The homeowner explained that he had previously had bats in his attic and had them removed but still had bat guano on top of his blown in cellulose. He plans on selling his home in the near future and wanted to have the attic insulation that contained the bat guano removed and replaced with clean insulation. Bat guano was spread throughout the top layer of his insulation. Some bats will follow the warm air and crawl inside the vent, often making it all the way into the attic. Bats also can get inside attic through damaged roofs, rotten shingles, gaps in the framing or space between the eaves and the walls can lead to bats finding their way in. The homeowner chose to have the problem fixed because bat guano in his attic was unhealthy and didn't want that to be a concern in the near future when selling his home. The homeowner's biggest concern was that having bat guano in his attic would cause issues with potential buyers. 

   The homeowner chose to have the problem fixed because bat guano in his attic was unhealthy and didn't want that to be a concern in the near future when selling his home. The homeowner's biggest concern was that having bat guano in his attic would cause issues with potential buyers. The homeowner chose our company because we were able to vacuum out the top layer of his insulation and replace it with the same insulation that he has existing on the attic floor. Our solution was to use an insulation vacuum and remove the top 2" layer of cellulose insulation and replace it with a new fresh layer of cellulose insulation. We faced no challenges during installation process because it was just a simple removal of the top layer and replacing it with new insulation. We used TruSoft Cellulose. The homeowner now has a clean healthy bat guano free attic.

  The homeowner had her attic remediated three years ago by a different company and she has mold re-growing on her sheathing. She explained that the company told her that they corrected the ventilation and yet they only installed half of the amount of baffles that they needed, leaving the other soffit vents blocked with insulation. Her other concern was that her bathroom fan exhaust vents on the gable wall were blocked by bird nests and not allowing the humid air from the bathrooms to vent out of the attic property. Mold growth was present on the roof sheathing and trusses within the attic. The problem was caused by a lack of intake ventilation coming from the soffit vents that had still been blocked by insulation and baffles not being installed. A lack of insulation was also allowing heat from the conditioned space below to radiate into the attic and cause condensation to form on the roof deck. The homeowner chose to have the problem fixed because they had mold remediation done previous home's attic and that the problem had been corrected. They wanted a solution that would be permanent and would not be a recurring problem that they would have to pay every few years to be dealt with. The homeowner's biggest concern with the problem was that it was not corrected the first time by the company that had claimed that they had fixed the cause of the problem even though she went into the attic herself and discovered that not to be true after seeing that her soffit vents were still blocked and the baffles that they had installed were still blocked and the baffles that they had installed were not even stapled to the sheathing.

  The homeowner chose our company because she got into the attic with us and we were able to show her the ventilation problems that the previous remediation company did not correct and she understood how correcting these problems would correct the regrowth of mold in the attic from returning. Our solution was to remove the contaminated and dirty blown in fiberglass and fiberglass batt insulation from the attic floor in order to seal the gaps in the attic floor that were allowing warm air from the conditioned space below to radiate into the attic (top plates, bond plates, wire and pipe penetrations ect.). We then remediated the mold in the attic space to make sure that the attic would be clean and healthy. We removed the baffles that were previously installed and installed the correct size baffle for 24" on center rafters to make sure the soffits were breathing properly. We air sealed and insulated the attic hatch cover and installed can light covers over the recessed lighting. We removed the birds nest that were blocking the air path inside the gable wall vents for the bathroom fan exhausts and installed insulated ducting and air sealed around the gap to prevent backdraft air flow from venting back in the attic. Lastly we insulated the attic floor with Cellulose to R60. The only challenge that we faced during the installation process was one portion inside the attic was limited in height between the roof deck and attic floor making it difficult to access. We used Mold X2 products, MasterFlow Insulated ducting, SilverGlo, Weather-stripping, ZypFoam, DuroVent baffles, TiteShell recessed light fixture cover, TruSoft Cellulose. The homeowner now has a more comfortable upstairs yearound that retains the temperature that the thermostat is set to. She also has a mold free, clean and healthy attic that is breathing properly. 

Insulation Installation and Home Comfort

Are areas in your home freezing cold in the winter and super-hot in the summer? Or just looking to improve your homes energy efficiency and comfort? the attic should be at the top of your priority list. Insulation and air sealing in the attic have a dramatic effect on the home's overall energy performance, and upgrades in this area can lead to significant savings on heating and cooling costs. 

