Draughtproof a loft hatch

Seal, tighten and insulate a loft hatch in one session to stop cold air pouring into the room below.

LH-01Get set up and check the hatchPut your ladder or loft steps in place and make sure they're stable before you start. Open and close the hatch a few times and look for warping, splits or a loose frame. Sort out any damage first, or the new seal won't sit flat.

LH-02Clean the frame and door edgesPeel off any old, perished draught strip and scrape away dried adhesive with a filler knife. Wipe the frame and the door edge with a dry cloth to remove dust and grease, then let it dry fully. New strip won't stick to a dusty or damp surface.

1 each · Cloth

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1 each · Filler knife

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LH-03Measure and cut the draught stripMeasure right round the fixed hatch frame, not the door itself, and add 50mm extra per side for corners. Cut self-adhesive foam or rubber draught strip to length with scissors or a craft knife. Mitre the corners at 45° so they meet neatly rather than overlapping.

1 each · Self-adhesive foam draught strip (5m roll)

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1 each · Craft knife

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LH-04Fit the strip to the framePeel back a short length of backing and press the strip onto the frame lip where the door closes against it, not onto the door itself. Work round in one continuous piece, pressing firmly every 100mm so it bonds properly. Check the door still closes without forcing it once the strip is on.

LH-05Fit a catch to pull the hatch tightIf the hatch just rests in the frame, the new strip won't compress properly, so fit a turnbuckle catch or a barrel bolt on each side to pull the door down snug. Before drilling, look into the loft void near the hatch for any cables or pipes lying across it — lighting cables often run right next to loft hatches. Use short screws (16-20mm) into the timber frame only, and if you're at all unsure what's behind the frame, isolate the circuit at the consumer unit before drilling.

1 each · Turnbuckle hatch catch (pair)

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8 each · Wood screws 16-20mm

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LH-06Insulate the hatch doorCut a piece of rigid insulation board (25mm PIR is fine) to match the size of the hatch door top face. Fix it with a few dabs of construction adhesive, or short screws if the door has a timber frame to fix into, keeping the loft insulation continuous over the hatch. Trim any overhang flush with a craft knife once fixed.

1 each · Rigid PIR insulation board 25mm (cut to size)

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1 tube · Construction adhesive

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LH-07Test the sealClose the hatch fully and check from inside the loft that no daylight shows around the edges. On a breezy day, run your hand around the frame from below to feel for any air movement. Adjust the catch tension if one side is still gapping.

LH-08Tidy upClear away offcuts of strip and insulation board, and vacuum any dust from the loft opening and the room below. Keep any leftover draught strip and screws in a labelled bag for next time.

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