kenp51d
Member
Hi
We live about a 1000 sq' house built in '76. Has a lowish pitched roof being in the middle of Ca, no snow loads.
The access to both the attic and sub floor is in the master bedroom closet. I can get to either ok.
But the attic access only lets get to the back of the house without to difficulty. The HVAC ducting runs right down the middle of the attic and it is impossible to go over or under. I have to got on side and strain like hell to get over the roof rafter diagonals. An extremely tight fight for me. I have travers about 3 of them to get back to the middle section
I am very prone to cramps, And my skinny days are decades behind me (I am 65 now).
I have made the trip once and was then out of action for several days from the back and hip pain.
I did notice when I crawled to the front of the attic that the attic is open to the end of the front porch and insulated that far. by that I mean the attic actually extends over the front porch about 6 feet. The roof is aligned along the length of the house so the peak extends to the end of the front porch.
I need to make several trips to the front part of the house in the attic.
The front porch ceiling is sheeted with ply (thin I think).
So my thought is to cut a new trap door access into the porch ceiling. This would actually be outside of the house and just in front of and above the the front door. I would add new ply and framing for the trap door plus insolation and a a pad lock. Security is not an issue as we have tall fencing all around us and locked gates. Plus a 125 lb German Shepard dog.
So would adding a trap door to the attic outside the house but under the porch roof be with code.
Sorry it took me so many words to ask something so simple, I just wanted to try to be clear.
Ken
We live about a 1000 sq' house built in '76. Has a lowish pitched roof being in the middle of Ca, no snow loads.
The access to both the attic and sub floor is in the master bedroom closet. I can get to either ok.
But the attic access only lets get to the back of the house without to difficulty. The HVAC ducting runs right down the middle of the attic and it is impossible to go over or under. I have to got on side and strain like hell to get over the roof rafter diagonals. An extremely tight fight for me. I have travers about 3 of them to get back to the middle section
I am very prone to cramps, And my skinny days are decades behind me (I am 65 now).
I have made the trip once and was then out of action for several days from the back and hip pain.
I did notice when I crawled to the front of the attic that the attic is open to the end of the front porch and insulated that far. by that I mean the attic actually extends over the front porch about 6 feet. The roof is aligned along the length of the house so the peak extends to the end of the front porch.
I need to make several trips to the front part of the house in the attic.
The front porch ceiling is sheeted with ply (thin I think).
So my thought is to cut a new trap door access into the porch ceiling. This would actually be outside of the house and just in front of and above the the front door. I would add new ply and framing for the trap door plus insolation and a a pad lock. Security is not an issue as we have tall fencing all around us and locked gates. Plus a 125 lb German Shepard dog.
So would adding a trap door to the attic outside the house but under the porch roof be with code.
Sorry it took me so many words to ask something so simple, I just wanted to try to be clear.
Ken
I didn't have as much room as you do. My present door is 5/8" drywall secured with "T" nuts and homemade knobs. Will check out the steel access door. Thanks for the pis and link.