Attic Hatch Thrives While Improving Energy Efficiency

By Stephen Murdoch

During the past seven years, Mark Jejina and Jyri Laitinen have seen demand for their pre-built attic access assembly grow. The housing boom, accompanied by a similar upsurge in home renovation, has seen distributors from across Canada clamour to carry the Attic Hatch, a metal outer frame with weather- stripping that is drywalled into the ceiling, making the attic hatch frame totally air tight. Today, Attic Hatch is positioned for further growth. Sales continue to skyrocket and the pair fully expects that expansion to continue.

Jejina, co-founder of Attic Hatch credits perseverance for the company's success. "We believed in our idea from day one and knew it would be catch-on across the country. There were early manufacturing and financial struggles but we overcame them. We stayed motivated and discovered where we wanted our business to be in five to ten years down the road," Jejina said. He also credits Attic Hatch's success to the partnerships established with key distributors across Canada. "Can-Cell Industries and Can-Save have remained strong advocates of our product. Choosing a reliable, full-service distributor is one of the most important decisions for a manufacturer and both have exceeded our expectations," he went on to say. The pre-fabricated Attic Hatch has carved a niche in the marketplace and continues to grow brand recognition across Canada. "Homeowners are looking for a product that is hassle free, high quality and is good for energy efficiency. We meet all of those requirements and are the only attic hatch that meets national building code requirements," Jejina explained. The issue of energy efficiency was always top of mind for Jejina and his partner when they were building a prototype. "The attic can account for up to five per cent of total energy loss. It's not uncommon for an energy auditor to look for solutions to ensure the attic is air tight."

Everyone has been pushed back to the wall and entrepreneurs are no different. The road to success for Jejina and his team has been tiring and frustrating at times. "Like other companies that have come before us, we have our own set of unique challenges. One of the greatest challenges has been getting building inspectors to enforce the National Building Code. There are other attic hatches on the market that don't meet the requirements, yet, they continue to be installed. Even the conventional way of building the attic hatch doesn't meet the building code," Jejina said. In response to this, Jejina hopes to educate industry stakeholders of the importance of a system like the Attic Hatch. "The interaction between attic access and the indoor environment must be addressed. We will continue to educate Canadians on the benefits of having a common set of criteria and methods for assessing a product or system such as an attic hatch." The Innisfail-Alberta based company prides itself on its design capabilities. "Jyri and I were frustrated with the traditional building attic accesses and decided there had to be a better way. Most hatches are not insulated or simply have a small piece of fiberglass batting glued to the topside. There was a need for a pre-fabricated, insulated attic hatch and we filled that void," Jejina went on to say. Armed with a strong background in design, both men set out to build a better mouse trap. "We spent a considerable amount of time developing a product that reduces heat loss and becomes virtually invisible." Innovation and creativity are essential for sustainable growth and economic development, a fact not lost on Jejina and Laitinen, "It's encouraging to know that an idea spurred years ago has had such a tremendous impact. If you had told me we would have six full-time employees and manufacturing facilities, I would have laughed," Jejina said. At a time when businesses across the country are struggling to balance survival, innovation and an entrepreneurial mindset is essential. "We like to think we're doing our part to get the economy back on track. Several staff has been hired, dollars are being spent marketing the product and we continue to invest resources into research and development."

The success of the Attich Hatch hasn't gone unnoticed. The company was awarded the Best New Canadian Product at this year's edition of the Prairie Showcase. "We are deeply honoured to win such a prestigious award. This recognition further validates the innovation we're driving, the uniqueness of our product and the impact it's having on homeowners," Jejina explained. Receiving accolades from the industry is something his team takes pride in and Jejina hopes to use it to his advantage. "Winning the Best new Canadian Product will help us to leverage our brand and establish new business relationships. It provides instant credibility for the work we have been doing through the years."

Seven years ago, Jejina was a 35 year veteran in the window business. Today, he and his staff members are looking to take a simple invention and turn it into an international success. "There is tremendous potential to take Attic Hatch south of the border. Whether it's a new home or a remodel, there is potential to put our product front-and-centre," Jejina said. However, Jejina concedes there is a still ample opportunity to increase sales in Canada. "We're excited about the prospects of working with dealers from coast to coast to educate Canadians on the benefits of the Attic Hatch. Granted, it will be a challenge, but we're up for that," Jejina concluded.

The first and only attic hatch that meets and exceeds Canadian National Building
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