Replies

1. 
   Planeman | Jan 16, 2009 05:35pm | #1

   So is the design approach to blend quietly into the cieling or stand out like a thumb smashed with a waffle head?  Nice workmanship, just not a subtle approach to an attic door.

    

   Experienced, but still dangerous!
1. 
   Blkbrk | Jan 16, 2009 05:41pm | #2

   The "wood" idea was exactly what the homeowner wanted.  I understand what you're saying, but what to do when the client says, "here's the wood I want, figure out how to make it work"?

1. 
   Planeman | Jan 16, 2009 11:56pm | #13

   I agree, you gotta do what the customer wants.  Your workmanship is great, very well executed. 

   One question, do you have any trouble with keeping the pull down shut tightly?  Mine is about 2 years old and will not seal tightly to the ceiling, it's down about 1/2 inch on the opening side.

    

   Experienced, but still dangerous!

   Edited 1/16/2009 3:58 pm by Planeman

1. 
   Blkbrk | Jan 17, 2009 03:18am | #17

   I really did not have any problems with the closing of the door because, luckily, the homeowner purchased a good quality--heavy pull--door.  This thing will almost pull your arm off going up.  Matter of fact, that was the reason the panel is only as large as the door, otherwise I feared it would break if they let it slam.

   Weatherstrip will be installed on the frame so pressure will not be on the door/spring.  Will it last for the long haul?  This is a first for me, so let's hope.

    

2. 
   jagwah | Jan 16, 2009 05:49pm | #3

   Most attic doors are in the garage and blending in isn't a need. Besides it could always be painted and then almost disappear.

   It's an interesting thought to fancy up such a utility item. Some of the homes I've been in I've noticed how catiewhoompas the door was installed. Short of ripping it out and redoing a person could build around it and skin the door to make it look nicer.

   It would be more obvious but nicer to look at. 

   Just A Guy With A Hammer

1. 
   Planeman | Jan 16, 2009 10:59pm | #11

   That looks like an awful fancy cieling for a garage install.  I belive that is inside the house, as most attic access doors are, at least here on the left coast.  But it is nicely done.Experienced, but still dangerous!

1. 
   jagwah | Jan 16, 2009 11:40pm | #12

   That's what he said later. My point is generaly where they're installed. I agree it looked in to nice a ceiling.  

   Just A Guy With A Hammer

3. 
   DanH | Jan 16, 2009 06:38pm | #8

   I like it. I assume that it matches much of the nearby trim. If we always tried to camouflage utilitarian areas of the house you'd never be able to find the bathroom.
   The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. -John Kenneth Galbraith

1. 
   Blkbrk | Jan 16, 2009 07:06pm | #9

   The door is in a closet in the master suite.  The wood is leftover from the ceiling.

   The wife just showed me how to resize--I hope.

   
2. 
   Planeman | Jan 16, 2009 11:58pm | #14

   Actually I l like it too, just very different from the usual method of trying to blend in to the ceiling. 

    Experienced, but still dangerous!

2. 
   JDRHI | Jan 16, 2009 05:50pm | #4

   Hard to tell with the pic sized as it is....is the casing applied to the door itself?

   Does it swing down with door?

   J. D. Reynolds

   Home Improvements

    

    

    

   
   

1. 
   Blkbrk | Jan 16, 2009 06:27pm | #6

   Sorry about the size.  I tried everything, and it just kept uploading that big.  Computers!!

   No, the casing is nailed to the ceiling and the door itself has a 1x6 tongue and groove panel glued and screwed from the reverse side.

   The reason the casing is so thick is because the hinged side of the door had to, more or less, move "into" the back piece of casing.  Otherwise there would be a huge gap between door and casing.  Now if you stand directly underneath the door there is a uniform gap.

   It actually was a little challenging.

   Edited 1/16/2009 10:32 am ET by Blkbrk

3. 
   JMadson | Jan 16, 2009 06:21pm | #5

   resized for your viewing pleasure

    

1. 
   Blkbrk | Jan 16, 2009 06:29pm | #7

   I humble myself to your computer skills. :)

4. 
   dejure | Jan 16, 2009 10:51pm | #10

   I did somewhat the same thing on a remodel, but made a box about 3-1/2" deep. All the heat equipment was in the attic, as was the hot water tank. I got tired of climbing up by my toes on the narrow steps. This allowed me to keep the insulation and get a bit more depth to the steps.

   One could vary the design to make it look like custom panels, a fake light (to hide it's existence), or whatever. At any rate, anything is better than the cheap 1/8" or so panel they come with.

5. 
   JMadson | Jan 17, 2009 02:05am | #15

   Anyone have any good tricks on insulating/sealing the hinge end of a attic door?

    

1. 
   dejure | Jan 17, 2009 02:55am | #16

   If heat escape is a real concern, you can always build a lid like that which is found in regular attics. It would be a little more complicated getting into the attic, but would go along way to sealing the hole. Too, going this route would allow you to remove the toe space eating foam on the upper steps.I did something similar for a floor access. It was an enclosed box you could step on and was filled with insulation. Since this is cap and wouldn't be walked on, it could be made very light (e.g., 1/8" ply top and bottom).

1. 
   DanH | Jan 17, 2009 04:02am | #18

   I made a cap for my whole house fan using the corrugated plastic political signs, held together with foil duct tape.
   The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness. -John Kenneth Galbraith