Insulation (The Sequel): Attic Stairs

Now that we’ve got the garage door insulation covered — covered, get it? — (TM 3/15/10), what about those attic fold-down, or drop-down access, stairs? The set in our current house is in the laundry room near the back door to the garage, and seems to be a source of cool or warm air depending on the season. I’ve found many options for insulating such stairs, ranging from bare-bones DIY project plans to spiffy kit installation. The installation kits seem to start around $45, then jump to $99.95 and higher depending on the size of the stairs’ opening and height of the stairs in the attic when closed.

Building my own cover box is appealing from both from the get-a-chance-to-play-with-tools and general frugality viewpoints, but I’m open to other approaches if they do a better job. What have fellow Toolmongers done? Any general pros or cons?

Draft Cap [Manufacturer's Site]
Therm-A-Lid [Manufacturer's Site]
Attic Tent [Manufacturer's Site]
Attic Stairway Insulator [Owens Corning}
Battic Door Via Amazon [What’s This?]
Attic Stairs Cover Box [U.S. Dept. of Energy]

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