Yes almost all homes need an attic.
Do i have to have attic access.
Buildings with combustible ceiling or roof construction shall have an attic access opening to attic areas that exceed 30 square feet 2 8 m2 and have a vertical height of 30 inches 762 mm or greater.
Very occasionally a builder does not.
The rough framed opening.
And yes this is a do it yourself project.
The vertical height shall be measured from the top of the ceiling framing members to the underside of the roof framing members.
Attics containing appliances requiring access shall have with an opening and a clear and unobstructed passageway large enough to allow removal of the largest appliance but not less than 30 inches 762 mm high and 22 inches 559 mm wide and not more than 20 feet 6096 mm long when measured along the centerline of the passageway from the opening to the appliance.
Yes there are potential structural issues you may face but they aren t insurmountable.
1 attics that are small less than 30 square feet of area or under a low slope roof that does not have a minimum of 30 inches of clear opening height between the top and bottom structural members are not required to have an attic hatch by the building code.
Buildings with combustible ceiling or roof construction shall have an attic access opening to attic areas that have a vertical height of 30 inches 762 mm or greater over an area of not less than 30 square feet 2 8 m 2.
Or perhaps you simply need to get in there for repairs.
For instance although you re loving your mobile home you may feel that added insulation would increase your energy efficiency.
The very rare exceptions are high end homes that have expanded styrofoam insulation inside of a sealed vaulted ceiling.
Yes a larger access opening to the attic is a viable option.
Electrical repairs or air ductwork may require that you have access to the attic.
The vertical height shall be measured from the top of the ceiling framing members to the underside of the roof framing members.
2 the attic access opening may have been removed during a remodeling.
How to open up access into your attic space for inspection and or insulation.
The 2012 international residential code requires an attic access opening for attics with an area greater than 30 square feet and a vertical height in excess of 30 inches.