Discovering rats in your attic can be a nightmare scenario, but the real challenge begins after the last rodent is gone – transforming a contaminated space back into a safe, healthy environment.
When rats invade your attic, they leave behind far more than just unpleasant memories. Rodents bring with them a fair amount of contamination, and it is very important that any traces of feces, urine, blood, hair, and oils are completely removed. These materials also must be removed safely. Understanding the complete restoration process is crucial for homeowners who want to reclaim their space and protect their family’s health.
Understanding the Health Risks
The dangers lurking in an attic after a rat infestation extend far beyond the obvious mess. Infection is usually caused by inhaling hantaviruses that have become airborne from rodent urine, droppings or saliva. Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome is a rare infectious disease that begins with flu-like symptoms and progresses rapidly to more severe disease. It can lead to life-threatening lung and heart problems.
Materials carrying droppings and urine can also spread diseases like hantavirus and salmonellosis. The accumulation of feces from mice and rats can spread bacteria, contaminate food sources and trigger allergic reactions in humans. Once the fecal matter becomes dry, it can be hazardous to those who breathe it in. This is why professional restoration is often the safest approach for heavily contaminated spaces.
The Complete Restoration Process
Professional attic restoration after rat infestations follows a systematic approach that ensures both safety and thoroughness. The process typically involves several critical phases that must be executed in the proper sequence.
Phase 1: Safety Preparation and Assessment
Proper safety equipment protects against the health hazards posed by rodent infestation. Before any cleanup begins, professionals assess the extent of contamination and establish proper safety protocols. Ventilate the space by opening windows and doors for at least 30 minutes before cleanup.
Phase 2: Contaminated Material Removal
We remove the attic insulation. If we can get access to the insulation, we remove it. Loose-fill insulation is sucked out with huge, powerful vacuums. The huge vacuums create such negative pressure that our hose sucks up the roach poop, rat poop, dead carcasses, leaves, sticks and nesting material, etc.
This phase requires specialized equipment and techniques to prevent contamination from becoming airborne. Before contaminated insulations is removed, before rodent droppings and nests are removed, care must be taken to protect against feces becoming airborne. Thus, before an attempt to remove these items is taken, the droppings need dampened using a sanitizing solution.
Phase 3: Deep Cleaning and Sanitization
Once all contaminated materials are removed, the real restoration work begins. With the attic floor vacuumed, we can now apply the sanitizer to the surfaces. We use a product called DSV for this important step. DSV is a Disinfectant, Sanitizer, and Virucide. When sprayed or fogged in your attic, it kills the odors left behind from the urine, feces, and afterbirth of rats, mice, squirrels, and bats.
Surfaces must be thoroughly washed with the appropriate disinfectants. This destroys pathogens left behind by rodents, eliminating the health risks they pose for you and your family. We then disinfect the attic with a hospital grade disinfectant, which kills 99.9% of all viruses, bacteria and odor left behind.
Phase 4: Air Sealing and Prevention
An often-overlooked but crucial step involves sealing the attic to prevent future infestations and improve indoor air quality. We use a product called Pestblock expanding foam sealant to seal the attic floor, and isolate your attic from your living space. This is not a pest-control measure. Instead, this is an important energy-efficiency, and all-important indoor air quality measure.
Professional vs. DIY Restoration
While it might seem like attic cleaning should be something you can handle on your own, it’s often best to call the professionals if there has been a rodent infestation. The health risk posed by rodent infestation is very real, and specialized equipment is required to mitigate it properly.
For residents of St. Lucie County, Florida, companies like ProControl Services understand the unique challenges of rodent infestations in the Treasure Coast region. At ProControl Management Services we pride ourselves in providing fast, affordable and reliable pest control services. Since 2006 we have been providing Treasure Coast residents and local businesses with dependable pest control solutions. We specialize in rodent and termite control across the Treasure Coast. Their comprehensive approach includes both rat control and the subsequent restoration services needed to fully address an infestation.
Cost Considerations and Timeline
The cost of attic restoration varies significantly based on the extent of contamination and the size of the affected area. Most companies charge an itemized fee, which might look something like this for an 1100 sq foot attic: Insulation & Feces Removal: $1.50 per square foot x 1100 feet = $1650 Microbial Disinfectant & Deodorizing Application: $200 BioHazard Waste Disposal: $200 Installation of New R30 Insulation: $1.00 per square foot x 1100 feet = $1100 TOTAL: $3150
Day One is cleaning out the attic. Day Two, is sanitizing, airsealing, prep and re-insulation. Most professional restoration projects can be completed within this two-day timeframe, minimizing disruption to your household.
When Restoration Is Necessary
In many cases, this service is not necessary at all. But if you have significant feces buildup or actual risk of disease, then it might be worthwhile. Getting rid of the rodent population in your attic is just first step of the process. A comprehensive rodent infestation cleanup is needed to get your home clean and health-risk-free.
Signs that professional restoration may be necessary include heavy contamination, strong persistent odors, damaged insulation, and concerns about family health risks, particularly for households with young children, elderly residents, or individuals with compromised immune systems.
Prevention for the Future
The best restoration is prevention. Ignore this step, and those lingering odors that you and I don’t smell, but rodents can – will attract new attention to your nice, clean attic space! Proper restoration includes measures to prevent future infestations, ensuring your investment in cleanup pays long-term dividends.
Companies like ProControl Services, with their safe, eco-friendly methods to treat termites, rodents, and more, understand that effective restoration goes beyond just cleaning – it involves creating an environment that’s inhospitable to future rodent invasions while maintaining the health and safety of your home.
Attic restoration after rat infestations is a complex process that requires expertise, proper equipment, and careful attention to health and safety protocols. While the investment may seem significant, the peace of mind and health protection it provides make professional restoration a wise choice for most homeowners facing serious rodent contamination.