Attic Insulation Removal

Experts for Attic Insulation Removal Service in Ottawa and Montreal

Attic insulation is vulnerable to damage of all sorts–from moisture due to leaky roofs or plumbing to pests and black mold. As such, removing attic insulation that is wet, old, contaminated, or no longer efficient is key to maintaining a healthy home.

Due to the vulnerable nature of attics, we recommend performing regular attic inspections to check for defects or inefficiencies in your insulation. If you do end up needing attic insulation removal, opt for professional help rather than trying to remove insulation yourself.

There are many risks associated with DIY insulation removal, just one of which is exposure to hazardous asbestos.

Mold Busters is focused on safety at every www of an attic insulation removal project.

Before we begin, we always set up proper containment to prevent cross contamination. We use high-powered industrial vacuums in combination with HEPA filters to remove fine particles and dust from the air. We perform several rounds of detailed HEPA vacuuming, followed by damp wiping and disinfection of all surfaces. The entire time, our decontamination experts wear regulation respirators, which allow them to move and breathe freely.

In the end, your attic is left completely clean and ready for whatever you have planned next!

Book your attic insulation removal in Montreal or Ottawa today.

Table of Contents [ Expand ]

Vermiculite insulation and asbestos
Asbestos testing & insulation removal
When mold gets into attic insulation
Pests in your attic
- Pigeons in your home
- Bats in your home

Vermiculite insulation and asbestos

You may have heard a lot about asbestos in vermiculite insulation. Before you panic, remember that not all vermiculite insulation contains asbestos. To find out, you need to conduct an asbestos test.

This is especially important if your home was built before the 1980s… Or if you have any reason to believe that your attic insulation contains asbestos… Or if you’re planning any type of demolition or renovation work, including insulation removal.

Whatever the case may be, contact a certified technician to take an asbestos test. Do NOT try to collect a sample of the suspected asbestos-containing material (ACM) yourself.

Asbestos fibres are extremely fine. They become airborne easily when disturbed and linger in the air for hours. Inhalation of these fibres is extremely hazardous to human health. It can lead to respiratory distress, mesothelioma, scarring of the lungs, lung cancer, and even death.

How attic insulation removal works

At Mold Busters, proper containment is a must when removing attic insulation. So before we begin any work, we always make sure to seal off the attic and set up negative air pressure in the adjacent room. This eliminates the possibility of particles from the attic contaminating other areas of the home.

We then use powerful HEPA vacuums to pick up loose insulation from every surface and corner of your attic. This step is repeated several times with great care until all dust, debris, and other airborne particles are cleared from the space. This is especially important if you know that your attic insulation is contaminated with toxic substances like asbestos or mold.

Our next step is to wipe all surfaces with a damp cloth, eliminating any residual debris. Finally, we use our industry-grade fogging machines to disinfect all surfaces with a safe, eco-friendly cleaning agent.

Mold Busters technicians use industrial-grade respirators and wear full-body suits so that they’re protected from head to toe. They also take great care not to make a mess in your house during the attic insulation removal, a consideration that our customers appreciate endlessly.

We are dedicated to maintaining our reputation for customer satisfaction and providing the best attic insulation removal services. Once the old material is out and the attic is clean and dry, we can install new attic insulation and bring the space up to R60 in the same visit. You can learn more by contacting us and speaking to a certified expert.

When mold gets into attic insulation

Mold in an attic usually grows on the wood first: the underside of the roof sheathing, the rafters and the trusses. Insulation gets involved when it is wet, or when it sits under heavily affected sheathing. The moisture usually comes from bathroom or dryer fans venting into the attic, soffit vents blocked by insulation, air leaks from the house, or a roof leak.

Not every attic with mold needs its insulation removed. Insulation has to come out when it is wet, matted or showing growth, or when it blocks access to wood that needs cleaning. Dry, clean insulation can often stay. When it does have to go, we remove it under containment so the dust stays out of your living space, and the attic is cleaned and the moisture source corrected before anything new goes in.

The mold side of the job, from containment and cleaning the wood to clearance testing, is covered on our attic mold removal page. Once the attic is clean and dry, we can re-insulate it to R60.

Pests in your attic

Just like mold spores and asbestos fibres, pigeons, bats and other pests are common invaders of small, dark attic spaces. They are also one of the main causes of damaged insulation and reduced indoor air quality.

Let’s take a look at some examples of household pests and the damage they can cause.

Pigeons in your home

Pigeon droppings can damage building materials (i.e. calcareous stone) and the exterior of your home over time, causing leaks to develop and moisture to enter, often without your knowledge.

If moisture remains for more than 24 to 48 hours, and given the right temperature and a food source, black mold will develop, releasing toxic mold spores into the air.

Not only do pigeon droppings threaten the structural integrity of your home, they also build up in insulation and can host molds such as Aspergillus. That is one more reason to have contaminated insulation removed by a trained crew working under proper containment. Questions about health belong with a healthcare professional.

What’s more, pigeons surround your home and sometimes gather near vents, which is problematic for a couple of reasons: (1) the microbiological contaminants from their droppings can easily enter your home through the ventilation system and (2) feathers can build up inside the vents, decreasing or completely blocking air flow.

All of these reasons demonstrate why it’s so important to inspect your attic for pests regularly and remove any damaged materials like insulation or wooden beams and joists promptly. Contact Mold Busters today to see how we can help.

Bats in your home

Bats naturally gravitate toward the attic and other closed-off areas through gaps and holes in walls. They will often have babies in these same areas, and it might take months, even years, until you realize they’re there.

Bats are pests for several different reasons, including (but not limited to) the following:

They bite.
They carry diseases (i.e. rabies).
Their droppings (also called guano) can be toxic and release foul odours.

In addition to the unpleasant odour of guano, in large amounts it can damage sheetrock. And, what’s worse, guano creates ideal breeding ground for fungi, which sometimes leads to fungal diseases you can catch just inhaling the air.

There’s no denying, pests are every homeowners nightmare. Mice, pigeons, bats, raccoons–it’s not pretty. Keeping your eyes open and listening for chattering at dusk is a good way to find out if you have bats living in your attic. However, the most reliable way to detect bats in your Ottawa or Montreal home is to book a professional attic inspection.