Clearing and replacing loft insulation and items

Sparky70 · Post by **Sparky70** » Mon Jan 13, 2025 6:10 pm

Hi, jut looking for some advice for a friend that has had some rats in the loft, pest control have sorted it now but looking to clean up the rat mess and re-new some of the insulation if required, has anyone had to deal with this and if so how did you go about it ? Many thanks

Someone-Else · Post by **Someone-Else** » Mon Jan 13, 2025 7:06 pm

Why not remove and dispose of any "damaged" loft insulation? If it's glass fibre insulation wear PPE and take a bin bag or two in the loft. (Just to save carrying it "open" through the house.)

Sparky70 · Post by **Sparky70** » Mon Jan 13, 2025 8:58 pm

Someone-Else wrote: ↑Mon Jan 13, 2025 7:06 pm Why not remove and dispose of any "damaged" loft insulation? If it's glass fibre insulation wear PPE and take a bin bag or two in the loft. (Just to save carrying it "open" through the house.)

Yes thanks, I'll only clear what I need to but I'll have to check all of the loft insulation. Can rate waste / insulation go in normal recycling ? Was think of using a spray disinfectant also.

Someone-Else · Post by **Someone-Else** » Mon Jan 13, 2025 9:13 pm

I can't say that I have ever heard of recycling "rat waste" do as I first said, put it in a bin bag, then put it, in the waste bin.

I would also suggest you get a couple of rat traps Click me You can leave them set up for years, don't require power, just the occasional look. These are good because a rat can't get in from any side, only the front......

Sparky70 · Post by **Sparky70** » Tue Jan 14, 2025 7:03 am

Someone-Else wrote: ↑Mon Jan 13, 2025 9:13 pm I can't say that I have ever heard of recycling "rat waste" do as I first said, put it in a bin bag, then put it, in the waste bin.

I would also suggest you get a couple of rat traps Click me You can leave them set up for years, don't require power, just the occasional look. These are good because a rat can't get in from any side, only the front......

Sorry, yes I meant to say waste bin, I just call them all recycling bins. Thanks for the advice.

Sparky70 · Post by **Sparky70** » Fri Mar 07, 2025 11:20 am

Someone-Else wrote: ↑Mon Jan 13, 2025 9:13 pm I can't say that I have ever heard of recycling "rat waste" do as I first said, put it in a bin bag, then put it, in the waste bin.

I would also suggest you get a couple of rat traps [url=<span class="skimlinks-unlinked">https://amzn.to/4ajf8By</span>] Click me [/url] You can leave them set up for years, don't require power, just the occasional look. These are good because a rat can't get in from any side, only the front......

Hi, I may need a small skip for this, as the insulation needs to be removed from loft, is it best to bag it in the loft and throw in skip to avoid contamination on the landing/stairs ? I take it would be classed as hazardous waste due to rat contamination ? Not sure what the skip hire cover for this ?

Also I would wear a mask, glove, glasses and a disposable suit and once its clear I could spray with disinfectant.

Reasons I'm asking is I'm not sure if I can tackle this as a diy job or would it need the existing pest control company to remove, clean and replace insulation ? They want to charge 1.6k for clearing, disinfecting and replacing with new insulation ?

Someone-Else · Post by **Someone-Else** » Fri Mar 07, 2025 1:16 pm

Sparky70 wrote: ↑Fri Mar 07, 2025 11:20 amThey want to charge 1.6k for clearing, disinfecting and replacing with new insulation

I will do it for £1.2K

As I said, bag it while you are in the loft as glass fibre insulation particles are very itchy (They don't bother me anymore, but I wouldn't rub it on my face) You don't need to remove it all, but that is up to you.
I would suggest you put what you want to remove in as many bags as it takes (seal the end of each bag with a cable tie*) and see how many you have when you have done, then either take it to the tip yourself or see what size skip it will fit in.

