Wooden hatch to the basement with your own hands. How to equip an insulated basement entrance with a hatch

What should be a basement hatch
Basement hatch construction method
Sequence of work
Basement hatch on gas shock absorbers
Construction of a hatch for tiling

A basement in an apartment or a private house is a very useful and necessary room, because it can store supplies for the winter, since it maintains the optimal temperature throughout the year, and can be used as a warehouse for unnecessary things.

You can provide access to such a room using a basement hatch cut right into the floor of the apartment. A well-made hatch will allow you to organize the entrance, making it invisible and convenient. We will tell you how to make a hatch in the floor with your own hands in our article.

The basement floor hatch must meet a number of requirements, among which are:

  • aesthetic appearance;
  • harmonization with the overall interior design;
  • reliable and airtight locking;
  • simplicity of the locking mechanism;
  • convenience when opening the hatch, even of a rather large size, the need to make a minimum of effort;
  • simplicity of design, consisting of a square thin cover and a handle for lifting it;
  • the need to install an electric drive or other automatic devices to open a cover weighing more than 10 kg;
  • matching the dimensions of the basement shaft and the hatch cover in order to avoid unforeseen difficulties during installation;
  • the location of the hatch cover is flush with the rest of the floor covering, the absence of elements protruding above the floor level;
  • the strength of the basement hatch structure, capable of withstanding repeated passage of people.

It is worth noting that the hatches in the basement floor should protect the living space from moisture penetration, preventing the growth of mold and mildew.

This requirement applies to all basement hatches, both simple and complex, without exception.

Basement hatch construction method

To make a hatch in the floor with your own hands, you need to acquire the necessary construction tools and consumables.

To work you will need:

  • roulette;
  • self-tapping screws for securing the canvas;
  • screwdriver;
  • electric drill or hammer drill;
  • welding machine with a set of electrodes;
  • Bulgarian;
  • metal corners;
  • iron up to 5 mm thick;
  • sealing elastic band.

Sequence of work

You should start the device of a hatch in the floor with the assembly of a metal frame suitable in size for the future structure. See also: "How to make a floor in a cellar and what materials are better to use."

This should be done as follows:

  • From metal corners, using electric welding, you need to build a base for the cover of the future hatch, while it is important to leave a 5 mm gap to the concrete opening for placing the seal.
  • A durable rubber seal should be placed around the perimeter of the opening.
  • Next, you need to decide on the main material that will be used for trimming the hatch cover.

    It can be metal, wood, ceramic tiles, in a word, absolutely any material. The main thing is that it matches the taste of the owners and the general interior of the room.

  • Sharp edges of the corners on the frame should be ground and adjusted to their dimensions. In this case, the upper part of the lid should be slightly wider than the lower one.
  • When calculating the size of the frame, the size of the corner shelf should be taken into account so that the cover tightly blocks the passage.
  • The fixation of the hatch cover in the opening is most often carried out on hinges, which ensure its unhindered opening.

    At the same time, it must tightly block the entrance to prevent moisture from entering the inside of the basement.

  • The only requirement for the hinges is to match the dimensions of the basement hatch.

    Such fasteners can be easily purchased at any building supermarket. The hinges are fixed with self-tapping screws on one side on the hatch cover, and on the other side on metal corners.

Basement hatch on gas shock absorbers

To block the entrance to the basement, you can make a hatch in the wooden floor with your own hands, equipped with gas shock absorbers.

Such hatches have a number of features:

  1. The metal structures of such products must be covered with powder paint to protect them from corrosion.
  2. When installing the frame of the structure, argon-arc welding is used.
  3. It is possible to sheathe the contour of the lid with any material not exceeding 20 mm in thickness.

    In particular, it is permissible to use ceramic tiles, parquet, wood, artificial or natural stone.

When organizing the entrance to the basement, you should pay special attention to how to make the hatch in the floor invisible so that it does not protrude above the covering and does not stand out from the general background.

To open floor hatches of this design, only a small amount of effort is needed to lift the lid to a small height by the handle. The rest of the work is done by gas springs.

Thanks to gas shock absorbers, the hatch in the underground in the wooden floor opens and closes smoothly and freely, while no jerking is observed.

And if the calculation of the load on the gas shock absorber is carried out absolutely correctly, then it becomes very easy to lift the cover.

The special design of hinges with gas shock absorbers allows you to equip even very large and heavy hatches, without losing their main properties - reliability and strength. At the same time, one movement is enough to open the door 90 °.

Do not forget that floor hatches in the basement for laminate flooring need rubber gaskets located around the perimeter of the hatch.

If there is a seal, the hatch with gas shock absorbers will prevent foreign odors, moisture from entering the basement, and will also prevent drafts.

Construction of a hatch for tiling

The hatch in the floor under the tiles has a number of installation differences compared to other types of similar structures. In addition, such products are somewhat more expensive.

Features of hatches for tiling:

  1. A metal trough is used as a frame for the tiles.
  2. It is forbidden to open the hatch until the lifting mechanism is fully adjusted and the installation of the floor covering is completed.

The sequence of actions for making a hatch looks like this:

  • The lifting eyes are detached from the cover.
  • Mark the connection points for securing the hatch.

    We make a floor hatch in the basement

    For this, the cover is carefully placed in the opening and the level of the planes is adjusted.

  • The top edge of the hatch must be flush with the floor tiles.
  • Disconnecting the lifting mechanism, you can put the cover in the opening on a flat belt and pour concrete mortar over the trough.
  • You can get the trough out of the opening after reaching 90% of the strength of the solution.

    After that, all excess concrete is removed from the frame and the outer part of the trough.

  • The lifting gear can now be attached.
  • Ceramic tiles are laid on a concrete solution.
  • Make sure that there are no gaps between the wall and the frame of the floor hatch. If any, they must be filled with sealant or polyurethane foam.
  • At the last stage, a sealing rubber should be glued to the frame for a snug fit of the lid.

Thus, all work on the arrangement of basement hatches can be done independently if you follow the instructions illustrated with photo and video materials.

In particular, then you will know exactly how to make a floor hatch with your own hands, without making mistakes.

How do you create the right thing for your basement?

Created is a fairly simple yet effective basement tile. This design is a long metal lens that looks like a large box, one side of which descends into the basement and the other with a protective cover.

