Your attic was the target of wild animals. Perhaps mice, raccoons, squirrels, bats, birds, or other animals were living in there for who knows how long. You may have evicted the wildlife, but evidence of the animals’ time in your home remains. Your attic is damaged, destroyed, contaminated.
You need attic restoration services. Not only for your health and peace of mind, but for the sake of your wallet, too.
Here’s how professional attic restoration will save you money in the long run.
Replacing Insulation
Heat rises. When you turn on the heat in your home, it goes up, into the attic. When your attic is properly insulated, the heat will stay in your home. But when your insulation is damaged and destroyed by wildlife, the heat can go right through the attic, and out into the air. This costs you money.
Animals in attics use insulation in many ways. Birds, squirrels, and other animals rip it up as material for nest building. Mice destroy it by making tunnels to get around. Once the animals are removed, you’ll end up with insulation that’s full of tears and holes.
Attic restoration specialists will remove and dispose of this damaged insulation and replace it with high-quality insulation that’s up to code. This will ensure your insulation is energy efficient. You’ll keep the heat in your home and reduce your hydro costs during the winter.
Removal of Urine Stains
It’s not only important to remove urine stains immediately to eliminate the smell, but to save your wood as well.
As animal urine dries, it transforms into an alkaline salt with a pH level between 10 and 12. This drastic change from its acid state to its alkaline state will take a toll on the materials used to build your attic. Once the urine is absorbed into the wood, it will “burn” the tannins. This can lead to discolouration and warping. With that comes the weakening of the structural integrity of your home.
Getting attic restoration services immediately after a wildlife infestation can help ensure you don’t have to spend money replacing all the wood in your attic. The restoration specialists will decontaminate the entire space, prevent urine damage, and save your wood.
Preventing Mould
Mould is a fungus that grows on organic materials, such as food and feces. Animals in your attic will have defecated all over the space. Some animals, like raccoons, may also leave spoiled food behind from leftover meals. If you don’t clean up, this feces and food will start to grow mould, which can be dangerous to your health. Mould can also destroy building materials, such as wood.
Letting mould grow and migrate in your attic is not only harmful to your health, but, over time, it will also weaken the structure of your home. Wood and other materials will need to be replaced if they’re covered in mould.
It’s best to clean up organic materials left behind by wild animals in your attic immediately, so you can prevent the cost of replacing mouldy materials.
Reducing Risks of Fires and Floods
Did you know homeowners’ policies often don’t cover the cost of damage caused by animals, such as rodents? Mice and other rodents cause significant destruction due to their natural gnawing behaviour. While in your attic, they’ll chew on pipes and electrical wires. This can increase your risk of fires and flood, which you may have to pay for out of pocket.
Fixing this damage immediately after eviction will reduce these risks—and their associated costs.
Eliminating the Cost of Further Infestations
It’s frustrating enough to have to deal with a wildlife infestation once. You don’t want to have to replace your insulation, decontaminate the space, and repair structural damage all over again soon after the wild animal was evicted the first time.
But without attic restoration, this is exactly what will happen. Attic restoration specialists will inspect your home, seal up all entry points, and reinforce vulnerable areas to ensure no other animals can enter your attic. In the long run, this will save you the costs and frustrations of dealing with another infestation.
Do you need wildlife removal services? Request a quote today!