How to Make an Attic Access Door Select a closet ceiling or hallway ceiling with good floor space underneath, since you will need to use a ladder to access your attic. Measure and draw the width between the joists and 28 to 30 inches for the length of the panel. Measure between the joists and cut two boards to fit, one on each side of the opening. Click to see full answer. Correspondingly, what is the door to an attic called?Call it a scuttle, trap door or attic hatch — every attic needs an entrance, and often it’s merely a square opening in the ceiling.Also, can I turn my attic into a room? When converting an attic to a living space, it must meet the same building requirements as the other rooms in your home. To meet most building codes your attic should: Have at least 7 feet of vertical clearance in the majority of the room, be a minimum of 7 feet wide and have at least 70 square feet of space available. Besides, what is scuttle hole? A scuttle hole is usually a 2′ x 2′ entrance hole to the attic, covered by a panel. Often, the panel fits badly and rarely insulated. The result is probably the biggest air leak in the house with a 20% reduction in attic insulation value over 1000 sqft.What are attic stairs called?An attic ladder (US) or loft ladder (UK) is a retractable ladder that is installed into the floor of an attic and ceiling of the floor below the attic. They are used as an inexpensive and compact alternative to having a stairway that ascends to the attic of a building.