It was impossible to dig, so this passage is also a defense against intruders.

Created - a ready-made passage that is immediately equipped with all the necessary elements for an unobstructed entrance to the basement.

It should be noted that such a shutter is ideal for excavation work, since this design provides reliable protection of the basement ceiling from fracture.

Typically, such a hole is located on the roof of a foundation dug into the ground. These vaults sink deep into the ground, with the top hiding magazines and other items.

Hidden cotton in the basement by hand: installation and finishing work

The hole structure is fastened between two solid ceiling housings.

It was better to be made of metal or brick rather than wood, because these materials will last for many years.

There are several typical elements of such a structure:

  • metal tube - 80 × 80 cm;
  • cover 90x90 cm;
  • handle holder;
  • hinge hinges;
  • ladder brackets - 5 pcs.

It was not easy to do, but the tools and materials needed to make it must be prepared immediately.

These include:

  • Bulgarian;
  • iron sheets;
  • welding machine;
  • steel equipment - 12 mm.

First, make a square metal tube about 1.5m long. This box is welded from 4 metal plates, which are 80 cm wide.

One of the plates has fastened clamps that act as steps. The sheets are then joined together to form a metal square leg with a solid staircase inside.

Finally, the lid, the handle and the locking hinges are welded.

The final stage of the work is painting. It is necessary to create a color inside and out. Painted paint can be installed in the basement. This unpretentious design not only allows you to re-install the warehouse transition, but also to protect its contents from intruders, because it is difficult to break into, or such a box is difficult to decompose.

Related Articles


Many owners of manor houses (especially brick ones with a buried concrete foundation) set up a room underground for storing food supplies: pickles, jams, etc.

DIY cellar hatch

Our house also has such a basement with an entrance through a hatch in the floor. The hatch is closed by a rather massive lid, which was difficult even for me to lift, not to mention my wife or son. I had to think about how to facilitate the opening-closing process.

Introductory requirements for the "helping" mechanism were formed in my head:
- without an electric drive (since there is enough humid air in the subfield);
- from non-scarce materials;
- so that in the "open" position the mechanism does not interfere with the entry and keep the cover from falling;
- so that in the "closed" position the mechanism does not rest on anything and is always ready for work;
- that the mechanism has the ability to adjust the assisting force.

Various options were considered, but all of them were rejected for various reasons.

But somehow, in the workshop of a large garage, I came across a package in oiled paper with a door spring, which became the main part in an immediately invented mechanism.

The set included:

The spring is twisted nickel-plated;
- left door mount:
- right kosyachny mount;
- insert into a spring with holes;
- steel bar for force adjustment;
- fastening screws.

To create a full-fledged relief mechanism, it was necessary to add a few simple details:

Calibrated wire rod with hinge bracket;
- traction with tubes of joints;
- bracket for fastening to the lid;
- two bolts М6х50 with nuts.

Invented - and get down to business!

He cut down the blanks of the brackets with a chisel, cleaned the edges, drilled two holes with a diameter of 6 mm and bent them in yews, according to the drawing.

In the brackets I marked and drilled four holes with a diameter of 5 mm for the fastening screws. Then he cut off a rod from a calibrated rod with a diameter of 8 mm and welded it to the bracket. Finally, from a tube with a diameter of 12 mm, I cut the rod blanks with transverse bushings, cleaned the edges and welded them into a common unit.

The spring was screwed along the floor log (timber 150 × 150 mm), and the fastening bracket - to the longitudinal board of the underground cover (board 50 × 150 mm).

Since then, the process of visiting the home underground in a small and friendly family has been facilitated.

MATVEYCHUK, Zavodoukovsk, Tyumen region

Drawings for lifting the hatch

Click and enlarge

Fedor Bogdanovich, Moscow asks the question: We recently moved to a private house, we store vegetables in a cellar on the street. I noticed that his door freezes when it's cold outside (below -15 degrees). Tell someone how and how to insulate the cellar lid.

Good afternoon. If the cellar is on the street, it means that there should be insulation on the hatch, it is just that it has already worn out or in some place has been torn off or damaged.

How to make a basement hatch with your own hands?

See what material is used for insulation. It can be glass wool, foam plastic, mineral wool. On examination, you can find a place where you need to glue or replace the insulation in order to hold out until spring, when you can make a full repair of the hatch.

If the temperature in the region where you live is rarely below -15 ° C, then you can use cotton wool as protection from the cold.

In areas with lower temperatures, it is better to use polystyrene foam or polyurethane foam. Work must be done in spring in dry weather.

If the insulation on the hatch is old or does not correspond to the climate, then you must first remove it. To do this, you will need a putty knife, a plucker, and other tools that you may need to dismantle. Take the ones that you have and which are more convenient to use.

To insulate the hatch with your own hands, you will need directly insulation in rolls, tiles or aerosol, moisture-proof materials, a hammer and nails or screws and a drill, polyurethane foam, a sheet of plywood, a wooden block, a saw, a tape measure.

Before insulating the cellar lid, you need to measure it with a tape measure and cut out the necessary parts from a bar, plywood and insulation (if foam).

Then you need to attach the moisture protection. It can be polyethylene film, polyurethane foam (spray material).

There is no need to explain to a Russian what a basement is. Almost every private house has a room where conservation is kept or a workshop is equipped. The complexity of the basement is not only that it is susceptible to moisture penetration. Waterproofing of the basement and floor in the basement is successfully combating this phenomenon. The entrance to a cellar, basement or basement is usually located inside the house. Two rooms, upper and lower, are separated by the floor of the first floor and ... a manhole cover. But on this we will dwell in more detail. Consider the types of hatches and how best to arrange them with your own hands.

The basement hatch cover is an integral part of the floor. It must be reliable in many ways.

  • First, when stepping on it, there should be no fear of falling down. It must be able to withstand the weight of an adult.
  • Secondly, the cover must serve as a temperature and moisture barrier between the underground and the living area. Smells and cold air should not pass freely through the cracks in the opening. This can be a source of drafts.
  • Thirdly, it should be easy to open and fixed in a certain position in order to avoid injury when using the basement.

At first glance, the basement hatch cover, Lyada as it is also called, is not an archetypal complex device. But if you want the entrance to be decorated aesthetically, to fulfill its functions and at the same time not be conspicuous, then its design must be carefully thought out. Let's not touch on the material of manufacture for now. Consider the options for the basic design of the hatch.