Bear with me on this:
I had a bad autumn, garden covered with leaves (I don't have any trees, the neighbours do) I collected all the leaves (by hand) took 2 days, I filled bin bags with them, and tied them up with cable ties. I ended up with around 10 bags full of wet leaves. The waste bin will take 4 at a push, but then no rubbish. So I put in 1 bag of leaves and the rest was usual rubbish, it took about 2/3 months, but I got rid of all the bags of leaves at a cost of £0.00

It always reminds me of

*Cable ties are quick and easy to use, not got any? Click me

Sparky70 · Post by **Sparky70** » Fri Mar 07, 2025 5:53 pm

Someone-Else wrote: ↑Fri Mar 07, 2025 1:16 pm
Sparky70 wrote: ↑Fri Mar 07, 2025 11:20 amThey want to charge 1.6k for clearing, disinfecting and replacing with new insulation
I will do it for £1.2K

As I said, bag it while you are in the loft as glass fibre insulation particles are very itchy (They don't bother me anymore, but I wouldn't rub it on my face) You don't need to remove it all, but that is up to you.
I would suggest you put what you want to remove in as many bags as it takes (seal the end of each bag with a cable tie*) and see how many you have when you have done, then either take it to the tip yourself or see what size skip it will fit in.

Bear with me on this:
I had a bad autumn, garden covered with leaves (I don't have any trees, the neighbours do) I collected all the leaves (by hand) took 2 days, I filled bin bags with them, and tied them up with cable ties. I ended up with around 10 bags full of wet leaves. The waste bin will take 4 at a push, but then no rubbish. So I put in 1 bag of leaves and the rest was usual rubbish, it took about 2/3 months, but I got rid of all the bags of leaves at a cost of £0.00

It always reminds me of

*Cable ties are quick and easy to use, not got any? Click me

Many thanks for your advice, just hope the skip people are ok with contaminated lost insulation.

1.2k is a good offer lol

Someone-Else · Post by **Someone-Else** » Fri Mar 07, 2025 7:17 pm

Why do you say it's contaminated? It's just a bunch of loft insulation that a rat p*ss*ed on. Even then it's not 100% "coverage" maybe 0.5% if you are unlucky, nothing to worry about.

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Fri Mar 07, 2025 8:17 pm

This is worth a read https://wellwisp.com/how-long-is-rat-urine-dangerous/

DWD

Sparky70 · Post by **Sparky70** » Sat Mar 08, 2025 8:05 am

Someone-Else wrote: ↑Fri Mar 07, 2025 7:17 pm Why do you say it's contaminated? It's just a bunch of loft insulation that a rat p*ss*ed on. Even then it's not 100% "coverage" maybe 0.5% if you are unlucky, nothing to worry about.

I'm looking on pest control companies who mention its hazardous waste ?

Someone-Else · Post by **Someone-Else** » Sat Mar 08, 2025 10:37 am

Do you not think they will say it's hazardous so that you get them in to remove it?

What are they going to do that you can't?

Yes, rats are vermin, yes they spread diseases (And weil's disease, is a killer, spread by rats p*** in water) but are you going to drink water a rat has been in? NO, are you going to eat fibre glass a rat ran over? NO, are you going to cut yourself shaving before you go into the loft? NO. Wear PPE (That's what It's for) bag and tag the fibreglass and dispose of it.

Yes, somethings you should leave to the professionals, but wear the correct PPE (Like they will) or spend £££££ it's up to you.

And PLEASE STOP quoting my posts in your reply. (Do I quote yours? NO, did Dewaltdisney quote yours? NO, why, it's pointless)

Sparky70 · Post by **Sparky70** » Sun Mar 23, 2025 6:35 pm

Thanks, I was just looking for some advice, sorry if I've upset you, have a nice day !

fin · Post by **fin** » Thu Mar 27, 2025 12:04 am

id be bagging that insulation up and clearing the loft and all that myself to be fair.

as said mask and all the other ppe. probably a good plan to get a decent hoover in there too.

spray with disinfectant also if you like. garden sprayer with even a bit jeyses fluid in and water would likely suffice

as for getting shot of the crap... if youve access to a van book a tip run or 2 and itll be gone soon enough

the rats wont have pissed of every single part of it either. mice would be worse they just p*ss as theyre gannin those things. little freaks