Hatches
Attic hatch insulation and draught-proofing
For the grant, the contractor must insulate the attic hatch to the same U-value as the attic, 0.16 W/m²K, fix the insulation securely, and draught-strip all four sides, with catches so it presses shut.
A hatch is small, but it's a hole in the insulation and the path warm, damp air takes into the roof.
Free, no obligation. One SEAI-registered contractor prices it, not five.
- €2,000SEAI attic grant for a detached house
- €2,500at the higher rate
- €300 to €600typically left to pay on a semi-D
- 300 mmof wool: what SEAI's standard takes
Why it matters
A gap in the layer
SEAI's standard lists a sealed, draught-proofed hatch as one of the ways to stop moisture getting into a cold roof, where long-term condensation can rot the timbers.
What the contractor fits
SEAI's hatch checklist
- Insulation on the hatch to 0.16 W/m²K, fixed on.
- A draught strip on every side.
- A hatch that rests on its frame: a catch on each side, at least two.
- A hinged hatch: at least one latch opposite the hinges.
- A cover with no frame: a rebate seal and two catches.
- A fold-down ladder: an insulating hood or box where possible.
All from clause 6.4.1 of SEAI's technical standard.
New hatches
Insulated loft hatches you can buy
Ready-made insulated hatches with a seal and catches are sold by builders' merchants. If you're having the attic done under the grant, the hatch is part of the job: ask that it's in the written price.
Grant check
Your attic grant and what's left to pay
Two taps: your home, and which rate fits you. The answer is SEAI's fixed grant and its own median cost for the job.
Your SEAI attic insulation grant
€1,500
- SEAI median cost, Jan to Jun 2026
- €2,101
- Left to pay at the median
- €601
SEAI's fixed grant for a semi-d or end of terrace at the standard rate is €1,500. SEAI's median cost for attic insulation on a semi-d or end of terrace from January to June 2026 was €2,101. €2,101 less €1,500 leaves about €601. Our sum; your quote can be higher or lower.
Send this for a real priceHow this is worked out
The grant is SEAI's fixed amount for that home type and rate, as Citizens Information lists it. The median cost is SEAI's own figure from grant-funded attic jobs completed between January and June 2026; the PDF doesn't say whether VAT is in. Left to pay is the median less the grant, our sum. The home must have been built and lived in before 2011, the contractor must be on SEAI's register, and SEAI must approve the grant before work starts. It's an estimate, never a quote.
Your grant
Your attic grant and a price, in 4 taps
Tap your home, when it was built, what's in the attic now and who you are. Then leave your number and one SEAI-registered insulation contractor who covers your area rings you to look at the attic and price it in writing.
FAQ
Questions people ask
Does the SEAI grant include the attic hatch?
Yes. SEAI's standard makes the contractor insulate and draught-proof the hatch as part of the attic job.
How do I insulate an attic hatch?
Fix insulation board or wool to the top of the hatch to the same standard as the attic, fit a draught strip round the frame, and add catches so it presses shut.
Can I keep my attic ladder?
Yes. SEAI's standard suggests an insulating hood or box over it where possible.
Keep reading
Related guides
- How thick should attic insulation be?300 mm, 200 mm, blown wool or boards: what reaches SEAI's standard.
- Condensation after insulationWhy a colder attic gets damp, and the ventilation SEAI asks for.
- Attic insulation costSEAI's median cost by home type, before and after the grant.
- Spray foam attic insulationVentilation, timbers, resale: read this before anyone sprays your roof.
- How to apply for the grantSix steps, the MPRN, and the rule that loses people the grant.