The form

A round cover or any other shape but with rounded edges is good for outside hatches, but not for inside. The most common shape for a basement hatch is square. The square provides the hatch with structural rigidity. It is easy to fit the finishing material for the floor under it. The location of the loops can be arbitrary.

Rectangular hatches are more practical. They allow the cover to be positioned along the wall for easy access to. In this case, the hinges should preferably be located on the long side of the cover. Then, when using the basement, you can safely walk up / down stairs without fear of injuring your head. In addition, it is most convenient to raise or lower some kind of cargo with such a hatch. The open space above your head gives you more freedom of action.

Advice! If you are thinking of making a basement hatch cover with your own hands, then you need to think over its shape. It depends on how comfortable it will be for you to use the hatch.

Having decided on the form, you can start choosing a place to enter the basement.

DIY manhole cover

Place to enter the basement

The choice of the shape of the hatch is directly related to the place where you will organize the entrance to the basement. First of all, you need to find a place for him in the house so that the open lid does not block the passage. The approach to the hatch must always be free. Therefore, it is necessary to provide free space in front of it. At least 1000 x 1000 mm. The location of furniture near the entrance to the basement is undesirable. Moisture will condense on the wood surface and eventually damage the furniture surface. In addition, it is necessary to provide for the place to be well lit. Then the hatch will not pose a danger to people living in the house. The most preferable option when the entrance to the basement is against the wall. Then the open lid will not interfere with the free passage, and the ladder can be fixed to the wall. With such an organization of the entrance, the underground space will become much more spacious and functional.

Manhole dimensions

For whatever purpose you use the basement, you will need to enter and exit it. Agree, it makes no sense to spend so much time, money and your own strength to make a small, narrow and uncomfortable hatch with your own hands. The dimensions of the opening should not be less than 750 x 750 mm. Then an adult of average build will have no difficulty in penetrating the underground.

When choosing the size of the cover and its location in the room, it is necessary to take into account the finishing material for the floor. This is not a prerequisite. But if you can avoid a lot of trimming when installing parquet, laminate, wood flooring or ceramic tiles, you will save time and money. The size and shape of the basement hatch, which you want to make with your own hands, does not always depend on your desire and the allotted space for entering the basement. If you organize it on a wooden floor, then its width cannot exceed the distance between the supporting beams.

A pen

The handle should be comfortable not only for opening. Is it possible to call a safe and comfortable place where you constantly run the risk of tripping over an object sticking out of the floor? But what about children or elderly household members? It is best if you can make a handle with your own hands that can be easily removed and inserted if necessary. When the handle is constantly on the hatch, children can sneak into the basement out of sheer curiosity. On a steep downhill, this can be dangerous and can cause you a lot of anxiety. Of course, you can purchase a metal mortise handle in the store, which leans back and hides in the level with a hatch, or you can make or order an eyebolt. This is the same bolt, only instead of a hex head it has a ring. If necessary, you remove the plug on the surface of the cover, screw it into the nut fixed on the inside, and open the hatch by pulling on the ring. It is better if the diameter of the eyebolt is 10 or 12 mm, and it can be stored together with the key from the basement.

Hinge features

The hinges for the lid must be selected very carefully. If you install simple door hinges, then over time they will sag. In addition, they will protrude above the floor. Such hinges can only be used if the hatch is made of wood. Pay attention to car hinges. Especially those holding the hood or trunk. These hinges are in the shape of a bracket and are hidden inward under the bonnet. You don't have to buy or make your own samples. Moreover, not every trunk or bonnet hinge opens up to 80 - 85 °. Otherwise, it will be inconvenient for you to use the hatch. But you can order a welder or make them yourself. There is a spring in their mechanism. It provides a smooth ride.

Don't be surprised, but car shock absorbers can be used to smoothly open the basement lid. Take a closer look at how smoothly the same heavy hood of a foreign car opens and does not fall, thanks to two thin shock absorbers. Of course, if you make your cover from metal 3 mm thick, insulate it from below, put tiles on top, then the shock absorbers will have to be selected according to the load.

By the way, for this version of the invisible cover, it is not necessary to use sheet metal. It is enough to weld the contour from the corner with the edge up and weld in the middle of the height of the edge of the bar. Weld another contour to the outside from the same corner, only with the edge down. On the second, horizontal edge, the lid will rest on the frame. The inside is filled with mortar. Insulation and cladding are installed below. As a result, you will have a reliable reinforced concrete floor on which you can lay tiles.

Advice! If you decide to make your hatch out of wood, then all wooden elements must be carefully treated with antiseptics.

Installing a hatch to enter the basement is a rather painstaking task. Moreover, if you do it yourself. It is necessary to take into account both the shape of the hatch and its location in the house. It is important to choose the right handle and hinges. However, it is possible to make such a hatch by following certain rules.

If you are determined to actively use the attic space, most likely you will have to tinker with a hatch to the attic. In the villages in the past, this task was handled very simply - it was enough to use a ladder, but for a modern person such a dubious method can hardly be called suitable. Definitely, you will need a convenient access hole from the inside of the house, and not from the outside, as was previously practiced. There are ready-made solutions on sale, but you still have to deal with their installation yourself, and the dimensions of the structure may not go well. This article will discuss how to make the roof of a house habitable.

Buy or craft?

Extending stairs

Those who plan to buy a finished product can use the instructions for installing it, which will also be given in this article, and those who want to make a convenient hatch to the attic with their own hands will be interested in the complete information about the process that we offer for reading. So, here are a few important nuances that will come in handy in your work:

  • choose a place for the opening so as not to hit your head on the rafters or the roof when you go up;
  • under the floor beams, the entrance to the roof of the house is not built;
  • if the upper floor is still not insulated, you will have to make thermal insulation;
  • the opening must be strengthened. For wooden structures, wooden beams are suitable, and in concrete houses, reinforcement is carried out with metal corners;
  • it is necessary to provide free space under the hatch for the retractable ladder.

In the event that you do the hatch along with the ladder yourself, do not be too lazy to carefully study all the stages of the process, then you will not encounter difficulties in work, and it will not seem difficult to you.

