Attic & Crawlspace Restoration
Need to fix the damaged insulation in your attic or crawlspace? Making sure you have the right amount of insulation is vital to keeping your energy bills as low as possible. An attic is one of the easiest places in a home to keep optimally insulated, especially if you just want to add to your existing level.
Before insulating or deciding whether to add attic insulation, visit the U.S. Department of Energy’s website, to see if your existing attic insulation measures up. Chances are it doesn’t match up to current government recommendations.
If you'd like, our inspectors can analyze your existing attic insulation level to determine if you need more to meet the DOE's guidelines, or if you simply need to replace all the insulation. Many insulation materials are difficult to handle and work with, so you're better off letting the professionals at Critter Control of Seattle fix it for you.
We offer full removal and disposal of contaminated insulation.
Warning: If you think you have vermiculite insulation in your attic, there's a chance it could contain asbestos. Don't disturb it!! Only attic insulation contractors that are certified to handle and remove asbestos should deal with vermiculite insulation!
What to Consider Before Installing Insulation
- Seal all attic-to-home air leaks. Most attic insulation is not effective at stopping airflow.
- Duct exhaust fans to the outside. Use a tightly constructed box to cover fan housing on the attic side. Seal around the duct where it exits the box. Seal the perimeter of the box to the drywall on the attic side.
- Cover openings—such as dropped ceilings, soffits, and bulkheads—into the attic area with plywood and seal to the attic side of the ceiling.
- Seal around chimney and framing with a high-temperature caulk or furnace cement.
- At the tops of interior walls, use long-life caulk to seal the smaller gaps and holes. Use expanding foam or strips of rigid foam board insulation for the larger gaps.
- Install blocking (metal flashing) to maintain fire-safety clearance requirements (usually 3 inches) for heat-producing equipment found in an attic, such as flues, chimneys, exhaust fans, and light housings/fixtures unless the light fixtures are IC (insulation contact) rated. IC-rated lights are airtight and can be covered with insulation.
- Make sure insulation doesn't block soffit vents to allow for attic ventilation.
- Check the attic ceiling for water stains or marks. They indicate roof leaks or lack of ventilation. Make repairs before you insulate. Wet insulation is ineffective and can damage your home.
- Also, insulate and air-seal your attic access if it's located in a conditioned part of the house.
- You'll want to properly insulate and air seal any knee walls—vertical walls with attic space directly behind them—in your home as well.
Finally, if you're constructing a new home or remodeling, make sure any attic decking, which provides additional storage space or a platform for an HVAC unit or hot water tank, is raised above the ceiling joists to ensure proper insulation depth. The decking then should be installed securely to the top of the raised lumber after the insulation has been installed.
Call the professionals at Critter Control of Seattle for all your attic insulation needs.
Attic Restoration, Attic Repair & Chimney Repair
You removed the critters from the attic, but are you finished yet?
Nuisance wildlife in your attic can create problems many homeowners never think of. These animals can carry ectoparasites, which after the wildlife host is evicted, may move inside the home looking for a new host—YOU! Bat bugs, mites, ticks, and fleas are just some of the ectoparasites you need to be concerned about. Mice in the attic, bats in the attic, or various other visitors are notorious for bringing these pests in.
Ask our Wildlife Management Specialists to inspect your attic and treat for these critters, after your problem species is removed.
And what about the droppings left behind in your attic? Is this something you want hanging above your head at night when you sleep? Raccoons are known for using a single spot in your home as a latrine while using another part of your attic as their living area. This can lead to matted attic insulation and reduced “R” values, which means you continue to lose money as you continue to heat and cool your home. It can also lead to stained ceilings and unnecessary odors.
Let our attic restoration professionals remove that soiled insulation and replace it with your choice of insulation products. Our specialists can prepare insurance bids with most major insurance companies and get your attic back in shape in no time. From gutter protection, attic fan vent guards, roof vent guards, gable vent closures, and soffit vent repairs, our team can do it all with one single call.
Many of these nuisance animals cause problems to your chimney as well and require professional chimney repair. For all of your attic insulation tips, attic repair, attic restoration, and chimney repair needs, contact our Seattle Critter Control office!
Animal Damage Repair & Your Homeowners Insurance
Here at Critter Control of Seattle, we offer full services for all of your wildlife needs. Not only do we offer services to remove the problematic wildlife, but we also offer repair and exclusion services as well. Very few homeowners are aware that their homeowner's insurance policy may cover the costs of repairing damage caused by wild animals, but we feel obligated to inform our customers that there is a pretty good chance that damage to your home will be covered if it is caused by a wild animal. If you are having a problem with rodents, you will have to check your insurance policy, because many policies do exclude rodent damage. If you have damage caused by squirrels, some insurance companies may tell you that this is rodent damage; however, most states identify squirrels as game animals which means your policy could be successfully argued.
In addition to repairing the structural damage caused by wild animals, your homeowner's insurance may also provide for the removal and replacement of soiled or contaminated insulation, as well as water damage to your insured personal property, that results from leaks caused by wildlife. When you have wildlife living in your home, a skunk that has taken up residence around your home, an animal that has died in your home, or any other wildlife problem that has caused lingering unpleasant or offensive odors in your home, your homeowners' insurance may also cover the deodorizing of your home and dry cleaning of your clothes.
According to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, 84.2% of all U.S. homeowners have HO-3 type policy. This is the type of policy that will most likely pay for the repair of any damages caused by wildlife animals other than rodents. We encourage you to check with your insurance company regarding your coverage no matter which species of wild animal has caused your property damage.
Please feel free to have your insurance agent contact us. We will be glad to work with them for your benefit. Call Critter Control of Seattle today to learn more about our animal damage repair services and how they impact your homeowner's insurance.