Stormguard Around Loft Attic Hatch Door Draught Excluder Seal Strip Weather Proofing Insulation. (4 x 685mm, Brown)

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That’s simple… your loft hatch isn’t draught-proof! Of course!! And it’s probably not insulated either. Any gaps in your ceiling or around the hatch will let in that cold air. And there’s your draught problem! We come across this all the time. And it’s often the first sign that you need to give some attention to your loft space. The good news is that doing so will not only help to keep the top of your home warmer. It also provides other tangible benefits such as helping to reduce your energy bills and even increasing the value of your home! But why is cold air entering my loft in the first place? The simple lift-out hatch (those without a hinge) can be insulated by gluing a plastic bag to the hatch, filling it with insulation material and taping the bag closed. It is effective, cheap and the bag prevents the insulating fibre from getting disturbed. Draught-proofing won’t prevent heat loss in the same way that insulation will, but it will stop cold air from passing through the gaps and into the space below. Find out how to draught-proof different types of loft hatches below. For Flat Loft Hatches Alternatively, a piece of rigid foam insulation could be glued to the hatch but this will tend to leave gaps around the edges, allowing draughts. There are lots of good reasons why it’s essential to draught-proof your loft hatch. Here we examine why it’s a good idea and what you can do to ensure that yours is draught-free! Draught-Proofing your Loft Hatch - Why Bother? Lower Energy Bills

The hinged variety that fold downs into the living space, and could come with or without a ladder. This option is now the go-to option in new homes due to the ease and accessibility they offer. If you don’t want to install double glazing, you can still cut down on draughts by trying the following:

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And likewise, if you have a hinged hatch that swings downwards but rests against a post within the hatch casing/frame when shut then you’d apply the strip around that post. So the strips would be facing downwards. In a new build, it will be necessary to insulate a loft hatch to comply with Building Regulations and, to be honest, it would be difficult to find a new loft hatch that is not insulated and airtight (to a degree, at least). Gone are the days when MDF or plywood is used to create loft doors in new homes. The amount you'll save on your bills means that your draught proofing is likely to pay for itself in a few years. Read on to find out what you can do in your own home – from filling in gaps around pipes to insulating your loft hatch. Plus, learn how to keep warm air in without compromising on ventilation. Draught proofing costs and savings It’s important to strike the right balance between humidification and ventilation. This can be hard when your windows and doors are tightly shut to insulate your home.

Moving in 2002 to a small-holding in South Wales, providing as it did access to a wider range of natural resources, fanned his enthusiasm for sustainability. He went on to install renewable technology at the property, including biomass boiler and wind turbine.It’s important to distinguish between draught-proofing and insulating your loft hatch as these are not the same thing. Insulating a loft hatch provides additional material to prevent heat from escaping from the loft hatch. Examples of insulation might be blanket insulation or loose-fill insulation. Find our full guide on how to insulate your loft hatch here. Just as important as insulation is draught proofing, and undertaking measures to draught proof an existing loft hatch will improve comfort in the living space below.

However, the better the insulation and draught proofing to the rest of the house the greater the impact of an uninsulated hatch. Should I Insulate the Loft Hatch in My Home?And finally, if you have the very old style of loft door that isn’t hinged or even attached to anything fear not! You should be able to use the techniques we’ve talked about above to draught-proof and insulate that too. Foam sealant: This special foam can be sprayed into gaps around windows or doors. It’s more expensive than foam tape.

To make sure you don’t get overcharged for double glazing, read our guide to double glazing prices. Make sure you keep outside ventilation in areas where there are open fires or flues, and in rooms where moisture is produced, such as kitchens and bathrooms.

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Cut draughts with ‘snake’ draught excluders (photo, right), or similar strips of material (see over). Note that this should only be a temporary measure – while you’re trying to keep warm. Airflow between rooms is good for a home as it reduces the risk of moist air getting trapped in a particular rooms. We’re happy to show you how! If we’re not installing something like a Fakro loft ladder that comes with a fully-insulated hatch and frame then we build one bespoke. And in that scenario, we usually opt for a hinged swing-down hatch with a post surrounding the inside of the hatch frame. The hatch then rests against that post when shut and it’s on that post that we apply a rubber ‘P’ seal as illustrated in the diagram below. Cross-section of a hatch and casing with ‘P’ seal What’s the difference between a draught-proof and an insulated hatch?