Attic Door Stuck Open

The arm on that side looks like it s bent out.

Attic door stuck open.

Shut the attic door once you and your partner are in the attic. Otherwise try prising the hatch open with say a large flat bladed screwdriver in the gap if it damages the wood slightly you won t see it. If neith of those work can you get the nozzle from a wd40 can through to the latch. If the door does not allow the lock to be jimmied open it may be necessary to remove the door from its hinges.

Once the door is open try to actuate the door latch with the handle. We have a pull down attic wood ladder with heavy duty springs on each side. On one side the spring always comes off its bracket when the door opens. The handle or knob must be jiggled to unstick the latch.

Inspect the brackets at the door hinge where the springs attach to the attic door frame. The knob will not turn to retract the stuck door latch. Insert a long sturdy item with a flat tip preferably a flat head screwdriver if available between the top rung of the door s top hinge and the head of the bolt securing the door to the hinge. But if no joy i d just cut or break through and replace the lot.

If they are loose tighten them up as much as possible using either a wrench or screwdriver depending on your attic ladder model s attachment type. In order to get the door to close we have to bend the arm back in as much as we can and hook the spring back over the bracket at the top. More force is needed to turn the knob and unstick the latch.