Manufacturing steps

Before making a hatch to the attic, you need to draw up drawings on which all the necessary measurements and parameters are noted: the thickness of the ceiling, the dimensions of the cover and the opening that you will cut out. Please note that insulated rooms can be supplied with a conventional cover, while cold rooms require additional thermal insulation. It doesn't matter how you draw up the diagram - by hand on paper or in a special computer program, the main thing is to take into account all the necessary dimensions. When the diagram is drawn up, you can proceed to the practical side of the issue, as well as prepare the tools for work.

Cutting the opening


Cutting the opening for the attic

If at the stage of building the house a roof access was not provided, you will have to cut it out yourself. Of course, if there is already such a hole for installing the door, this stage of work is skipped.

To begin with, a marking is carried out with the expectation that the hole should be 5 - 6 cm larger than the dimensions of the hatch frame. In the future, the gap will help to compensate for the thickness of the boards from which the frame will be made. The material from the cut-off piece of the ceiling slab can be used for lining the lid, of course, if it has a normal aesthetic appearance.

Assembly of the opening frame


Assembling the opening frame for the attic

Here we need boards with a thickness of 2 - 3 cm, it is this caliber that will make the base strong. The frame can be round or square. The second option provides for the mandatory straightness of all angles. The dimensions of the frame 60X120 cm can be considered standard, and such dimensions are suitable for the vast majority of homeowners. You should be guided by personal preferences and dimensions of the opening, you may want to increase the opening on the roof of the house, but we do not recommend making it smaller. After assembly, the frame is mounted on its seat in the ceiling opening.

Making a cover


Hatch with lid to the attic

As mentioned earlier, the most common cover can be assembled from the cut-out remnants of the overlap, which were formed as a result of sawing out the opening. The assembled door must be reinforced on the back side with a cross bar. Then it must be fixed in the chosen place with hinges located on the long or short side of the lid. Take a closer look at which side it will be more convenient for you to open the door, and only then proceed with fixing it to the frame. Also consider how the hatch to the roof of the house should open, inward or outward.

We are engaged in insulation and decoration


Attic insulation scheme

The issue of insulation, as we said earlier, will completely depend on the degree of thermal insulation of the upper floor. An insulated floor can be dispensed with with an elementary layer of insulation, but we advise you to pay attention to sound insulation. Naturally, a cold room needs a high-quality large-scale insulation coating. To do this, you will have to lay a layer of a vapor barrier membrane and a layer of insulation material according to a standard scheme for such a process. At the last stage, you need to make an external finish.

As you already understood, this is how the simplest hatch is mounted, leading to the roof of the house. More complex solutions include a retractable ladder design. The installation process here is carried out in a similar way, with only a few differences.

Complex constructions


Installation of stairs for the attic

The hatch to the attic can be equipped with a fixed staircase. Here, too, work begins with cutting an opening. The further course of the process depends on which design you have chosen, and in what order you will craft it. Let's make a reservation right away that the work of assembling and installing a hatch with a ladder in this case will be somewhat more difficult than in the above option. Be sure to make sure that all sizes of the interacting elements match:

  • retractable ladder;
  • doors;
  • opening;
  • ceiling thickness.

You can measure all these parameters yourself or remove from a purchased product if you will not make it yourself. In this case, the cover must have a space to accommodate the longest part of the ladder in the assembled position.

Also remember that the weight of the ladder must be supported with a margin by the cover, otherwise breakage, and in the worst case, injury, cannot be avoided. We must not forget about a reliable latch that will firmly hold the structure in the frame of the ceiling opening.

All the processes that we have mentioned are provided schematically, but if you decide to build a hatch to the attic yourself, you do not need more detailed information, because you most likely have certain skills, but general recommendations with an illustration will not bother anyone. Anyone who buys a ready-made hatch to access the roof of a house can use the instructions for installing it, which must be attached to the product.

If you are determined to actively use the attic space, most likely you will have to tinker with a hatch to the attic. In the villages in the past, this task was handled very simply - it was enough to use a ladder, but for a modern person such a dubious method can hardly be called suitable. Definitely, you will need a convenient access hole from the inside of the house, and not from the outside, as was previously practiced. There are ready-made solutions on sale, but you still have to deal with their installation yourself, and the dimensions of the structure may not go well. This article will discuss how to make the roof of a house habitable.

Buy or craft?

Those who plan to buy a finished product can use the instructions for installing it, which will also be given in this article, and those who want to make a convenient hatch to the attic with their own hands will be interested in the complete information about the process that we offer for reading. So, here are a few important nuances that will come in handy in your work:

  • choose a place for the opening so as not to hit your head on the rafters or the roof when you go up;
  • under the floor beams, the entrance to the roof of the house is not built;
  • if the upper floor is still not insulated, you will have to make thermal insulation;
  • the opening must be strengthened. For wooden structures, wooden beams are suitable, and in concrete houses, reinforcement is carried out with metal corners;
  • it is necessary to provide free space under the hatch for the retractable ladder.

In the event that you do the hatch along with the ladder yourself, do not be too lazy to carefully study all the stages of the process, then you will not encounter difficulties in work, and it will not seem difficult to you.

Manufacturing steps

Before making a hatch to the attic, you need to draw up drawings on which all the necessary measurements and parameters are noted: the thickness of the ceiling, the dimensions of the cover and the opening that you will cut out. Please note that insulated rooms can be supplied with a conventional cover, while cold rooms require additional thermal insulation. It doesn't matter how you draw up the diagram - by hand on paper or in a special computer program, the main thing is to take into account all the necessary dimensions. When the diagram is drawn up, you can proceed to the practical side of the issue, as well as prepare the tools for work.

Cutting the opening

If at the stage of building the house a roof access was not provided, you will have to cut it out yourself. Of course, if there is already such a hole for installing the door, this stage of work is skipped.

To begin with, a marking is carried out with the expectation that the hole should be 5 - 6 cm larger than the dimensions of the hatch frame. In the future, the gap will help to compensate for the thickness of the boards from which the frame will be made. The material from the cut-off piece of the ceiling slab can be used for lining the lid, of course, if it has a normal aesthetic appearance.

Assembly of the opening frame

Here we need boards with a thickness of 2 - 3 cm, it is this caliber that will make the base strong. The frame can be round or square. The second option provides for the mandatory straightness of all angles. The dimensions of the frame 60X120 cm can be considered standard, and such dimensions are suitable for the vast majority of homeowners. You should be guided by personal preferences and dimensions of the opening, you may want to increase the opening on the roof of the house, but we do not recommend making it smaller. After assembly, the frame is mounted on its seat in the ceiling opening.

