Our homeowner called us out to inspect his attic as he explained he had rodents and vermin entering his attic to escape the cold weather. This attic space is located above a office in the home. The symptoms he had discovered were a harsh odor from urine and feces from these four legged unwanted critters. The red squirrels and racoons had eaten and shredded most of the insulation and foam board in the attic. The problem was caused by a unsealed gable overhang.  The homeowner choose our company because we could service both the cleaning of the attic and install the insulation in a timely matter for the sale of his home. Our customers biggest concern was the odor.  We were able to reassure him that would be gone once we removed all insulation and foam board along with the cleaning.

   Our homeowner found our company by doing a google search and we were called because we could provide all the services he needed under one company for he was in the process of a home sale and needed quicker service. Our solution is to remove all insulation and foam board and bring this attic back to a healthy condition by spray treating the attic space with a antibacterial solution and replace all insulation. The challenges we face were the south end of the home was very tight to work in. The solution was to spray and treat the attic with a anti-bacterial spray and replace insulation. The challenges our production team faced were very tight spaces on the south end of the home. The products we used was TruSoft Cellulose Insulation, foam board and Mold X disinfectant. Once the job had been completed our homeowner was pleased there was no longer a odor in his home and he could sell his home without any worries for the future homeowner to have.

  The homeowner explained one room (daughters room) was colder in the winter and warmer in the summer than the rest of the rooms upstairs. The HVAC System would come on upstairs more often than it should to try to get the temperatures of the room that is colder in the winter and warmer in the summer to the ambient temperature as the rest of the upstairs. The problem was caused by a lack of insulation over the subject bedroom. The rest of the attic contained R30 blown in fiberglass insulation but above the daughters bedroom ceiling the insulation had been moved around and only had an average R-value of around R13-R19. The homeowner chose to have the problem fixed because he didn't want to keep spending the money to have his heating and cooling system come on because one room upstairs was not holding its temperature like the rest of the rooms upstairs. The Homeowner's Biggest concern with the problem was that his HVAC would come on after just shutting down to heat and/or cool the upstairs because one room would not hold its temperature like the rest of them.

  The homeowner chose our company because we were able to show him why he was losing warm/cool air in his daughter's bedroom with our infrared camera and he could see how the temperatures of the ceiling was being affected by a lack of insulation on the attic floor compared to the rest of the upstairs ceiling. Our solution was to cover the can lights that he had exposed in the attic to prevent air from his conditioned space to leak into the attic and then cap off his existing insulation to achieve an R60 R-value on the attic floor throughout. We came across issues with not having enough hose on our main hose reel, so we had to unravel our other hose reel to attach another hose just to reach the furthest area of the attic from our truck. We used SilverGlo, TiteShell can light covers, DuroVent Baffles and TruSoft Cellulose. The homeowner now has a more energy efficient attic and the daughter's bedroom upstairs is no longer cold during the winter or warm during the summer, keeping the HVAC from coming on as often.

  The Homeowner's called us out to their home for Ice Dam's occurring on the eaves of the roof above their front porch.  They had also mentioned that their energy bills were quite high and that upstairs was uncomfortably warm in the summer and cold in the winter.  Large icicles were forming above their front entrance to the home.  The temperatures in the home were not at a consistent level causing the HVAC to turn on shortly after running.  Mold has been present in the attic due to lack of ventilation coming from soffits and warm humid air condensing on the sheathing.  Lack of insulation and the attic floor had not been air sealed.  The homeowner chose to have the problem fixed because this has been an ongoing problem year after year and didn't realize that mold was due to lack of insulation and ventilation problems. The homeowners biggest concern was the icicles forming stemmed from other problems being caused in the attic.

  TCI Remediation was chosen by the Homeowner to tackle the project because we were very thorough with our inspection and informative with the problems.  We explained to the homeowner with visuals that they could see was causing the problems even when icicles were not present at the time of inspection.  We instilled confidence and trust in the homeowner that we would be the best solution to solve the concerns brought to us by the homeowners accomplish list.  We removed the insulation from the attic floor and vacuumed the attic for a clean base to start with.  We then air sealed the attic floor along with covering and air sealing the two shower drop ceilings.  We had to remediate the mold and add baffles to the soffit vents to allow proper ventilation in the attic to escape out the present roof vents.  We installed 17" of blown in cellulose to achieve R-60.  The attic was extremely hot for the removal process of the project.  We used RMR-86 stain remover and RMR-141 fungicide/ disinfectant to remediate the mold. ZypFoam for sealing any air leaks from below, Silverglo Foam board and TruSoft cellulose blown in insulation

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 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 them 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.

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 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 them 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.