Is Your Unfinished Attic Safe?
Many of the dangers that come with having an unfinished attic are widely known. This includes falling, tripping, head injuries from impact to name a few. However, there are some that are not commonly known such as exposure to insulation particles, exposure to rodent and pest excrement, electrical hazards, and more. Depending on the time of year that you go into your attic, you could be exposing yourself to extreme temperatures that leave you overheated or dehydrated. All of this is to say that the attic can be more hazardous than you realize.
What to Watch For
The first and most obvious thing to look for in the attic is the attic floor. Only walk on plywood flooring or step on the wooden trusses so you don’t fall through the ceiling. The condition of the ceiling below should be checked next to see if there are any holes or tears that could provide a safety threat to someone crawling around in the attic. Weak trusses or wood rot in the attic could be at blame. You don’t want to damage yourself by falling through a weakened piece of your ceiling that wasn’t fixed. It is, however, safe to enter your attic if you take the necessary measures.
The next thing to be on the lookout for is mold and mildew growth. If your attic is suffering from poor ventilation, chances are that there is mold and mildew growth lurking.
If outside air containing moisture gets into the inherently warm attic, it provides the perfect breeding ground for growth to occur. Leaking pipes are also a common cause for mold growth in an attic, as well as water damage to your home’s structure.
If your attic has any holes or cracks, there’s a high probability of there being pests and rodents. With this comes biohazard concerns due to excrement and dead carcasses. Not only this, but these nuisances typically use insulation as a nesting material. This means that the insulation can be compromised and hosting hazardous excrement as well.
If there is any sign of mold, mildew, pests, or rodents, it’s best to have a professional remediate the issue. This is because a professional moisture management and pest control company has the necessary means to safely protect themselves from the biohazardous material while having the skills to properly remove anything that has been compromised.
How to Stay Safe
When going into the attic, it’s important to put your safety first. You can do this by making sure that there is adequate lighting, watching where you step, and inspecting for any signs of hazard. It’s also smart to wear protective clothing such as long sleeves and boots so that your skin is safe from any biohazards and your feet are safe from exposed construction materials such as nails or screws.
If you hear any noises coming from your attic such as scurrying, scratching, clawing, etc. then it’s best to leave the attic alone and have a professional inspect the area for pests. They’ll be able to remove the pests and correct the sources of their attraction.
Attic Services by Jersey Shore Crawlspace Enhancement
We offer a wide array of attic services designed to protect your family and your home. The best practice to ensure that your attic is free from mold growth and is insulated properly to defend your home from heating and cooling loss is through an attic evaluation performed by a moisture management professional.
We offer a detailed evaluation that is designed to identify common issues within the attic. Our technicians analyze the attic conditions, as well as ensure that it is properly ventilated and insulated. We perform this evaluation 3 times throughout the year to stay in front of seasonal issues, monitor the moisture conditions, and service your vents to ensure proper ventilation. With over 20 years of dedicated service for our fellow neighbors here on the shore, trust your basement with the Jersey Shore’s basement & crawl space pros!
Contact us today to schedule a 22-point inspection to ensure that your attic is in great shape and give you peace of mind!