Making a cover

As mentioned earlier, the most common cover can be assembled from the cut-out remnants of the overlap, which were formed as a result of sawing out the opening. The assembled door must be reinforced on the back side with a cross bar. Then it must be fixed in the chosen place with hinges located on the long or short side of the lid. Take a closer look at which side it will be more convenient for you to open the door, and only then proceed with fixing it to the frame. Also consider how the hatch to the roof of the house should open, inward or outward.

We are engaged in insulation and decoration

The issue of insulation, as we said earlier, will completely depend on the degree of thermal insulation of the upper floor. An insulated floor can be dispensed with with an elementary layer of insulation, but we advise you to pay attention to sound insulation. Naturally, a cold room needs a high-quality large-scale insulation coating. To do this, you will have to lay a layer of a vapor barrier membrane and a layer of insulation material according to a standard scheme for such a process. At the last stage, you need to make an external finish.

As you already understood, this is how the simplest hatch is mounted, leading to the roof of the house. More complex solutions include a retractable ladder design. The installation process here is carried out in a similar way, with only a few differences.

Complex constructions

The hatch to the attic can be equipped with a fixed staircase. Here, too, work begins with cutting an opening. The further course of the process depends on which design you have chosen, and in what order you will craft it. Let's make a reservation right away that the work of assembling and installing a hatch with a ladder in this case will be somewhat more difficult than in the above option. Be sure to make sure that all sizes of the interacting elements match:

You can measure all these parameters yourself or remove from a purchased product if you will not make it yourself. In this case, the cover must have a space to accommodate the longest part of the ladder in the assembled position.

Also remember that the weight of the ladder must be supported with a margin by the cover, otherwise breakage, and in the worst case, injury, cannot be avoided. We must not forget about a reliable latch that will firmly hold the structure in the frame of the ceiling opening.

All the processes that we have mentioned are provided schematically, but if you decide to build a hatch to the attic yourself, you do not need more detailed information, because you most likely have certain skills, but general recommendations with an illustration will not bother anyone. Anyone who buys a ready-made hatch to access the roof of a house can use the instructions for installing it, which must be attached to the product.

Attic hatch: DIY step-by-step installation


A hatch to the roof of the house is necessary if you plan to actively use the attic space. How to make a hatch to the attic, read our article!

Construction of houses

The attic space is a great place to put old things, clothes and other utensils on it. However, for its operation, it is necessary to equip a hatch that will help you easily get into the attic. We will talk further about the types of hatches for the attic and about the features of their self-production.

How to make a hatch to the attic: choosing a place and preparing for work

A fairly common purpose of the attic is to serve as a storage room. There are all sorts of things that have seasonal or periodic use. In order to get them, you must have constant access to the attic space. For these purposes, it is recommended to equip a hatch, which will allow you to get out of the attic, any necessary thing.

There are two ways to enter the attic. The first involves making a special entrance hole on the pediment part, on which the attic door is installed. This method is good in that it is not necessary to make a hole in the ceiling and violate its integrity. Although, when using the door, it is necessary to install an additional ladder, and this requires material investments. The second, easier way to manufacture, is to equip a hatch in the attic, which is located on the ceiling.

In the process of choosing the place where the hatch will be located, first of all, it is necessary to take into account the fact that the hatch cover should open freely, without any obstacles.

In addition, the design of the hatch should be in harmony with the overall style of the interior. If you plan to use a stationary ladder, then it should also not interfere with free movement around the room.

If there are beams on the ceiling, then make sure that the hatch is not located directly on them, as the strength of the ceiling is significantly reduced.

The hatch to the attic with your own hands should be:

  • attractive and distinguished by the presence of a modern design;
  • differ in ease of installation;
  • to be reliable, durable and safe;
  • it is preferable to choose or build insulated hatches;
  • additional fittings: arguments and handles will help to simplify the procedure for using the hatch.

The hatch to the attic: features and varieties

In relation to the installation site of the hatch and its design features, the hatch in the attic are:

The first option involves the installation of a hatch on the ceiling surface. Such hatches are characterized by ease of use and ease of manufacture. The second type of hatch is also called a manhole. The corner type of hatch is most often mounted in the attic, if there is a sloping roof type.

In addition, loft hatches are made from wood, metal, plastic and other alternatives. Most often, wood is used in the construction of hatches.

Insulated hatch to the attic - manufacturing technology

To build a hatch with insulation, we recommend using these instructions:

1. Before starting the manufacture of the hatch, you should make a hatch to the attic drawing, which indicates its shape, dimensions and additional design features.

2. To construct the hatch frame, prepare boards that are at least 2 cm thick. Try to construct a rectangular structure of a previously determined size.

3. Please note that all corners must be absolutely even. Standard loft hatch dimensions - 600x1200 mm. Although determining the size of the hatch depends on the constitution of the people who will use it and on the size of the things stored in the attic.

4. The next step is to cut an opening on the ceiling, keep in mind that the opening should be 5 cm larger than the dimensions of the hatch. The main function of this allowance is to cover the opening using a special frame.

5. If the work is carried out in a wooden house, then the very tree that is cut from the ceiling is quite suitable for the manufacture of the hatch. Otherwise, you need to purchase wood.

6. When choosing a tree, it is better to give preference to larch, since this type of tree has good operational and strength characteristics.

7. The side of fixing the hinges on the hatch depends on the individual preferences of its owners.

8. In order for the cover to acquire additional strength, it is necessary to take care of installing a diagonal spacer, for fixing which self-tapping screws or steel corners are used.

9. In order to ensure thermal insulation of the hatch, it is recommended to use a heater. Most often, the same material is used as for insulating an attic, for example, foam or mineral wool.

10. Please note that a vapor barrier must be pre-installed at the bottom of the cover, since these types of insulation are susceptible to moisture.

11. At the next stage, fittings are installed in the form of latches and door closers. Installing a seal around the perimeter of the hatch will prevent cold air from entering the room from the attic.

12. From the inside, the frame is sheathed with a casing, thus improving the appearance of the hatch.

13. The installation of a ladder is completing the work, which will help to climb and descend to the hatch.

Installation of a hatch in the attic: installation of purchased structures

Installing a store-bought hatch is a little easier than making it yourself. However, in this matter, there are nuances that must be adhered to.

