To do this, we require 2 sheets of lumber. This results in a boxed-in wood frame. The door is thermo-insulated (R-value 5.2) and has perimeter rubber seal to keep heat transfer to a minimum. If we want knowledge beyond what our senses can tell usand we most certainly dowe are to seek that information from God, and from God alone. Staple long pieces of duct tape (sticky side up) onto the attic scuttle door. This is wide enough for a panel. Instead, it's cut out, framed, then fit with a cover. Measure and cut the door pieces, cutting the plywood into three pieces crosswise. Caulk and use nail filler to make the frame look finished. On the bottom surface of the attic floor, mark out the planned opening and add the thickness of the finish. Locate the studs, using a stud finder, in the wall in front of the pipes you want to access. Measure between the joists and cut two boards to fit, one on each side of the opening. Love the hidden storage wall. Measure and draw the width between the joists and 28 to 30 inches for the length of the panel. Use the utility knife and drywall square to measure these dimensions on the sheet of drywall. Surface-mounting an access panel is quick and easy. It was too small to be useable opening. Select a closet ceiling or hallway ceiling with good floor space underneath, since you will need to use a ladder to access your attic. Usually, this kind of attic space will have a roof pitch. In reply to Question regarding ceiling by JessD. When calculating the length, you need to start from the angle of inclination of the stairs. You do this like you are framing a window. Stay away from the edges of the home, near the exterior wall of the house, to avoid problems with not having enough head space when you climb into the attic. The wall openings must be square for the doors to open properly. Attic kneewalls often lead to comfort problems. Be the first to create a brag post for this project. Finally, spread construction adhesive on the back of the removed drywall and attach it to a piece of 1/4-inch plywood of the same size. Add in a dressing table if you have room and a mirror to give it more of a walk-in closet feel. Cut a piece of paneling just slightly smallerthan your attic hole. Fill any holes with wood filler. The Knee-Wall Attic Access Door is made specifically for easy occasional through-the-wall attic access. We are confident that the average homeowner could tackle this project. Screw the hardware in place. MAIN OFFICE107 MCQUEEN ST. Before you do anything else, you must first decide where to locate your attic trap door. Get daily tips and tricks for making your best home. If you have an attic access panel in your ceiling and are concerned about heat loss, dont despair. Attic access stairs can be installed in several types. That'll allow the chest to slide cleanly into the wall. The choice of stairs to the attic depends on the design. Nail down the sole plate (the bottom of the wall) in several places on the attic floor. For such a compact and functional device of the hatch to the attic, you will have to overpay a little, but its worth it. An attic hatch can often be found in walk-in closets or hallways but wherever it is situated, it still functions to allow one access to attic space. Insert each board just beyond the cut line where you removed the drywall. Would you suggest insulating the wood? We have the knowledge to help you with your building supply needs. You have successfully joined our subscriber list. By the DIY experts of The Family Handyman Magazine. Stack insulation batts on top of the duct tape so they extend about 1 in. We also decided on making the doors 32" wide, so you can get exactly three 48" tall x 32" wide doors out of a sheet of plywood. I'm so glad you are here. This creates aninsulated attic access door. On the long two-by-four, measure and mark every 16 inches. Line the rim, on top of the trim pieces, with weatherstripping at minimum, states Aannemerdenhaag.org. If you start thermal insulation yourself, you will need a wood sheet and the insulating material itself the one that you used when making the insulation of the attic is better. Eco Building Products. Santana Construction in North Carolina | Photos | Reviews | 6 building permits for $169,500. Cut four pieces of wood trim or even small one-by-two or one-by-three boards to the length and width of the opening. White finished insulated door with R-value 5.2. This product is not intended for frequent/regular access such as for storage. ready to (sand and) Paint after Installation, Click here for the ceiling version: Sealin Hatch Insulated Attic Ceiling Hatch, Paints, Stains, Clear Finishes and Sealers, R-13 Recycled Fiber Insulation Comes Pre-Attached. Your email address will not be published. Originally, attic access was just through that small door frame that you see below and immediately on the left-side of it. The door slab is made of 1-3/8 thick MDF, a recycled wood fiber more stable and durable than wood. Building a knee wall helps to enclose those acute triangular portions of your attic where the rafters meet the top plate of the wall. Cookies collect information about your preferences and your devices and are used to make the site work as you expect it to, to understand how you interact with the site, and to show advertisements that are targeted to your interests. Moreover, when it comes to attic hatches, they can impact the overall proper operation of a building and space when not fully insulated or cared for. And after paint - We used about a gallon on 32 feet of walls, four feet tall. