If you've ever had an animal trapped in your attic, you know what a mess they can leave behind! Raccoons can defecate and urinate in attics leaving ringworm behind. Bats will also leave their guano behind that can carry Histoplasma which could cause Histoplasmosis, an infection caused by breathing in spores of a fungus often found in bird and bat droppings. Histoplasmosis can cause breathing problems, leaving people with pre-existing conditions more susceptible.
At
North Shore Wildlife, we perform attic cleanouts for bat guano as well as other animal feces, along with removal and replacement of insulation. First, we vacuum up the feces using a HEPA vac and apply DSV (a product we use to disinfect, sanitize, and deodorize attics) to the wood in the attic. If contaminated, we will remove and replace the affected insulation.
Fiberglass is a kind of fiber mainly composed of glass, and it is used in a wide range of applications. It is also the predominant type of insulation used in residential and commercial thermal projects.
In general, fiberglass can also be used in the manufacturing of various products, including arrows, automobile bodies, boat hulls, roofing, tent poles, and even shower curtains. However, as an insulator, it traps air and slows the transfer of heat in a range of places. This way, fiberglass can keep rooms warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
Fiberglass insulation serves as a highly convenient way to increase your home's energy efficiency. According to some statistics, thermal insulation (fiberglass as well as its alternatives) may lower residential energy costs by up to 40 percent.
In homes, fiberglass insulation is extremely useful at protecting certain parts of the building envelope from the outside weather. It comes in pink, white, yellow, or green, and, depending on the manufacturer, has more or less of a spongy feel.
Even though it is usually found in blanket form (called batts), fiberglass is also available in bags of loose fill. The batts come in standard pre-cut lengths and widths and the homeowner typically staples them into place.
You can find batts in different thicknesses - the thicker the batts, the higher the resistance to heat flow. This heat resistance is called R-value; most common R-values for walls range between R11 and R19, while ceilings go as high as R30 to R38.
Seeing that fiberglass is quite fast to install, a lot of homeowners prefer it to other alternatives. It's also one of the least expensive ways of insulating one's home.
Often times raccoons, bats, and other animals will leave behind their urine and feces in your attic. We can assess the damage and give you a quote for cleaning and sanitization services in Salisbury, Newburyport, Amesbury, & surrounding towns in Massachusetts & New Hampshire.