The cost of a purchased hatch directly depends on the material from which it is made. The price for metal hatches is much higher than for wooden ones.

Before buying a hatch and a ladder for the attic, first measure the height of the ceiling in the room, the optimal size for the hatch, the place of installation of the ladder. Among the advantages of purchased sliding ladders for hatches are:

  • compactness and ease of location even in a small room;
  • multifunctionality;
  • ease of installation;
  • attractive appearance.

It doesn't take too much effort to unfold the attic staircase. It is because of this that purchased models are more common than homemade ones. A minimum of two people are required to assemble the hatch and ladder. One of which is located in the attic, raises the structure to the top.

Before fixing the frame, two boards are installed on the lower part, it is on them that the hatch is laid. Further, the structure is laid on them and leveled with wedges. Use a level to check the evenness of corner structures.

Thus, it will be possible to avoid deformation of the hatch during its installation. After the ladder is fixed to the frame, the hatch is fixed to it with screws. If there is a small gap, use polyurethane foam to fill it. Next, remove the boards that insured the hatch from skewing, keep in mind that until the foam completely solidifies, the operation of the hatch is not possible.

The side bolts on the ladder are loosened and the ladder unfolds to the desired size. If there is a skew, the ladder should be adjusted so that it becomes level, this is done by twisting the bolts.

How to make a hatch to the attic with your own hands

If you plan to equip an attic hatch on a reinforced concrete floor, then it is recommended to equip the hatch at the junction of two slabs. Thus, it will be possible to prevent the weakening of the entire structure.

For the manufacture of standard or fire hatches, a hole must be made; for a concrete slab, the work will take at least an hour and a half. To make a hole, you will need a grinder, with attachments for working with metal, a hammer drill, a crowbar and a sledgehammer.

First of all, make a markup, the size of the hole in the concrete should be several centimeters larger than the size of the hatch itself. To obtain strictly vertical end sections of the hatch, you need a perforator and a drill in it, the length of which is much greater than the thickness of the slab.

Make sure that the hammer drill is exactly vertical to the surface. In each of the corners of the previously marked slab, drill one of the holes.

Using a diamond blade, first cut one of the scribed lines. Make sure that the disc does not come into contact with the reinforcement, as there is a risk of deterioration. After preparing the slots, use a punch to locate empty areas of the slab by drilling through it.

Using a sledgehammer, break the slab, in the places where concrete touches the reinforcement, use a crowbar. After upholstering all the concrete, carefully cut the reinforcement, using leveling, smooth out all the irregularities that appear on the metal surface. Please note that the accuracy and quality of the hatch installation depends on the evenness and smoothness of the opening.

Tip: If you plan to use a purchased device, then the dimensions for the opening should be indicated in the technical characteristics of the hatch. When making an attic hatch yourself, at least one centimeter should be left on each side.

In order to build a ladder hatch to the attic, you should first build a frame, which is fixed in the opening with anchors. To ensure smooth closing or opening of the hatch, it is necessary to purchase door closers. In addition, the surface of the cover should be similar to that of the ceiling. The best option is the use of expanded polystyrene plates, which are sheathed on top with chipboard.

The finished hatch must be equipped with seals and faceplates. Therefore, the hole for its installation must be made with maximum precision.

To carry out the work, it is better to climb into the attic and start from this particular part. In relation to the outer dimensions of the casing, it is necessary to mark the floor on which the hatch will be installed.

To remove the top layer of overlap, it is best to use a grinder. If there is waterproofing and insulation on the ceiling, you should carefully remove them and touch up with a knife. To see the perimeter of the location of the hatch in the room, it is necessary to make several control holes.

Next, take the hatch and attach it to the floor surface in the attic, match its dimensions with the perimeter of the holes made. The hatch frame should be located in the opening as tightly as possible. If there are cracks on it, then use polyurethane foam for sealing. Work with it should be started only after careful alignment and determination of the meta position of the hatch.

If you have each side of the rafters, secure the hatch between them. For a high-quality attic staircase, a special framing is required to help protect people living in the house from an accidental fall.

If there are rafters on only one or two sides, it is necessary to install a beam on the third side, on which the hatch will be fixed. Please note that work on the installation of the hatch requires special responsibility from the person who performs them. The minimum load on the ladder and hatch is 200 kg.

Direct installation of the hatch requires the following actions:

  • assembling the frame and installing it into the hole;
  • fixing the rim on the surface of the rafters from above, if they are absent on the beams;
  • fixing the rim from the bottom of the room;
  • fixing the cover to the hatch;
  • connecting a ladder with a hatch;
  • checking the performance of the entire system.

Features of fire hatches in the attic

Such hatches have very simple design features, they consist of a steel frame, for which a non-combustible material is used as a seal, and a steel door that automatically latches after closing.

There is a retractable ladder on the hatch to enter the attic. Before installing such a hatch, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the features of its choice:

1. Fire resistance from 40 minutes to one hour.

2. The minimum thickness of the steel from which it is made is 1 cm. There are options for covering the hatch with the same material as the finishing of the room to ensure its complete harmony in the interior.

3. The presence of a non-combustible thermoactive seal, which, when expanded, blocks the ingress of smoke into the attic or into the room.

4. Internal filling - mineral wool or any other fire-resistant material.

5. Availability of door closers, handles, locks - high quality.

6. If you plan to install the hatch on a wooden ceiling, you must additionally purchase materials installed between the hatch hole and the hatch itself.

Do-it-yourself hatch to the attic, Construction portal


Building Homes The attic space is a great place to put old things, clothes and other utensils on it. However, for its operation, it is necessary to arrange

Do-it-yourself hatch to the attic

The attic is used for storing old things. This room is used to store household items that are used only at a certain time. For example, it can be sledges or skis. The owners of country houses have questions about how to get to the attic. How to provide access to this room? To do this, you need to install a hatch in the attic in the floor with your own hands.

How to choose a place for mounting the hatch

There are several types of attic hatches. Home owners use 2 options for entering the attic. In the first case, the owner makes a special hole on the front. An attic door is installed in the resulting opening. However, with this method, it becomes necessary to install an additional ladder. This requires additional investment on the part of the home owner.

