FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT ALL OUR PRODUCTS
(Scroll down for Q&A for our Fireplace Fraftstopper and Clothes
Dryer Vent Seal)
Battic Door Attic Stair Cover:
Q: Why do I need a Battic© Door Attic Stair
Cover?
A: When a folding attic stairway is installed, the
ceiling and insulation have to be removed. This large opening (approximately 10 square feet) is often
covered with a thin, unsealed, uninsulated sheet of plywood! Most attic door openings are not
adequately insulated. They are also very susceptible to air leakage.
Q: How do I buy a Battic© Door Attic Stair Cover?
A: Ask for the Battic© Door Attic Stair Cover at your favorite
Home Improvement Center, Hardware Store, or Lumber Yard. Or you can order it from this website! It will be shipped right
to your home. Select the correct size Battic© Door Attic Stair Cover for your attic stairway, then place your order.
Q: Which size Battic© Door Attic Stair Cover
do I need?
A: The Battic© Door Attic Stair Cover comes in 2 sizes to fit
most attic stairways. You simply need to measure your rough opening. Select either Model 22x54 (fits attic stairways installed
in 22 to 22-1/2" x 54" rough openings), or Model 25x54 (fits attic stairways installed in 25 to 25-1/2" x 54" rough openings).
The cover is slightly smaller to fit on top of the attic stairway frame.
Q: How can I pay for my Battic© Door Attic Stair
Cover?
A: For your convenience, you can order the Battic© Door Attic
Stair Cover several ways. Order on-line with your credit-card, or download our order form and mail or fax it (Toll-Free)
to us. You can also pay by check or money order when sending your order form by mail.
Q: Why should I be concerned about air-leakage
through my folding attic stairway?
A: Several reasons! If
you have a folding attic stairway, you can have air leakage (drafts) which will cause heating and cooling loss which
will cost you wasted energy $$$!
In addition, air movement will carry moisture
with it into your attic which can lead to severe problems including mold, rot and decay.
Did you know that your attic space is ventilated directly to the
outdoors? Leaking heat and moisture can warm the attic space. Warm roofs can also cause ice dams
and other related problems.
All attic stairways should be covered with
a device designed to reduce air leakage!
Q: What do the experts say?
A: Weatherization experts all agree - it is very important to
control air leakage in order for a house or building to function properly. Weatherization contractors have been addressing
leaking attic stairways specifically for well over a decade. Check out our Weatherization Links Page to read about what the
experts recommend!
Q: So all I need to do is insulate my attic
door?
A: Insulation
is only part of the protection that a good attic needs. Insulation doesn't stop air from leaking and taking heat and moisture
with it. A home performs well only when both heat loss and air leakage are controlled.
Q:
How does the Battic© Door Attic Stair Cover control air leakage?
A:
When closed, the Battic© Door Attic Stair Cover is embedded into a thick, soft weatherstripping seal that effectively
seals the Battic© Door to the attic stairway frame and significantly reduces air leakage.
Q: Can't I just add weatherstripping around
the plywood door?
A: This can make
the cracks around the attic door even larger due to the way the door closes (back-to-front). Because the door
is hinged on one end, the weatherstripping adjacent to the hinge will prevent the door from closing completely
on the opposite end. Also, the hinge cannot be weatherstripped.
Q: How easy is it to close the Battic© Door Attic Stair Cover as I leave the attic?
A: Simply lower the Battic© Door Attic Stair Cover over you
as you leave the attic. The Battic© Door will rest on the weatherstripping that has been placed on your attic door
frame. There is no need to position the Battic© Door carefully as the weatherstripping is as wide as the attic door frame
- just let it fall into place and embed itself into the weatherstripping!
Q. Will I be able to see the Battic© Door Attic
Stair Cover in my house?
A: No, the Battic© Door Attic Stair Cover is on top of the stairway
in the attic, and sealed to the attic door frame.
Q: Is there anything to trip over or climb through
when I enter my attic?
A: No. The Battic© Door Attic Stair Cover is simply moved as
you enter into the attic. As it weighs only 6 lbs., simply lift it up and move it out of the way. If you add an R-50 insulation
kit, the total weight of the door is 10 lbs., still light enough to be easily moved.
