Termite inspectors know, attics aren’t the safest places to work. Step in the wrong spot and that cool air on their leg means only one thing—it’s now in the room below. And as bad as that is, it can get worse. If the home has a sprinkler system and they step on an orange tube, they’re not just breaking something—they’re making a very expensive phone call to their insurance company.

California attics are especially tough. Low ceilings, tight corners, and only a handful of safe spots to step or kneel. Just when you find a clear path, it gets tangled up with wires and ductwork. That’s because the folks who install them always choose the easiest route, so the easiest becomes less and less easy. 

And that’s just the beginning. Up there, you’re also dealing with intense heat, nails sticking out in every direction, rafter ties at forehead level, cobwebs, bee nests, rodent droppings, mouse traps, fiberglass insulation, dust, splinters…

Working in attics isn’t for the faint of heart. But it comes with the job.