Most homes in Michigan have R-30 (just under 10 inches) which was the previous code. With increasing to the current code of R-49 (approx. 15 inches) our homeowners experience significant savings on their heating bills and savings on their electric bills during the summer months when air conditioning is used. Think of your home like a large bag surrounding your living environment. If you turn your furnace or air conditioning off how long will the hot or cold air stay within your home? The more thermal barrier to the outside environment you have the less your equipment will run saving you money and increasing comfort

How the attic impacts home comfort

Cellulose insulation can be installed over existing insulation without interfering with your storage area

About 50% of energy costs are typically attributed to heating and cooling, making it one of the biggest expenses for many homeowners. The attic has a major impact on home efficiency for several reasons:

• Air leaks and drafts between attic and living space
• Air leaks and drafts between attic and outdoors
• Poor or incorrect ventilation
• Insufficient attic insulation
• Uninsulated ductwork in the attic

Best methods for improving attic efficiency

• Air sealing: The first step to improving attic efficiency is air sealing. Your attic is full of gaps and cracks that allows conditioned air to escape from the living space into the attic and unconditioned air to enter from the outside. Sealing these air leaks helps to keep your attic isolated from the outside and keeps conditioned air inside your home.
• Attic insulation: Many attics are lacking proper insulation, which is one of the biggest causes of energy waste and uncomfortable rooms. Raising attic insulation to proper levels prevents heat transfer between the attic and the living space, meaning your HVAC system will run less because conditioned air is being contained in the areas you want to heat and cool.
• Ductwork services: If you have ducts in your attic, they are affected by the extreme hot and cold temperatures that occur in that space. When you try to send cold air through hot ducts or vice versa, the air in the ducts is heated in summer (and cooled in the winter), making it difficult to heat or cool your home. Having ducts in attics is extremely inefficient, which is why duct sealing and duct insulation are smart upgrades for homeowners with ductwork in the attic.

Where Does Mold Grow?

First, it's important to know where to look. Mold tends to prefer cold, dark, and moist spaces. You probably won't find it in your living room, but your attic and crawlspace are much more likely hiding spots.

Mold will grow in places with a lot of moisture, such as around leaks in roofs, windows, or pipes, or where there has been flooding. Mold grows well on paper products, cardboard, ceiling tiles, and wood products. Mold can also grow in dust, paints, wallpaper, insulation, drywall, carpet, fabric, and upholstery.

And that's not all. You might also find it in doorways, windows, heating and air conditioning systems. It enters your home either through the air or by being attached to other moldy items like old shoes or newspapers. Once it's there, it's difficult to get rid of.

Signs of Mold

The health risks of mold make looking for early signs that it's growing into your home absolutely crucial. If you see even subtle signs, it might be time to call for professional help to take care of the remediation. Some of these signs include:

Irritated lungs and breathing, similar to allergy symptoms.

A musty smell in the home or areas of the house.

Visible mold, both black and with potentially colored spots.

Water leaks, past flooding, or persistent condensation.

Rust and warping of materials due to humidity.

Most of these don't necessarily point directly to mold growth. They just point towards an environment that encourages this growth. That's why simply looking for them doesn't tend to be enough. A more comprehensive inspection is vital to making sure you know about any potential problems.

Can Mold Harm Humans?

The problems with mold are much more than just an inconvenience. Studies have repeatedly shown the many health risks that the spores can bring with them. In fact, mold has been linked to anything from chronic coughs to allergic reactions, skin rashes, red eyes, and more. In some cases, it can get worse.

The reason mold removal services tend to be so important is what mold does to the health of some of the most vulnerable people around us. Most are particularly dangerous for those of us with autoimmune disorders, chronic lung disease, strong allergies, or asthma. And of course, it's worse for infants, children, and the elderly, whose immune systems might not be able to fight against it.

The lesson is clear: you don't want and probably can't afford to have mold in your home. Unfortunately, due to its favorite locations, it could also be difficult to find at times. A thorough inspection can help you find it, but looking out for early growth signs is also important.

Mold Prevention Tips

Ideally, you never let it get to a point where removal becomes a necessity. In the interest of your health and your home's value, you want to make sure that you can prevent rather than remediate the mold. A few tips can help you achieve that goal:

Keep the humidity in your home low, preferably under 40%.

Regularly check your home, particularly the potential problem spots mentioned above, for growth and take care of it early when needed.

Don't let wet areas stay wet. Dry them to make sure they don't become a hospitable environment.

During renovations, invest in mold-resistant drywall and sheetrock to create a less preferable environment.

Regularly clean your roof gutters to avoid any potential leaks or water entering the home in hidden spots.

Clean mold problems immediately, rather than letting it grow into a more significant problem.

It pays to be proactive. Still, you can't be expected to know every square inch of your home. In addition to these general tips, it pays to have regular mold inspections, both for your peace of mind and to be able to detect issues before they become major problems.