Another option is to equip a hatch in the attic. When choosing a place for the hatch, it must be borne in mind that the lid should open freely. Pay attention to the hatch design as well. It should match the overall style of the interior.

If you plan to use a standard type of ladder, make sure that it does not interfere with free movement around the room. Removing part of the ceiling when installing the hatch is unacceptable. This leads to a decrease in their strength.

In order to make a hatch to the attic with your own hands, you need to ensure that you adhere to several rules:

  • The structure should be attractive and modern in design.
  • Ease of installation is of great importance.
  • The hatch must have high strength and reliability.
  • When choosing models, preference should be given to insulated-type structures. Otherwise, cold can enter the room. Closers and handles can be used as additional fittings.

When choosing a place to install the hatch, several points must be taken into account. Ensure free opening of the hatch cover. There should be no obstacles to functioning. When installing a structure, many owners make a typical mistake. They do not take into account their height and, as they climb the stairs, they can hit their heads on structural elements.

If you are installing a hatch in the attic on your own, then in no case mount it on load-bearing beams. During operation, their integrity may be violated. This will affect the load-bearing capacity and reduce the strength of the ceiling. When installing, take into account characteristics such as reliability, safety and durability. To avoid manufacturing errors, you must adhere to the drawing.

What if the upper floor is not insulated? In this case, it is necessary to carry out thermal insulation work before installing the hatch. Wooden beams are used to reinforce the opening. In concrete houses, you can strengthen the hatch opening with the help of metal corners. Be sure to consider the availability of free space under the hatch for the retractable ladder.

What types of hatches can there be

Depending on the place of installation and design features, a distinction is made between:

  • Horizontal models.
  • Vertical structures.
  • Corner models.

Horizontal hatches are very convenient to mount on the ceiling surface. Many owners of country houses have already appreciated their ease of use. In addition, they are quite simple to make.

In the manufacture of hatches for attic spaces, wood, metal or plastic are used. It all depends on the preferences of the owner, who decided to equip an attic in the house. Metal models are highly durable.

How to make an insulated attic hatch

To make a hatch to the attic with your own hands using this technology, you must adhere to the following sequence. First you need to prepare a drawing taking into account the design features, shape and size of the frame. In the manufacture of an insulated hatch, boards with a thickness of at least 2 centimeters are used.

In the future, the owner must make a rectangular structure based on the size of the room. All corners must be absolutely even. Typically, home owners use structures with standard dimensions, which are 600 x 1200 mm. However, much depends on the constitution of a person - so that it is convenient for him to climb into the attic. Be sure to measure the height of the ceiling before proceeding with the installation of the hatch.

At the stage of fixing the hinges on the hatch, take into account the individual preferences of the owners. The cover must not compromise the strength of the structure. To do this, you need to install a diagonal brace. It is fixed with self-tapping screws or steel corners.

Heat insulation of the hatch is provided through the use of insulation. It can be styrofoam or rock wool. Please note that condensation will begin to accumulate in the attic after rain. To prevent the formation of moisture, it is necessary to consider a vapor barrier. Condensation accumulation can be avoided thanks to vapor barrier materials.

After that, they begin to install fittings in the form of latches and closers. The use of a sealant will help prevent cold air from the attic from entering the main areas of the house.

Frame cladding not only increases structural strength. In this way, you can change the appearance of the product. At the final stage, a ladder is installed, which rises to the hatch.

How to make a hatch with your own hands

Installing a hatch at the junction of two slabs weakens the entire structure. When installing standard hatches, you must first make a hole in the concrete slab. The work will take about 2 hours. During this time, you can make an opening in the floor according to the markings.

It is most convenient to cut a rectangular opening for the hatch using a grinder. The tool must be supplied with special attachments. They are designed to work with metal. When installing the hatch, prepare a hammer drill and a sledgehammer.

First, mark the hole in the concrete. Then drill the control holes with a hammer drill. The drill length must be greater than the overlap thickness. Otherwise, you will not be able to drill the slab to the desired depth.

Now take a diamond disc and cut through one of the scribed lines. In the process of work, it must be borne in mind that the disc should not come into contact with the fittings. Otherwise, the floors can be damaged. Damaged beams may not support the load. Building mistakes can be costly for a home owner.

Installation features

Use a sledgehammer to break the floor slab. To facilitate the work, you can use a crowbar. Carefully cut off all the reinforcement and smooth out any irregularities. The accuracy and quality of the hatch installation will depend on the smoothness of the opening.

When making a hatch at home, the following point must be taken into account. Leave 1 centimeter on each side. This backlash is used to cover possible defects.

Anchors are used to secure the hatch in a certain place. After installation, it is necessary to achieve a smooth closing of the hatch. This can be achieved with door closers. To prevent deformation, the hatch is sheathed with chipboard. This can increase the strength of the structure.

When installing the attic hatch, it is necessary to take into account the fact that you can find ready-made options in stores. It is enough just to mount them in the opening. However, their quality largely depends on the material from which the products are made. Metal structures are more expensive, as they are characterized by increased durability and reliability.

All purchased products are equipped with mechanisms that ensure the safety of the owner. The factory staircase meets all safety requirements. Its steps are made in such a way that it is impossible to slip on them. This reduces the risk of injury.

What are the advantages of the rope opening system

The hatch handle can be replaced with a more original opening system. For this, a rope is used, which is fixed with the help of special blocks. A hole must be made in the surface of the ceiling. Through it, the rope is lowered to a certain distance. At the end of the rope there is a hook that is attached to the wall ring. Thanks to this mechanism, even a child can open the hatch, since this does not require significant efforts.

Stages of making a hatch for the attic

To ensure the tightness of the finished hatch, seals and faceplates are used. Drill holes before installing the hatch. To perform this operation go up to the attic. You can avoid mistakes if you carry out preliminary markup. In the process of installing the hatch, you cannot do without a grinder.

What to do if a layer of insulation and waterproofing is laid on the floor of the attic? You need to work carefully. Building materials can be removed with a knife. After that, the area occupied by the hatch is determined. This way you can avoid mistakes when installing the hatch in the attic. Match the size of the cover with the inspection holes for installing the chassis.

The hatch should be located in the opening as tightly as possible. Cold air will flow through the cracks into the premises of the house. Condensation will start to build up on the walls. Therefore, existing gaps are sealed with polyurethane foam. So you can achieve tightness between the attic and the rest of the house.

