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Seldom seen and always forgotten. Attic accesse's need TLC too.

By
Home Inspector with Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections 10072923

Seldom seen and always forgotten. Attic accesse's need TLC too.

There are a lot of homes I see when inspecting homes for Desert Sun Home inspections in Carlsbad, New Mexico.

Many of these homes are in pretty good shape when it comes to an insulated attic. Some need more and some a little less.

But one thing that is always slipping through the proverbial cracks is the attic accesse's.

They seem to be a forgotten treasure.

I call the access door a treasure because they are going to save or cost you a lot of money in the long run.

Here we have an attic access that is missing, I mean gone and not coming back. Why is it missing is anyone's guess.

Missing access door to attic.

When to access is missing then the heating and cooling of the home is wasted. Right out the access door that is'nt in place to stop the chimney affect of the air flow out of the home.

This is and was costing the home owners a lot of money in heating and cooling bills over the course of the years.

Here we have a look at what you would think is a good attic door.

But in this case it is almost worthless.

Uninsulated access door to attic.

I am not a fan of the old style "POPCORN look". This can easily come off when you try to open and move the access from side to side causing damage to the "POPCORN" finish.

Plus this large access is not insulated from the attic side, not sealed with a low use weather strip. Neither of these were in place. This access alone was costing the sellers a lot of money over the course of ownership.

Remember to always have the attic accesse's insulated and have a low use weather strip added to help seal the door at the point of contact with the trim.

Have a great day Every one.

Posted by

 

Clint  McKie

Owner of Desert Sun Home Inspections Carlsbad, New Mexico. Eddy County's only certified home inspection service WITH OVER 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE. Serving all of South East New Mexico. We inspect the homes entire structure from the roof to the foundation, and everything in between. Most reports within 4-24 hours from time of inspection completion. We issue a PDF report with pictures Starting at $250.00 for each home inspection. Why settle for less when you can have the best?

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Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good morning Clint,

Informative post! Our attic access is located in the garage and has a pull down stairs for easy access (we have a one story). We have a lot of floored space for storage which is helpful for some things.

Mar 31, 2013 09:15 PM
Anita Clark
Coldwell Banker Access Realty ~ 478.960.8055 - Warner Robins, GA
Realtor - Homes for Sale in Warner Robins GA

Clint: We have an access door similar to the one you show above but without the popcorn finish.  My husband insulated and put weatherstripping down a few years ago to stop the air/heat from escaping.

Mar 31, 2013 09:30 PM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

They are always huge energy wasters, but ESPECIALLY when the cover is missing!  How smart is that!?

Mar 31, 2013 09:42 PM
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Good morning, Clint.... I'm a promoter of pull down stairs.... there are insulation packages that are used to save energy....easy access....

Mar 31, 2013 10:22 PM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Clint, cannot imagine not having an access door and looking at that opening!     I like Barbara's idea of pull down stairs!

 

Mar 31, 2013 11:40 PM
Clint Mckie
Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM
Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi Dorie,

The pull down stairs is the best way to go. Especially when located in a garage. The best place to have them.

I have seen them inside of homes and what a nightmare to get sealed off the right way.

Have a great week ahead in Canyon Creek, Texas.

Best, Clint McKie

Mar 31, 2013 11:54 PM
Clint Mckie
Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM
Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi Anita,

And that's what your supposed to do. Seal it without the caulking that renders the door non operational for future use without cutting the seal to gain access.

Have a good day in Warner Robins.

Best, Clint McKie

Mar 31, 2013 11:56 PM
Fred Hernden, CMI
Superior Home Inspections - Greater Albuquerque Area - Albuquerque, NM
Albuquerque area Master Inspector

Most of the ones I see that are inside the heated area of the house do not have insulation over the door or a seal around the opening, most people do not even think of that. Huge energy loss year round!

Mar 31, 2013 11:56 PM
Clint Mckie
Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM
Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi Jay,

Not a clue as to the whereabouts of the door. Just missing. I think they were going to replace it and did'nt get to it.

Have a good day in Bristow my friend.

Best, Clint McKie

Mar 31, 2013 11:58 PM
Clint Mckie
Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM
Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi Barbara,

Commonly known as a "coffin" these are really good for sealing off the drop down stairs for attic accesse's.

But I never see any in this area. I guess they don't think the owners need any.

Have a wonderful day and week in Franklin, Ma.

Best, Clint McKie

 

Apr 01, 2013 12:00 AM
Clint Mckie
Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM
Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi Joan,

If installed in the garage they are really great. No where else though.

Have a nice day in the Denver area. Sell some homes. LOL

Best, Clint McKie

Apr 01, 2013 12:01 AM
Clint Mckie
Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM
Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hello Fred,

There is a ton of money wasted on just the attic accesses not being sealed and insulated. Many if not all homeowners don't give the access a second thought.

Have a very good day inspecting in the greater Tampa area.

Best, Clint McKie

Apr 01, 2013 12:03 AM
Rob Thomas
Prestige Homes of The Tri Cities, Inc. CALL....423-341-6954 - Bristol, TN
Bristol TN-VA & Tri Cities Agent, ABR, GRI, e-Pro

Clint ....This is an area that almost everyone overlooks ....Great reminder!

Have a great day in Carlsbad!

Apr 01, 2013 12:14 AM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Very good advice for home owners. I wonder what percentage of attic access panels have insulation.

Apr 01, 2013 12:29 AM
Al Raymondi
Ocean View Realty Group in Ormond By The Sea Florida - Ormond Beach, FL
Ormond By The Sea Florida - Home and Condo Sales

Terrific advice Clint, more areas sealed off means less heated and cooled air that gets away.

Apr 01, 2013 05:57 AM
TeamCHI - Complete Home Inspections, Inc.
Complete Home Inspections, Inc. - Brentwood, TN
Home Inspectons - Nashville, TN area - 615.661.029

Good evening, Clint. The attic and the crawlspace are often referred to as the final frontier. I did not know that popcorn was still used. I thought that went out with the Twist...

Apr 01, 2013 09:20 AM
Conrad Allen
Re/Max Professional Associates - Webster, MA
Webster, Ma, Realtor

Hi Clint.  The guy who invented popcorn ceilings should be tarred and feathered.

Apr 01, 2013 09:43 PM
James Dray
Fathom Realty - Bentonville, AR

Picky,picky,picky you sir just look for things don’t you?  WAIT! that’s your job!! Have a great day.  See ya in a couple of weeks

Apr 02, 2013 01:17 AM
Donald Hester
NCW Home Inspections, LLC - Wenatchee, WA
NCW Home Inspections, LLC

Clint, I love when you see all the black on them from air moving by them. You are right often these are not properly insulated or with a gasket.

Apr 02, 2013 02:35 AM