Attic Tent

[bigalpha]

Since my attic stairs don't seal up very well, they leak a stupid mount of air. The stairs are in my hallway so hot air blows down and keeps the thermostat too hot causing my AC to run non-stop.

Buying a "real" attic tent would be about $70 for a cheapie, and I didn't feel like modding the area around the stairs in my attic - house was built in 1945 so the joists aren't all spaced neatly enough to just install a traditional attic tent.

I built one out of styrofoam panels. The panels are about 2" thick. I cut them to size with a steak knife then set them into place. I used a couple of deck screws to hold them together then I foamed all the joints.

I'm going to let the foam cure overnight and into tomorrow then see how rigid the whole thing is. Also will find out how well the whole contraption works.

A few crappy pics of it in place. I'll take a few more tomorrow.

 

[sam24th]

Wait so is that thing permanent? Or do you still have access to the attic?

 

[bigalpha]

The whole thing is removable. It's basically just a cap. I just tested it and it's surprisingly strong.

 

[mbogosia]

I need to do this or buy an attic tent ASAP. My attic door is a thin peice of wood that doesn't even shut very well. My attic is pretty big so its a huge oven up there in the summer.

So yours isn't sealed where it sits right? I could still see that being very effective. At least it stops the large flow of air.

 

[bigalpha]

Yes, that's exactly what the problem is with mine - a thin piece of wood and no real sealing ability. Not to mention, that thin piece of wood just radiates heat.

I cut the styrofoam to fit on top of the framing around the attic door, so I think it's 'sealed' up pretty well. I am lucky and have a TON of blown insulation, so I packed it around where the styrofoam sits. I just have a little more to do to get it really closed up all the way.

I was thinking of putting some good quality weatherstripping on the framing where the styrofoam sits but I think that wouldn't be as useful as I think it'd be. My other thought was was wrap the inside of the styrofoam with an emergency blanket to help stop radiant heat ... but it's 2" of styrofoam so it shouldn't radiate any heat.

I'm going to take some other pictures today that shows exactly what I was working with and how I got it to fit.

 

[dave92cherokee]

They also sell a product at walmart, lowes places like that for sealing off windows in the winter time. It's a roll of doublesided tape and some thick clear plastic sheating. Just put it in place and stick it on then use a hair dryer to stretch the plastic tight and it will stop all that as well.

 

[bigalpha]

Yeah, but that's not easily removed for when I need to get out the Christmas tree or stash my Playboys.

 

[bigalpha]

Looks like it's working really well for right now. It's seriously cut back on the amount of heat that's coming through the hole. Still need to do some fine-tuning to really seal up the openings that air is still making it's way through but I'm impressed with it so far.

 

[dave92cherokee]

What about using some blue painters tape or something to seal it up the rest of the way?

 

[bigalpha]

One the one side where they put down some plywood, it doesn't seal flush with it so I'm going to install some weatherstripping.