Recommendation for sub-basement floor hatch?
Kimball_house
| Posted in Energy, Heating & Insulation on
I have a vacation house in the mountains at about 4000 feet elevation. There is a floor hatch for access into the sub-basement that is a simple piece of plywood that lies on the floor joist frame. We added some foam strips on top of the joists in order to reduce the air infiltration, but it is not a good solution. I would like to buy a floor hatch that is properly insulated and will latch properly. The floors on the first floor are cold, and this cannot help.
Replies
I have the Same Issues
In my case, I added an access hatch to the crawl space,
I currently have a DIY hatch, made of plywood and ordinsary hardware. Measuring about 32" x 32" at the opening, the 3/4" plywood doesn't "feel" any less substantial to the feet than the floor itself.
Naturally, the hardware is a concern, as will the weight once you add finished flooring to it. The problem with the hardware is that it projects above the floor, creating a trip hazard; nor is it any fun to step on!
When the time comes, it's "hello, internet!" There are many vendors; "BestAccessDoors" is but one. The 'recessed" versions have a recess on the top to accept your finished flooring material.
As for your cold floor issue .... well, first reduce your crawl space ventilation. I wou;ld not completely seal the space, as moisture still needs to vent .... but you can cut down on the amount of arctic wind that howls through.
You can get foam sprayed on the underside of the floor.
Otherwise, it's all up to your floor coverings. I've covered some of my floors with 3/4" thick rubber tiles, and they make a huge difference over bare wood.