Random topic, but I'm looking for an attic hatch seal for an attic entrance that doesn't have stairs. Our attic hatch is in the unheated garage and it's just a piece of drywall with a rectangle of insulation foam sitting on top of it. Every time it's windy it pops up and down which makes a loud noise (usually in the middle of the night). I've tried adding various weights to the hatch and they eventually just end up in one of the corners and fall through.

In our old house we had additional insulation blown in and they installed a foil cover with a zipper, similar to https://a.co/d/8oXa1Ly but for a hatch that doesn't have stairs.
I reached out to the person who did the work and he said they are only available from a distributor and they want $200 plus labor to install, which seems pretty steep. If I can't find something I'll just build a new cover out of plywood and some additional latches, but I figured I'd see if anyone has ever found a foil cover with zipper they liked.

TIA

Is your problem with the covers for stair accesses is that they are rectangular? Or is the cover for a lift off hatch different?

I would assume that those covers are pretty easily modifiable if you can't find the right size, but even if they are too long (assuming your hatch is 24x24?), having it run long would leave you space to slide the hatch over after lifting it upwards.

My only other suggestion would be to install a ceiling access door, but those are probably in the $200+ range as well.

Great question. My hatch is a standard size (I believe 22" x 30.5") and the stair-type seals are 54" long. I thought about trying to modify a stair-sized one but I don't see how the zipper or Velcro would still work if I either folded it or tried to cut it down. Maybe there's a clever way to do that I'm not thinking of?

You might want to check attic ventilation problems since this has not been a common reported problem to us, anyway.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Battic-Door-Energy-Conservation-Products-22-in-x-30-in-R-50-E-Z-Hatch-Locking-Attic-Access-Door-DeluxeR-50/205177949

https://www.wbdoors.com/product/wb-basic-300-22x30/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=18284544904&gbraid=0AAAAADj8ocXKyuMYL7t5x3qoi1xbpqime&gclid=Cj0KCQiA9t3KBhCQARIsAJOcR7zIyJ8CefYlHAkfK8z1TASmmmLWRjSBPJsb6xphBbhQJWzyuKzK30kaAh1QEALw_wcB

The most common framed ceiling attic hatch covers will receive simple latches & door chain loacks
https://www.amazon.com/Upgrade-Thickened-Stainless-Brushed-Sliding/dp/B0892H3KMH/ref=sr_1_7?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.hJ3pRgz9hJQTAGeIHsYaya8fk100s4B81DpWpwCLYEzijQKLy5pYxOWjchI9VWn5j8IrU1fZx1GZsZL2Gq2zU_-6M0DLHVE7i1drv1Ty6_T-2NqNVeka5jYbOhrdg4ejqIxZCNDKU6WACeNrmYjQ_rHFbciqYgSPljxf8JsW0UuUo3HbsjdBVyPycTyTbR_ce0Wix52owGFw4GDLCbllocxnbmTwrvdasVq_EXumSrvo9ailrrsTmN25pGycAilIwkZGqqcaVIouZDctRf32X-duHC5kERYNUi99z7yta9A.sXd9AQJr32ECeW3afGSgpqZqmuEsHCGHLNvRJdCI2IQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=door%2Blatches&qid=1767390692&sr=8-7&th=1

We have one (I don't know exactly which one) of These just put it in the hole, and staple to joists

I was going to recommend adding one of the tents like Dubi mentioned above.

The other option for the scuttle hole hatch would be to
1) Enlarge it and add pull down stairs
2) Frame it up and put in a piece of 3/4" plywood on a hinge. Then you can add some weather stripping and install a barrel bolt latch so it can't bounce.

Thanks for all the replies. It sounds like I might be best off just making a solution myself.

Good recommendation on checking the root cause - I'll check and make sure there's nothing out of place causing the gusts, but the last time I was up there everything looked good for connections to the various vents and none of the blown insulation was out of place. We have open field on three of the four sides of our property and it's very flat, so we catch an abnormal amount of wind.

Why not secure weights to it so they don't move

Or

Instead of one piece of Sheetrock, stack/screw together multiple layers. Adds weight and r value.

IowaAg07 said:

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Thanks for all the replies. It sounds like I might be best off just making a solution myself.

Good recommendation on checking the root cause - I'll check and make sure there's nothing out of place causing the gusts, but the last time I was up there everything looked good for connections to the various vents and none of the blown insulation was out of place. We have open field on three of the four sides of our property and it's very flat, so we catch an abnormal amount of wind.

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If you've got reasonably good ventilation, that could in a way be the cause of this. Depending on your roofline orientation to that field. I'm guessing you're noticing this with a particular wind direction?

Airflow up and over the house could be creating a low pressure spot (think venturi effect) near/along a line of soffits or other attic vent. If so it could be enough to suck up the scuttle hatch.

Mr. Dubi said:

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We have one (I don't know exactly which one) of These just put it in the hole, and staple to joists

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This is the one that "we" bought from Amazon:

Attic Door Insulation Cover