The stops provide a wider surface for attaching the weatherstrip and a space to mount hook and eye fasteners.
Seal attic hatch.
Pray that the installer used finish nails and not say ring shank nails.
Air seal the trim the first step is air sealing the finish trim and enclosure around the attic hatch.
If your hatch rests directly on the moldings add 2 1 2 inch wide stops around the opening.
From inside the attic check for any openings holes or fenestrations into the knee wall surrounding area.
2 thick foam board 4 8 sheet with an r value of 10 or greater 15 foam weather stripping the wider the better 1 can great stuff foam or similar 1 tube liquid nail or other construction adhesive 8 16 penny nails misc.
Diy sealing the attic hatch seal trim to ceiling create air tight seal between hatch and trim.
Remove your existing attic hatch and measure its size.
How to insulate and air seal an attic access hatch.
Sealing the attic hatch or door finish up by sealing the access hatch with self sticking weather stripping.
Cut four pieces of polystyrene rigid insulation about 1 2 inch smaller than the dimensions of the hatch.
Hardware 2 small bungee cords to seal it tight.
The insulation will both slow heat loss and add ballast to the hatch to improve the seal at the weatherstripping.