Q: Does the Battic© Door Attic Stair Cover make
a good seal?
A: Yes, the open-cell, low-density (easily compressible)
ľ" wide by ˝" deep weatherstripping provided with the Battic© Door kit is very soft. The weight of the Battic© Door is adequate
to embed the Battic© Door into the weatherstripping to seal against drafts and air leakage.
Q: My stairs are
in the garage. Would a Battic© Door Attic Stair Cover benefit me?
A: Perhaps. If you use energy of any kind to heat/cool the garage
you should consider installing a Battic© Door. If you work in your garage on cold or hot days, a Battic© Door can make
your garage a more comfortable place to work.
If you're not heating/cooling the garage, there will not be any
energy savings; however the Battic© Door can eliminate/reduce problems with moisture, noise, dust, and the entry of pollutants,
insects, and rodents from the attic through the drop-down attic stairway door. It is up to you.
Another important consideration is when attic stairs are installed
retroactively in the garage. Most Building Codes require a fire rated wall/ceiling separation between the garage and the attached
house. Depending on your actual construction, if you cut a large opening in the ceiling to install a fold-down stair, you
can void this separation.
The Battic© Door Attic Stair Cover can be covered with sheetrock
(gypsum board). This can maintain the fire rating of the ceiling. Talk to your local building inspector for further information.
Q: Will the Battic© Door Attic Stair Cover fall
on me when I pull down my attic stairs?
A: No. The Battic© Door covers the entire opening into the attic.
It stays sealed until you climb up the stairs and simply lift it out of the way. Without insulation, the Battic© Door weighs
6 lbs., 10 lbs. if our R-50 insulation kit is added to it.
Q: Do I need any tools to install the Battic©
Door Attic Stair Cover?
A: The Battic© Door is quickly and easily installed in
minutes with no tools required!
Q: What is included with the Battic©
Door Attic Stair Cover kit?
A: Included in the Battic© Door kit is the attic stairway
cover, a supply of weatherstripping, a FREE Reflective Insulation Kit, and a complete set of installation instructions.
Q: Can you
still get into your attic after you install the Battic© Door Attic Stair Cover?
A: Yes, simply lift the Battic© Door up out of the way and place
it beside the attic door opening to allow access.
Q: May attic does not have a floor. Will the
Battic© Door Attic Stair Cover still work?
A: YES! This is a unique feature of the Battic©
Door. As the Battic© Door sits on the folding attic stairway doorframe, it doesn't require that you have an attic floor to
make a seal. Other devices require an attic floor for the device to rest on and seal to, which can cost you hundreds
of $$$ in addition to the device!
Q: My
roof framing system consists of trusses. Will the Battic© Door work with a truss roof system?
A: Absolutely! As described above, the Battic© Door
Attic Stair Cover rests on the folding attic stairway doorframe, not the attic floor. This is one of the many advantages of
the Battic© Door, especially for houses with truss roof systems with which other devices simply cannot work!
Q: What is the insulating value of the Battic©
Door Attic Stair Cover?
A: The Battic© Door Attic Stair
Cover has not been specifically tested for an R value. It's designed to be an air transfer
barrier between your attic and your living area. This is the same principle behind storm doors and windows. The Battic© Door is extremely effective against drafts and air leakage, which are
much more of an energy problem than loss of heat from diffusion (heat leaking through building materials).
Q: Can I add addition insulation to the Battic©
Door Attic Stair Cover?
A: Yes! The Battic© Door
Attic Stair Cover can be covered with the desired amount of insulation to restore the insulation removed during the installation
of the folding attic stairway or overhead access ladder.
We offer an R-50 Insulation Kit to cover your Battic© Door! This is the highest level of insulation of any stair cover kit available. The Reflective Aluminum Shield comes with our BETTER and BEST KITS. The Relective Aluminum Foil Insulation encases the insulation over the stair cover and blocks up to 97% of radiant heat!).
Q: Why is the Attic Stair Cover sold in 3 insulation options?
A: For several reasons!
