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Energy Design Update
Excerpts from: An Inexpensive Cap for Attic Stairs
The least expensive available stair cover, the Battic Door. The Battic Door is a bottomless 13 1⁄2-inch deep cardboard box sized to cover standard pull-down attic stairs. Two sizes are available to fit either 22”x54” or 25”x54” stairs. The Battic Door is shipped flat, in a 26”x51” package. Assembly is simple.
The Battic Door comes with a package of 3⁄4-inch wide foam weatherstripping to install at the perimeter of the stair jamb.
The Battic Door reduces exfiltration. To increase thermal resistance, a $69.50 “insulation kit” is available. This consists of two parts: a circular “donut” made from an encapsulated fiberglass batt, designed to slip around the perimeter of the stair cover; and a cap made of the same insulation, designed to nestle inside the projecting walls of the donut. Of course, it is also possible to glue rigid foam to the cardboard Battic Door.
The Battic Door costs $29.50 plus shipping. Competing products cost between $100 and $220. For weatherization contractors looking for an inexpensive way to cut down on exfiltration at attic stair openings, the Battic Door is worth considering.
For more information, contact Mark Tyrol, Battic Door, P.O. Box 15, Mansfield, MA 02048-0015. Tel: (508) 320-9082; Fax: (508) 339-4571; E-mail: info@batticdoor.com; Web site: www.batticdoor.com.
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