relatively simple. Insulating your attic door or hatch can cost you anywhere between $50 and about $250. This cost is small considering the great advantages you will gain afterwards: no more air leakage inside your home, which in turn reduces your energy costs. Not to mention the fact that it prevents the discomfort that drafts provide.