The A Team’s Attic Restorations.
From raccoons to squirrels to rats, lots of nuisance wildlife seek refuge in the attic. Given the warmth, comfort, and safety from predators it provides, it’s not difficult to imagine why the attic is one of the most preferred spots for wild critters.
But for any homeowner or business owner, having wildlife in your attic can quickly become problematic for several reasons. For one, most species of wild animals are very destructive. And in their quest to build a nest after gaining access to the attic, they will reap off the insulation, chew on wood, pipes, and wires.
Wild critters also leave lots of waste where they reside. Their droppings and urine soon accumulate, thereby contaminating the entire space. It’s only a matter of time before the putrid odor from their waste escapes into your living space. Moreover, their droppings also serve as a breeding ground for several diseases.
Even after the nuisance critter is removed, the damages they have already caused will continue to impact your home and health negatively. That’s why attic restoration is essential.
What is Attic Restoration?
Attic restoration is the process of reversing all the damages done by nuisance wildlife in the attic. The goal is not only to fix all the damages but also to ensure that the attic is fortified to resist future infestations.
Among the long list of services rendered by A Team Services is attic restoration. Due to the abundance of wildlife in Los Angeles County and Orange County, California, residents usually have to deal with attic damages. From attic cleanup to full insulation replacement, over the past decade, we have helped hundreds of clients with their attic restoration needs.
And if there’s one thing you should, it’s that there is no one-fits-all approach when it comes to attic restoration. Why? Because several factors affect the type of damage as well as its severity. Some of these include the type of wildlife species that caused the damages, their number, how long they were in the attic, and many more.
But in general, here’s how the attic restoration process works:
- Inspection
Before attic restoration begins, it’s crucial to estimate the extent of the damages. This can only be achieved by a thorough inspection of the attic. Before going into the attic, ensure you wear protective clothing and a respirator.
During the process, look out for soiled insulation, damaged woods, wires, pipes, air ducts, and the likes. This stage also helps you identify potential entry holes as well as vulnerable spots that nuisance wildlife can use to gain access to the attic.
- Clean up
A major part of attic restoration is the cleanup process. Why? Because of wild critters in the attic leave behind lots of wastes. Without cleaning them up, the noisome smell from the droppings and urine will make its way to the living space – not to mention the risk of diseases posed by their droppings, including rabies, ringworm, tularemia, leptospirosis, histoplasmosis, and brucellosis, among many others.
Before cleanup begins, the flooring needs to be covered with plastic to prevent the spread of diseases. Then with your hand gloves on, pick up large feces and nesting materials and put them into a plastic bag. Smaller droppings – like those of mice, rats, or squirrels – can be removed with a high-powered vacuum cleaner. Soiled insulation must also be removed and bagged up. Now that the attic is free of waste, it’s time to move on to the next step.
Decontamination and Deodorization
It’s not enough to clear off solid waste from the attic; you also need to take care of microscopic organisms that can pose serious health risks. That’s why you then need to decontaminate the attic with an enzyme-based cleaner, as this helps to kill pathogens.
What’s more, you also need to apply deodorizer to combat the awful smell left behind by the nuisance wildlife.
- Executing Major Repairs
Depending on what was damaged by the wild critter, you must also perform all necessary repairs. Some of the most common types of repairs include.
Insulation replacement
If the animal has ripped off a large section of the insulation or soiled it severely with its waste product, you may have to replace the insulation to maintain the heating efficiency of your home.
Wood repairs
Wild animals like raccoons and rats chew on wood in the attic. If these are load-bearing beams, they need to be repaired to preserve the structural integrity of your building.
Pipe repairs
Some wild critters also gnaw through pipes, resulting in water leakages. These leaks need to be fixed to prevent further damage to your ceiling.
Wire repairs
Chewed-up wires can result in partial contact, which can damage electrical appliances and even expose your building to a fire hazard. That’s why exposed wires need to be replaced during the attic restoration process.
- Sealing entry holes
This is the last stage in the attic restoration process. Without sealing entry holes, it’s only a matter of time before new wildlife gains access and reverses all the cleanup and repairs you’ve made. That’s why you need to ensure there’s absolutely no way for wild critters to get back in. Caulk, hardware cloth, and several other materials can be used to seal entryways, depending on what’s most effective. Note the vulnerable spots also need to be reinforced to prevent a break-in from wildlife.
We Provide Attic Restoration Services
Our attic restoration specialists at A Team Services will help restore your attic to look like new, no matter how extensive the damage. If you need our services in Los Angeles County or Orange County, California, promptly contact us now.