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Almost all houses have an attic and with it an access door to the attic. Types range from the common attic hatch, sometimes with a hanging ladder, to the door in the knee wall. Most attic doors come with the house, but changing the type to suit the homeowner’s preferences is often an option.
The simple attic hatch, also called an evacuation hole, is quite common in homes. It is a removable part of the roof that is usually shaped like a rectangle or square. To access the attic, the homeowner simply pushes on this roof cutout and moves it to the side. Once the access door is out of the way, a ladder can be used to enter the area.
Some homes come installed with a suspended door to access the attic from the stairs. This type of gate is spring-loaded so that once the gate is pushed up and a nearby cable is pulled, the stairs can easily come out. Ladders are usually made of metal or wood and bend just as easily as they bend out. This type of attic access door is similar to the simple attic hatch, but is more convenient because the ladder is already built in.
The door in the knee wall is another common way to access the attic. It is usually located mid-height on a short vertical wall rather than the ceiling. This type of attic access door is usually located in a small room on the upper level of the house, which can be used as a loft, storage area, or bedroom. The ceiling of the room is usually sloping.
One concern with any attic access door is the amount of insulation. No matter the type of attic door, many homes lose heat to the area. For this reason, it is recommended that all attic doors be equipped with some type of insulation, such as waterproofing and foam board. The method of adding such insulation aids varies depending on the type of door.
Yet another consideration to keep in mind when thinking about attic doors is the level of security. The owner can add a lock to any type of attic door. In fact, this is suggested for doors on the exterior walls of office buildings and houses. Many people don’t realize how easy access an attic can offer to their belongings, so it’s a good idea to learn about door options.
