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  #1  
Old 7/23/09, 11:01 AM
David C. Macy's Avatar
David C. Macy David C. Macy is offline
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Default Swiss attic ladder

First time I have seen this ingenious modification.

Attic ladder had holes drilled for I would figure venting the attic. Roof was only 5-10 with ridge and gable. Recently installed blown in insulation.

No soffits vents

Now I made the mistake a few years back and stated there were no soffit vents and there were as they had cut grooves in the soffit covering but they could not be seen from the ground. This covering did not appear the have any openings.

My recommendation is: Replace swiss cheese attic ladder cover, Insulate opening as it was common to house and the only access and have soffit vents and baffles installed.

The more I look at the pic it actually looks more like a big domino.
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  #2  
Old 7/23/09, 5:29 PM
Linda J. Foster's Avatar
Linda J. Foster Linda J. Foster is offline
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Default Re: Swiss attic ladder

David, was the attic ladder located in a garage? If you did that in Texas, the a/c would never turn off in the summer !

If the soffit was aluminum or vinyl, some of that stuff has small holes made into it. Have to look close.



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  #3  
Old 7/24/09, 7:03 AM
David C. Macy's Avatar
David C. Macy David C. Macy is offline
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Default Re: Swiss attic ladder

Quote:
Originally Posted by lfoster View Post
David, was the attic ladder located in a garage? If you did that in Texas, the a/c would never turn off in the summer !

If the soffit was aluminum or vinyl, some of that stuff has small holes made into it. Have to look close.
Yes the ladder was in the garage.

I try to look closely at the soffits so I do not miss the small holes/grooves.
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  #4  
Old 7/24/09, 7:15 AM
Richard A. Hetzel Richard A. Hetzel is offline
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Default Re: Swiss attic ladder

If the ladder is in the garage and there is living space above, then the ladder cover must have the same fire-resistance rating as the garage ceiling. I don't know of any fire-rated holes on the market, but hey, I don't know everything! =)
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  #5  
Old 7/24/09, 7:32 AM
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Marcel R. Cyr Marcel R. Cyr is offline
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Default Re: Swiss attic ladder

A profile of that vented material can be seen here David.
I have it on my own house.
It is very easy to miss.
It is called the 3-1/3" vented ivisivent.
http://www.certainteed.com/resources/cts150.pdf




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  #6  
Old 7/24/09, 9:48 AM
David C. Macy's Avatar
David C. Macy David C. Macy is offline
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Default Re: Swiss attic ladder

Quote:
Originally Posted by mcyr View Post
A profile of that vented material can be seen here David.
I have it on my own house.
It is very easy to miss.
It is called the 3-1/3" vented ivisivent.
http://www.certainteed.com/resources/cts150.pdf

About 2 years ago I was doing an inspection on a sale by owner and I was walking the exterior stating there are no soffit vents. The sellers stated I paid a lot of money for this siding are you sure. I climbed my ladder and looked closer and sure enough they were there. You can not see from the ground. I was embarrased and apologized.
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  #7  
Old 7/24/09, 10:36 AM
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Default Re: Swiss attic ladder

Quote:
Originally Posted by dmacy View Post
About 2 years ago I was doing an inspection on a sale by owner and I was walking the exterior stating there are no soffit vents. The sellers stated I paid a lot of money for this siding are you sure. I climbed my ladder and looked closer and sure enough they were there. You can not see from the ground. I was embarrased and apologized.
I like to turn off the lights in the attic and see daylight around the eaves.



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  #8  
Old 7/24/09, 10:38 AM
Rick Maday's Avatar
Rick Maday Rick Maday is offline
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Default Re: Swiss attic ladder

Quote:
Originally Posted by mcyr View Post
A profile of that vented material can be seen here David.
I have it on my own house.
It is very easy to miss.
It is called the 3-1/3" vented ivisivent.
http://www.certainteed.com/resources/cts150.pdf

Pretty cool product, Marcel.

Someone at Certainteed had their thinking cap on!



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  #9  
Old 7/28/09, 12:16 AM
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Jeffrey R. Jonas Jeffrey R. Jonas is offline
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Default Re: Swiss attic ladder

Quote:
Originally Posted by rmaday View Post
I like to turn off the lights in the attic and see daylight around the eaves.
Works as long as the insulation is installed properly.



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  #10  
Old 7/28/09, 12:44 AM
Rick Maday's Avatar
Rick Maday Rick Maday is offline
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Default Re: Swiss attic ladder

Quote:
Originally Posted by jjonas View Post
Works as long as the insulation is installed properly.
Exactly!



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  #11  
Old 7/28/09, 12:46 AM
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Chuck Evans Chuck Evans is offline
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Default Re: Swiss attic ladder

Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard A. Hetzel View Post
If the ladder is in the garage and there is living space above, then the ladder cover must have the same fire-resistance rating as the garage ceiling. I don't know of any fire-rated holes on the market, but hey, I don't know everything! =)
Also required if there is a common attic space (which would be the whole purpose of putting the access in the garage). Either way it's a fire safety hazard.
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