Good point about the hatch seal—it's often overlooked. When I tackled mine, regular foam weatherstripping didn't quite cut it due to the uneven surface around my hatch. Ended up using a thicker, compressible rubber gasket material from the hardware store, and that made a noticeable difference. Definitely worth checking yours closely, especially if you've already invested in ventilation improvements. Sounds like you're on the right track... attic heat can be stubborn to solve completely.
"regular foam weatherstripping didn't quite cut it due to the uneven surface around my hatch."
You're right about that—standard foam strips often struggle with irregular surfaces. Another thing to consider: have you checked the insulation around the hatch itself? Even with a tight seal, thin or poorly fitted insulation on the hatch door can still let heat seep through. I've seen noticeable improvements when homeowners upgrade to rigid foam insulation panels cut snugly to fit. Might be worth double-checking yours if attic heat is still lingering...
"thin or poorly fitted insulation on the hatch door can still let heat seep through."
Good point, but wouldn't rigid foam panels still leave tiny gaps around the edges if the hatch surface is uneven? Curious if anyone's tried spray foam insulation instead—messy, sure, but might seal better overall...
Rigid foam panels can definitely leave gaps if your hatch isn't perfectly flat—been there myself. Spray foam does seal better, but it's a pain if you ever need to reopen the hatch. Anyone tried weatherstripping around the edges instead?
I actually tried weatherstripping on my attic hatch last winter. Worked pretty well at first, but after a couple of months, the adhesive started peeling off—probably due to temperature changes. Ended up stapling it back in place, which helped a bit...but it still wasn't perfect. Still beats dealing with spray foam though; reopening that stuff is a nightmare. Maybe there's a higher-quality weatherstrip out there that's more durable?