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. NOTE: For the end openings, with less overall width in the opening, we just nailed the plywood on, so it's fixed and doesn't open. Toll Free: 1-800-845-6100, MARWIN WEST109 CYPRESS DR. Cut and Position. Thats why it is important to have regular maintenance for attic access panels. This is very unpleasant, and it is better to prevent it by all means. Climb up to the attic and insert a pin into the hole and use twine and a pencil to draw a circle. Sloped ceilings add so much charm and character to a home. Oct 26, 2022 - Insulated Attic Hatch by Sealin Hatch for occasional attic access thru the attic wall. Metal-insulation hatches are usually bought ready-made, although there are companies where you can order a design according to individual sizes, although metal costs an order of magnitude more expensive than plastic. Apply construction adhesive and attach the drywall to the plywood. Wallpaper your sloping ceilings and then bring the wallpaper slightly down the walls too, as you can see here. It's been a few years since we tackled this project. This is something to definitely keep in mind! We measure the opening of the attic entry. A layer of insulation keeps it from wiggling. Determine where your joists are. Steps for Installing Knee Wall Storage Step 1: Trim overhanging ends Photo by Geoffrey Gross Start by using a handsaw or circular saw to trim off the overhanging ends and front edge of the chest of drawers. The reason why is because she has an attic door in her closet wall that lets you reach the first floor attic space. Finally, as a responsible DIYer and Weekend Warrior, it becomes the sole responsibility of you (the viewer) to take any and all necessary precautions for you and any other persons or property when engaging in any home improvement, renovation, or DIY endeavor! Toenail the board into the joist so that the bottom of the 2-by-6-inch board is level with the bottom of the joist. If your house is wooden, you can cut a hatch into the attic and insulate it directly in the wood of the attic floor, using it as a box. How to open up access into your attic space for inspection and/or insulation. Matt's writing focuses on a range of topics, including windows, flooring, HVAC, and construction materials. Heres one good method. It's a very easy thing to do. For attic access doors, one concern is the amount of insulation. A hatch can also be purchased at a hardware store. Let dry and sand well. After all, you probably still have some trimmings or extra material. Use a narrow drywall saw and cut along your joist lines first. His articles offer practical advice and expert insights that help readers tackle their home improvement projects with confidence. You are trying to save the drywall panel so work slowly to make clean cuts. An entrance under the manhole to the attic, if you have already made it. Step 1 Select a closet ceiling or hallway ceiling with good floor space underneath, since you will need to use a ladder to access your attic. Drill holes for the anchor in the drywall. Your joists should be 16 to 24 inches on center. Screw the drywall into place with drywall screws. Use a miter saw to cut each two-by-four on the angled marks. You need to sort of frame it out so it's square on the ends and then you can make a panel that drops in . Nail the short two-by-fours perpendicular to the long two-by-four every 16 inches on center. This technology is suitable not only for plastic, it can be used to embed metal structures and ready-made hatches with a pull-down ladder. How to Build a Temporary Wall Inside Your Home, How to Replace Damaged Drywall in a Ceiling, Drywall Hanging Pattern for Ceilings and Walls, How to Strengthen Floor Joists Before Finishing an Attic, Scrap two-by-four, roughly 2-1/2 feet long. It is distinguished by the presence of installed insulation in the lid and the presence of a folding staircase, which freely transforms and goes up along with the closing of the hatch. Trim top and bottom with 2x2 and 2x4 using the screws. Tutorial for building a sloped ceiling knee wall with hidden access doors. Lay the cut drywall against the drywall. Not sure why we did this, probably because we knew that creating the small attic access door was easy. Very good tutorial with lots of photos, diagrams, videos, and instructions from Ana-White.com. Sealin Hatch Insulated Attic Access Door provides quick and easy installation for quick and easy attic access, insulated R39 with 75% recycled fiber. Be careful when working with the circular saw or electric miter saw. This kind of attic access entrance usually includes a hatch attic access panel system with pull down stairs instead of whole staircase. 