After that, a thorough alignment is performed. The hatch is fixed between the rafters. To equip the stairs, you must use a special frame. Otherwise, people who climb the stairs to the attic may fall and be injured.

When installing the hatch, you must adhere to the following rules:

  • First you need to assemble the frame and mount it taking into account the pre-drilled holes.
  • The next stage is the installation of rafters, which are necessary to ensure the safety of people.
  • After fixing the ladder and the hatch, the system is checked for functionality.

What are the features of fire hatches?

All elements of the hatch are mounted on a steel frame. It is designed to strengthen the structure. So that there is no draft in the room, a seal is used.

The slide-in door clicks automatically after closing. To get to the attic faster, the hatch is attached to a movable ladder. Thanks to the fire-resistant coating, the structure can withstand about 40 minutes even during a fire. The owner of the house attaches great importance to the appearance of the hatch. It shouldn't stand out too much because of the style mismatch. Non-combustible materials are used as a sealant.

Mineral wool is used as an internal filler. When installing the hatch, pay attention to the quality of the fittings. The reliability of the structure depends on the strength of closers and locks.

The advantages of purchasing purchased products include less labor intensity during installation. Consider the characteristics of the ladder during the installation process. It is necessary to know the height of the ceiling to avoid collisions with structural elements. A person should not be afraid that at any moment he may hit his head on structural elements.

Be sure to consider the size of the opening. It should be 5 cm larger than the hatch. This allowance is necessary in order to sheathe the opening with a special frame. When buying a tree, it is best to give preference to larch. It is highly durable and reliable.

Do-it-yourself hatch to the attic: step-by-step instructions, photos and videos


Do-it-yourself hatch to the attic. How to choose a place for mounting the hatch. Stages of manufacturing an attic hatch. How to make a hatch with your own hands.

It is rare to find a structure of a private house devoid of a cellar. It is in the cellars that a variety of products are stored, which the owners have grown on their own land, and they gladly treat their neighbors in cold weather.

The hostesses also store in the cellars pickles and other rolls made with their own hands, which in winter are the most important delicacy on the table. But the presence of a cellar also presupposes the presence of a hatch leading into it. If you do not want to spend extra money, you will have to tinker the cellar hatch with your own hands.

Before starting work, you should pay attention to the following points:

  • Choose the most suitable location for the hatch and determine its size. must correspond to the build of the owners of the house. In any case, you should not make the hatch less than 750/750 mm, because otherwise it will be quite difficult to get out with food from the cellar.
  • Take care of the presence of supports on which your brand new hatch will fall. Ideally, there should be four such supports.
  • Consider also such a parameter as the weight of the product. Not all households will be able to open the heavy hatch cover. The strength of a woman or child may not be enough to hold her.

Note!
The light weight of the cover should not affect its strength in any way.

In order to build at the same time a strong and not heavy cover, you should use materials such as:

  • A layer of wood, at least 2.5 cm thick.
  • Plywood sheet at least 1 cm thick.

Tip: For greater reliability of the structure, all boards should be thoroughly saturated with linseed oil.

Manhole construction

The price of a basement hatch becomes much lower if you build it yourself.

Materials and tools

In order to build a hatch into the cellar with your own hands, you will need:

  • Hammer;
  • Nails;
  • Saw;
  • Ruler or tape measure;
  • Screwdriver;
  • Screws;
  • Pencil;
  • Drying oil;
  • Plywood;
  • Reiki;
  • Boards.

In order to make the lid look more pleasant from the outside, cover it with linoleum. Before fixing the linoleum, be sure to let it rest well. You need to fix the linoleum around the perimeter of the entire hatch cover using aluminum corners. This option for the outer finish of the lid is quite practical and reliable.

A pen

An important element of the hatch design is the handle, which should ensure the convenience of opening and closing the lid. If you screw a knob to the lid, even if it is very pretty, it will be inconvenient. Your household, no doubt, will constantly stumble over the handle sticking out of the floor.

There are some very suitable designs called flip handles. With the correct installation of such a handle, as the instructions say, it will not interfere at all. And if necessary, it will be easy to raise and lower it.

For convenience, you can provide a removable handle. This design is especially suitable for families with small children. After all, the basement is far from a place to play.

Hinges

If you want the hatch cover leading to the basement not only to be removed, but to be able to open and close, then you should provide hinges. Absolutely any hinges can be used, even old hinges from the hood of a Soviet car will be quite a suitable material.

When installing your sunroof cover onto car hinges, you will have the following benefits:

  • Easy opening. The car hinges are spring-loaded, making it easy to open even heavy covers.
  • Fixed position. The lid will remain open until you close it yourself. This eliminates the possibility of slamming the hatch under its own weight.

Installation of such hinges is carried out only when the springs are removed. To begin with, the hinges are installed from the bottom. After installation, the hatch opens completely and the hinges slide into place on their own.

Installation of the cellar cover

The installation of the cellar cover is carried out as follows:

  1. We make the markup. To do this, put the finished shell of the hatch on the floor in the right place and circle it with a marker;
  2. Using a perforator, we make a hole in the overlap 3 cm smaller than the markings made on the overlap;
  3. Using a perforator, we make a neat concrete ledge, so that the lid holder fits flush into the ceiling;
  4. If the construction of the hatch provides for the installation of anchors, we install the anchor;
  5. We cover the gaps between the clip and the overlap with cement mortar from the inside and outside of the cellar.

Note!
If the hatch is installed after the floor covering has been laid, it should be disassembled around the planned opening.

Sealing and insulation of the cellar

In order to seal the hatch and isolate it from noise and moisture, you will need insulation. As a heater of this kind, you can use an ordinary door heater, the price of which is low. But an ordinary felt tape may also work.

In any case, the use of insulation can save you from such unpleasant moments as:

  • It will always be warm through the cracks in the hatch in the house;
  • When closing the hatch, the lid will not clap loudly;
  • If mold appears in the cellar, then the insulation will save you from unpleasant odors.

If you already decided to make a cellar hatch with your own hands, you should take into account all even the smallest nuances.

Everyone decides for himself whether to buy a factory-made cellar hatch or make it on his own. The main thing is that the structure to be installed is reliable, durable and will delight you for many years. The video in this article will help you to see how to make a cellar lid with your own hands.