Attic Hazards

Nails. Attics are filled with nails — thousands of them — protruding through the roof sheathing, their sharp points just waiting to get you. I’ve hit my head on them so many times that I joke about styling my hair with Neosporin. It’s not funny when it happens, though.

Truss Plates. If nails aren’t bad enough, truss plates might be worse. They’re thin, sharp metal plates used to connect rafters in roof framing. Since they’re installed out of sight, homebuilders don’t worry about their sharp edges extending past the wood. I’ve ripped countless pairs of pants and earned plenty of gashes on my shins, thighs, and hands from these things. They’re like razor blades hiding in the dark.

Dust. Before Covid, I never wore a mask in attics. During Covid, I started wearing one and quickly realized I wasn’t coughing as much after attic inspections. It shouldn’t have taken a mask mandate, all I had to do was study the beam of my flashlight to see the dust swirling in the air. Insulation particles, wood dust, and rodent droppings were all floating around — and I was breathing it in. I wear a mask now.

Splinters. I always wear gloves and knee pads to protect my hands and knees, but sometimes it’s not enough. When the roofline is only a couple of feet above the rafters, the only way to inspect certain areas is to lay on your stomach and pull yourself through. I don’t wear body armor, though, so I have the scars to prove it.

Drop Downs. Some attics have multiple levels due to odd architecture. One section might suddenly drop four or more feet with nothing but vertical studs to hold onto. Getting in is tricky. Getting out is even trickier. There have been times I’ve wondered if I’d spend the rest of my days trapped in an attic.

Heat. Attics are always hot, but on a 100-degree day at noon, they’re brutal. You know it’s bad when crawling near a gable vent feels like being hit with cold air — except that “cold” air is still 90 degrees. Lowering your legs out of the attic and into the living space feels like dipping your legs in a winter stream.

Rodents. If rats get into an attic, they leave a mess. They don’t take bathroom breaks — they just go whenever and wherever. Breathing in dust contaminated with rat feces can make you seriously ill. And did you know mice don’t have bladders and urinate up to 700 times a day? Imagine if that day was spent in your attic.

Filth. If you ever want proof of how much vehicles pollute our air, check the insulation in an attic near a freeway. It’s usually black. I once inspected an attic above a garage where the homeowner smoked and had a vent fan pulling his cigarette smoke into the attic. The insulation was dark brown. 

If you’ve read all this and still think a career in termite control sounds appealing, we’d love to talk to you. Contact California Termite at info@californiatermite.com.