Rodent-Damaged Attic Insulation Removal & R-38 Cellulose Installation in Smithville, TN

We had a job in Smithville where the homeowner was dealing with a pretty serious rodent problem in the attic.

The house was built back in the 1960s, and the rodents had made themselves right at home up there.

Not exactly the kind of guests anybody wants.

By the time we got involved, the attic needed more than just another layer of insulation. The old material had to come out, and the space needed some attention before we could put anything new back in.

Our crew at Koala Insulation of Upper Cumberland took care of the removal, cleanup treatment and new insulation.

First, We Had to Get the Old Insulation Out

When rodents get into an attic, they can do quite a bit of damage.

They nest in the insulation, leave droppings behind and make a mess of material that’s supposed to be helping keep your home comfortable.

And just because you can’t see it from inside the house doesn’t mean it isn’t there.

For this Smithville home, we needed to remove the existing insulation and dispose of it.

There wasn’t much point in covering up material that had been affected by a major rodent infestation.

We wanted the old stuff gone before moving forward.

Cleaning Up With Attic Fresh

Once the insulation was removed, we applied Attic Fresh as part of the attic cleanup.

This is a step we recommend considering when an attic has had rodent activity.

Nobody wants to spend money on new insulation only to leave behind the mess that caused the concern in the first place.

We wanted to address the affected attic area before installing the replacement insulation.

With that part handled, we could get started on putting the attic back together.

New Blown-In Cellulose to R-38

For the new insulation, we installed blown-in cellulose to approximately R-38.

Cellulose works well for attic insulation because it can be blown around framing and into areas that aren’t always easy to reach with traditional batts.

It’s also treated with borates, which can help deter certain pests.

That doesn’t mean cellulose is going to keep every rodent out of an attic. You still need to address how they’re getting inside.

But it’s a nice feature of the material, especially for homeowners who’ve already dealt with unwanted visitors.

The attic now has new insulation instead of the old material that had been affected by the infestation.

We Also Installed an Attic Hatch Master

Another part of this project was installing an Attic Hatch Master.

Attic access openings are one of those areas that can get overlooked during an insulation job.

You can have a nice layer of insulation across the attic floor, but if the access hatch isn’t insulated properly, you’ve still got a weak spot.

We installed the Attic Hatch Master to help insulate that opening.

It’s a small part of the overall job, but it’s worth taking care of while we’re already working up there.

The Homeowner Had Some Nice Things to Say

After the project, we received a great review.

“Koala was amazing to work with! They made it easy from the consult up to the day of the job. Prompt communication and great work! I would definitely recommend them for any insulation needs!”

We appreciate that.

Attic insulation removal isn’t exactly something homeowners look forward to scheduling, especially when rodents have been involved.

We try to make the process as straightforward as we can.

Explain the work, answer questions and get the job done.

A Fresh Start for This Smithville Attic

This was an older home with a major rodent infestation, and the insulation needed to be replaced.

We removed and disposed of the old material, applied Attic Fresh, installed blown-in cellulose to R-38 and added an Attic Hatch Master.

Now the attic has fresh insulation and an insulated access opening.

And the homeowner doesn’t have to keep wondering what condition that old insulation is in.

If you’ve had rodents in your attic or you’re not sure whether your insulation needs replacing, we’d be happy to take a look.

Call Koala Insulation of Upper Cumberland or visit our website for a FREE evaluation!