First, insulation is not necessary to enjoy the
many benefits of the Battic© Door Attic Stair Cover. It's designed to be an air transfer barrier between your attic
and your living area. This is the same principle behind storm doors and windows. The
Battic© Door is extremely effective against drafts and air leakage, which are much more of an energy problem than loss
of heat from diffusion (heat leaking through building materials).
Or, for customers who desire to achieve the maximum benefit
of the Battic© Door, we offer the "BEST" R-50 Insulation Kit and our very affordable "BETTER" Insulation Kit (often sold to Insulation Contractors that provide their own insulation).
If preferred, for customers who can tackle a small home-improvement
project, your own desired type and level of insulation can be added to the cover.
Q: I want to install a folding attic stair in
my garage but I am concerned about maintaining the fire rating of the ceiling. Can the Battic© Door Attic Stair Cover
help me?
A: Yes! The Battic© Door Attic Stair Cover can be covered with sheetrock
(gypsum board). This can maintain the fire rating of the ceiling. Talk to your local building inspector for further information.
Q: What is the Battic© Door Attic Stair Cover
made of?
A: The Battic© Door cover is made
of a lightweight yet rigid, durable material; heavy, double-wall corrugated board! The Battic© Door Attic Stair Cover is strong and durable! The bright-white color is reflective, so when the attic stair
door is opened, the interior of the Battic© Door is bright. The exterior of the Battic© Door is primed and
compatible with most adhesives should the homeowner wish to add insulation to it.
Q: How much does the Battic© Door Attic Stair
Cover cost?
A: The Battic© Door stair cover costs $29.50 + shipping.
Q: How much does the R-50 Insulation Kit cost?
A: The stair cover with the R-50 Insulation Kit and reflective shield costs $99.00 + shipping. This is our most popular kit!
Q: Where can I purchase a Battic© Door Attic Stair Cover?
A: Ask for the Battic© Door Attic Stair Cover
at your favorite Home Improvement Center, Hardware Store, or Lumber Yard. It is also available directly from us.
You can use a credit card to order either at our on-line checkout, or you can download an order form and fax it
back or mail it to us. We also accept personal checks, cashiers checks and money orders when mailed to us with the downloadable
order form. To keep our costs as low as possible, we cannot accept
phone orders.
Q: Are you developing any other energy-saving
products?
A: Check out our Fireplace Draftstopper and Dryer Vent Seal.
Also check out our complete line of Whole House Fan Covers. Check back and join our mailing list!
Q: What are ice dams?
A: Ice dams are caused when melted snow and ice
freeze on the edge of your roof and begin to build up. When formed, ice dams can direct water into your
attic, walls and other parts of your home. Ice dams cause tremendous damage and property loss every year!
Q: What causes ice dams?
A: One cause of ice dams
is a warm roof caused by heat loss from the house into the attic space.
A major source of this heat loss is air leakage through
the folding attic stairway opening!
This undesired heat in the attic space
warms the roof, which then melts ice and snow.
When the melted ice and snow reach the edge of the roof that
hangs over the side of the house (which is not directly over the attic space and is "cold"), the water re-freezes, forming
ice dams.
This is repeated until ice backs up under the roof shingles. Ice dams
can damage shingles and other roofing components and can also cause water leakage into the house.
Q: What if I have further questions?
A: As engineers, we love to talk about the technical details
of the Battic© Door Attic Stair Cover! But if we missed something or you need any further information, please don't hesitate
to contact us!
Q: Why is the product called the Battic© Door
Attic Stair Cover?
A: It describes the product's features - the ability to insulate and
reduce air leakage through the folding attic stairway. So - we combined "Fiberglass Batt insulation" and "Attic
Door" - and came up with Battic© Door!
Q: I bought the wrong size Battic© Door, can
I exchange it?
A: Yes. You must return the Battic© Door to us in new, undamaged
condition with your request for an exchange. You must also provide a check to cover the shipping cost of the new Battic© Door
to you. Due to the cost of shipping involved and the low cost of the Battic© Door, we suggest you consider exchanging/giving
it to a friend/relative!
We have made all reasonable efforts to assist you
in selecting the correct size Battic© Door. And we are confident that you will enjoy your purchase for many years. Please
note that we cannot provide any cash refunds.
Saves up to 30% on heat and air conditioning costs!