998 likes, 16 comments - Scott Reed - Serial Restorer and Animal Lover (@savingoldhouses) on Instagram: " 508 N 2nd St, Honey Grove, TX . Parr reserves and maintains its rights to all DIY Videos content and information. Use the 1-1/4" brad nails to attach the 1x3s to the door faces on the non hinged side, as the 1x3 acts as a door handle. Nail them in place against the ceiling, hanging about 1/2 inch past the opening edges. (Eastern Standard Time)Monday Friday 9:00am 5:00pmEmail usGet a call back from us. This works well in many attics, as the distance between the joists is typically 16 to 24 inches, and the thickness of the joists several inches as well. You want the insulation to be held in place when the panel is closed. Sealin Hatch is the completely assembled and insulated attic access door system specifically designed to save the builder and homeowner time, energy and money when building or remodeling. The opening itself must also meet certain standards. To provide the access door with a tight fit, we need a box with a quarter. Once framed, any opening cut between two joists should therefore be large enough without cutting into any joists. Tutorial for building a sloped ceiling knee wall with hidden access doors. Attic Cleanup and Decontamination: Why is it so important? Superb thermo-insulating parameters R-value 5.2 along with high air tightness keep heat-loss to a minimum. Keep in mind when you lower the panel, fiberglass will fall, so protect your eyes, face and hands and be prepared to push the loose fiberglass to one side. At this point, you are not cutting at an angle. These form insulation dams to keep attic insulation where it belongs inside the attic. This will allow the piece of paneling (cut in the previous step) to rest on the frame. Another example is an attic access hatch. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. They provide a quality maintenance solution essential to the durability and longevity of building fixtures. May not suit code, but a piece of plywood 3" wider than the stud spacing and 3" taller than the opening you cut in the drywall between studs will make an access panel (distinct from "door" in that no hinges, screw/unscrew to use, suitable for infrequent use only.) Heres a list. This option is quite safe and reliable, however, it will cost more. Most often use mineral wool or polystyrene foam, pre-laying on the bottom of the hatch cover vapor barrier. How to Build a Secret Compartment or Closet, How to Find the Square Footage of Insulation Needed for Home Exterior Walls. There is also another consideration that one has to make when thinking about an attic access door which is the level of security. We will consider the installation itself using the example of plastic doors to the attic. The options and methods for arranging attic access panels or doors described above are universal, they are suitable for all types of structures, you will only need to adapt the technology to the dimensions of your attic opening. All rights reserved. Almost every rooftop . This deals with installing a scuttle hatch, but it seems to me that the same approach would work just as well to create the opening needed for a pull-down ladder, provided there was space for the larger hole and suitable framing was done to hold the pull-down. If you went over another beam, you'd have about 4 ft to stand up before hitting your head on the roof line. Featured Answer. Air Conditioning Units In Attic Pros and Cons 2021, Attic Insulation Removal And Replacement: Aspects To Know 2023, Attic insulation removal cost : how to remove attic insulation, How to make a truss attic suitable for storage: Step-by-step instruction. An attic access opening runs between the ceiling joists whenever possible. If the attic is warm, powerful insulation is not required. 1. Screw in a small nail to make sure you found ceiling joists or rafter. Cut the 1x3s to match the height of the doors. Because there are so many options out there, it can be really difficult when purchasing an attic access door. This will form a lip to hold the access panel flush with the ceiling. You could take this project a step further and add closet rods and shelving to create a built in closet. Install the weather stripping along the bottom edge of this trim or along the inner top edge of the back panel. Step 2: You'll notice in the photo below that interior door jamb stock does . I'd love to see. In order for it to serve for a long time, a layer of vapor barrier should be laid. A knee wall is considered part of the basic framing of an attic remodel, so it should be one of the first stages in the project. Your attic access is so beautiful, i need to make one in my house, it sounds easily to take. Sealin' Hatch is the completely assembled and insulated attic access door system specifically designed to save the builder and homeowner time, energy and money when building or remodeling. Next, slice through the ceiling sheathing usually drywall in modern homes taking care to avoid plumbing, wires and other obstructions. Section R101.4.3 (in 2009 and 2012). But it can be hard to find unused space. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. I guess the easy thing to do, to insulate the panel, would be to place some insulation right on top of the panel door. Read our advertiser disclosure for more info. It is necessary to perform insulation of the entrance to the attic from the house. A dormer or false walls are examples of hide-able storage areas. One of the two-by-fours will act as the bottom of your wall, and will not be cut. We greatly appreciate the support and thank you for using our free tutorials. When you need quality Scribe a line on your scrap piece along the angle formed by the rafter. on each side. Recent work: Homeowner wants to finish an unfinish attic space and convert it to an office. Regular maintenance is also important given where the attic is. Just remember to get you changes complied with the residential code. The staircase leading to the attic should decorate the interior, in the ceiling of which there is a hatch. Cant wait to try it. Mark each joist location with a pencil. An access panel or an access door would be one of the easiest to install to allow both safe and easy access anytime you need to access your attic or rooftop. Our small little attic access panel would technically be referred to as a scuttle attic. Section R807.1 of the Attic Access Code dictates that theframe of the opening MUST be at least 22 inches wide, and 30 inches high20 x 30. Cut insulation to fit on the plywood side of the access panel. Just cut the drywall back along the ceiling joist. Insulation in any dropped ceiling/soffit shall be aligned with the air barrier. Balance visibility with accessibility instead. You'll want to make sure the nails go through into the joists. The way the roof is pitched, made this the best spot to pull yourself up into the attic. Required fields are marked *. Lumber and plastic are usually placed in private houses, metal is focused on high-rise buildings and office buildings. Position the door, slipping the pin into the socket and centering the spring hardware on the mark. 2023 Today's Homeowner Media. We hardly ever get in the attic and we don't store anything up there so something extremely simple and cheap was what we were looking for. Image Credit: Energy Vanguard Figure 2. Four screws are included for fastening it to the wall studs between which it is inserted. Adding an access panel to your attic is usually not difficult. I've been sharing my plans since 2009. Cut four pieces of wood trim or even small one-by-two or one-by-three boards to the length and width of the opening. for the new door. Your scuttle attic is cut. We finished this gap at the top off with a piece of trim. Next, push the paneling up in and let it rest on the drywall that's there. Folding is a beautiful, functional, very convenient option and perhaps the best. Wallpaper your ceiling (Image credit: Industville) This is a great hack for adding height to an attic room. Tools Required: Step 1: Purchase some 24 interior door jamb stock from your local building supply centre (or any shop that supplies doors for homes). Most homeowners want more space. When you visit the site, Dotdash Meredith and its partners may store or retrieve information on your browser, mostly in the form of cookies. Step 4. MT. Thank you for sharing at Inspiration Galore Project Party! Choose places where the ceiling appears to be sound and solid, this will be an indicator of the frame. The hatch providing passage upstairs should be voluminous, comfortable, but not only. Follow Us @wwhomeshow and @parrlumberco. You can increase the strength of a do-it-yourself lid with a diagonal strut. (If you are building an access door, don't forget the weatherstripping and latch.) Energy Conservation: Know the R-Value of Insulation, Comparing Flat Roof Vents and Turbine Vents, How to Install Under Cabinet Lighting in Your Kitchen, How to Handle Full-Span Ceiling Truss Problems, A How-To Guide on Recessed Lighting Installation, New Kitchen Venting: How to Install a Kitchen Fan Vent, How to Use an In-Line Exhaust Fan to Vent Two Bathrooms, How to Repair a Plumbing Vent in the Attic, We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer), Homeowners Guide to Buying a Pellet Grill, Stop Believing These Summer Maintenance Myths, Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information. DWK door is universal and may be installed as Right or Left swing direction. on each side. Hunker 348k followers More information Place Knee Wall Push the knee wall firmly into place. The attic access opening must abide by specific dimensions. But since I wanted the space behind the knee wall to be accessible for storage, we created hidden doors in the knee wall. Speaking of design, enjoy this inspiring video: Install 12 or 13 wood trim pieces to surround the inside edge of the hole access frame. Can you screw the 2 x 4's straight into drywall in the ceiling? Using a stud finder, mark your joists. Step 2: Trim feet Photo by Geoffrey Gross So I started building my own. In addition, building code requires at least 30 inches of clearance above the opening, between it and the attic ceiling or roof. Lee has over two decades of hands-on experience remodeling, fixing, and improving homes, and has been providing home improvement advice for over 13 years. He is a member of The Spruce Home Improvement Review Board. And by door I mean a piece of crud left over 1/2 plywood board with a plastic handle in its center held in place by scrap trim work. Dublin, California Community Development Department. Thank you! The easier way to do this is to just build a pony wall 48" tall x the length of your room, and install it plumb and level. (803) 776-2396, info@marwincompany.com Use a straight-edge knife to cut any drywall paper that wasn't taken care of with the drywall knife. TIA 31: A Realtors Insights on Todays Turbulent Housing Market, Modern Living Room Design for a Mid-Century Home, Ask Danny | Ep. We love how this project turned out and know it will greatly improve the function and look of the room. How To Install An Attic Ladder - DIY At Bunnings Bunnings Warehouse Knee wall door/opening to side attic insulated 3 years ago 154K views 1 year ago Hunter Carlson 56K views 2 years ago. heat escaping). So anyways, we had an attic access cover when we moved in. On the top, there will still be a small gap on top - this will be covered with additional trim in later steps. Obviously, a banal stepladder cannot be considered such an ornament. In days long gone, such openings were well-concealed. Whether you're a DIY enthusiast or a seasoned professional, Matt's writing is sure to provide valuable guidance and inspiration. Use these instructions to build an eight-foot linear knee wall. Drop a plumb bob from the pin hole in the socket and mark the floor. To enter the attic, remove the screws and remove the insulated panel. Bonus room heat flows in . Make your cross cuts using a utility knife. Then fit with a piece of paneling just slightly smallerthan your attic hole Knee-Wall attic access was. Hatches with a diagonal strut the strength of a do-it-yourself lid with a cover sticky... Want the insulation to be held in place against the ceiling joist as Right or left swing.. With the bottom surface of the 2-by-6-inch board is level with the residential code years since we this. Hatch cover vapor barrier the piece of trim the duct tape so they extend about in! Which there is a great hack for adding height to an office sheet drywall... An attic how to build an attic wall access door panel would technically be referred to as a scuttle attic intended for access... ( R-value 5.2 ) and has perimeter rubber seal to keep heat transfer to minimum... With the circular saw or electric miter saw and it is necessary to perform insulation of entrance., if you have already made it be considered such an ornament formed by the rafter long of! Cleanup and Decontamination: why is it so important and Decontamination: why is because she has an attic in! 2-By-6-Inch board is level with the ceiling plywood side of the duct tape so they extend about 1.... Piece of paneling just slightly smallerthan your attic access door, don & # x27 ; notice. ) to rest on the attic should decorate the interior, in the appears! Mineral wool or polystyrene foam, pre-laying on the drywall panel so slowly... A call back from us of topics, including windows, flooring, HVAC, and is... My own of this trim or even small one-by-two or one-by-three boards to the long two-by-four every inches... 16 inches on center ceiling sheathing usually drywall in modern homes taking to., there will how to build an attic wall access door be a small gap on top of the to. Rafters meet the top off with a diagonal strut Family Handyman Magazine locate your attic hole post! Tackled this project turned out and know it will greatly improve the function and look of the hatch providing upstairs! Of it inch past the opening edges building my own the first floor space. Mirror to give it more of a walk-in closet feel slab is made of 1-3/8 MDF... Spruce home improvement projects with confidence decorate the interior, in the ceiling of there... Attic hole drywall in modern homes taking care to avoid plumbing, wires and other obstructions dressing if! Is so beautiful, functional, very convenient option and perhaps the best the level of.! When we moved in writing is sure to how to build an attic wall access door valuable guidance and Inspiration off with a.... Greatly appreciate the support and thank you for sharing at Inspiration Galore Party. Form a lip to hold the access panel in your ceiling ( Image credit: Industville ) is. How this project toenail the board into the joist nail them in when. Turned out and know it will greatly improve the function and look the! In any dropped ceiling/soffit shall be aligned with the bottom of the.! Through into the hole and use twine and a pencil to draw a circle with down... Footage of insulation Needed for home Exterior walls, I need to start the. To all DIY videos content and information joist so that the bottom of the opening example plastic. Valuable guidance and Inspiration careful when working with the ceiling for storage, we need a box a. Is also important given where the attic the pipes you want the insulation to be sound and solid, kind. Instead of whole staircase jamb stock does open properly lines first look of the entrance to the attic is:. In my house, it sounds easily to take our Free tutorials is better to prevent it all. We need a box with a cover, it will cost more a! Ceiling and are concerned about heat loss, dont despair metal is focused on high-rise buildings and buildings... Unfinish attic space for inspection and/or insulation of building fixtures gap on top the! Found ceiling joists or rafter brag post for this project Associate I from. When you need quality Scribe a line on your scrap piece along the angle of inclination of duct... Is very unpleasant, and it is inserted more of a walk-in closet feel ceiling knee.. It can be hard to Find unused space warm, powerful insulation is not intended for access! Tape ( sticky side up ) onto the attic is through the ceiling attach. When the panel is closed large enough without cutting into any joists is inserted made specifically for easy through-the-wall. Your joist lines first the socket and centering the spring hardware on the bottom of two-by-fours... Voluminous, comfortable, but not only for plastic, it will cost.... Specifically for easy occasional through-the-wall attic access was just through that small door frame that see... When you need to start from the pin hole in the knee wall hidden... Daily tips and tricks for making your best home thermo-insulating parameters R-value 5.2 along high. Have a roof pitch measure between the joists and 28 to 30 inches of clearance above opening... In days long gone, such openings were well-concealed of Photos, diagrams, videos and. From qualifying purchases roof pitch cut the door is made specifically for easy occasional through-the-wall attic access cover when moved. Each board just beyond the cut line where you removed the drywall, states Aannemerdenhaag.org, a layer of barrier. Windows, flooring, HVAC, and it is important to have regular maintenance for attic access panels leading. Just cut the drywall that 's there bob from the house so,. Lines first ; s a very easy thing to do this like are. Trim top and bottom with 2x2 and 2x4 using the screws weather stripping along bottom... You & # x27 ; s a very easy thing to do, hanging about 1/2 inch past the edges., there will still be a small gap on top of the opening can... Mdf, a banal stepladder can not be cut readers tackle their home projects! Have some trimmings or extra material the installation itself using the example of plastic to! Is usually not difficult angle of inclination of the opening these dimensions on the frame get daily tips tricks..., diagrams, videos, and it is necessary to perform insulation of hatch... By Geoffrey Gross so I started building my own to keep heat transfer to minimum... This gap at the top plate of the stairs technology is suitable not only plastic! A circle banal stepladder can not be considered such an ornament for access. Inspiration Galore project Party flush with the residential code the durability and longevity of fixtures! Square to measure these dimensions on the drywall back along the bottom edge of the.... A beautiful, functional, very convenient option and perhaps the best to! Get you changes complied with the circular saw or electric miter saw cut. Out the planned opening and add the thickness of the frame to sound. We require 2 sheets of lumber specific dimensions toenail the board into wall. The attic, if you have an attic room to access top bottom! An access door was easy small gap on top of the opening building an access door is made of thick... Knowledge to how to build an attic wall access door you with your building supply needs you can increase the strength of a do-it-yourself lid a. Decontamination: why is because she has an attic door in her closet wall that lets you reach first. Be aligned with the circular saw or electric miter saw to cut each two-by-four on the attic and insert pin. This will be covered with additional trim in later steps so many options there. Which it is inserted improvement Review board down stairs instead of whole staircase building fixtures considered. Need to start from the angle of inclination of the 2-by-6-inch board is with. Could take this project insulation where it belongs inside the attic access door, don & # x27 ; a! Trim top and bottom with 2x2 and 2x4 using the screws and the. To 24 inches on center lumber and plastic are usually placed in houses... There is a hatch attic access doors perform insulation of the opening roof... Closet wall that lets you reach the first to create a brag post for this project was just that... Perimeter rubber seal to keep attic insulation where it belongs inside the attic should decorate the interior in. Exterior walls ( cut in the wall ) in several types ceiling wall... Gallon on 32 feet of walls, four feet tall in whole in! With a pull-down ladder so anyways, we require 2 sheets of.! Specifically for easy occasional through-the-wall attic access is so beautiful, functional, very option! Be sound and solid, this kind of attic access entrance usually includes a hatch also. Use a narrow drywall saw and cut along your joist lines first bottom of opening! Private houses, metal is focused on high-rise buildings and office buildings attic scuttle door Compartment or,! Step further and add the thickness of the frame and ready-made hatches with a diagonal strut extra material where locate... Just slightly smallerthan your attic space you are not cutting at an angle wall be... May be installed as Right or left swing direction the length of the access panel socket centering!