Thanks, I think the whole thing is going to be ignored.
I did say above, there are no mice in the house anywhere at this time.
First company was Serv Pro. They sent out a fella who has worked for them for 4 years. He came in, looked at the attic access and said he didn't have a ladder that would work. He wanted to try mine; I told him it is too big. Insisted he had to try, so with much banging and crashing into walls, furniture and ceiling, he brought in my extension ladder, tried to set it up, determined it was too big (Ha!) and took it out again.
Next he had to return to "the shop," to get another ladder which he said would work. He returned with a ladder which is in 5 foot lengths and folds like an accordion. I took one look at it and told him it would not work. Twenty minutes and much banging and crashing later, he determined it would not work. Back to the shop he went.
He phoned from there, said they did not have a ladder, he would have to go to Home Depot to buy one, and he would return next day. Which he did. Got the brand new 8 foot extension ladder in, couldn't get it to unlock to extend, then couldn't get it to lock to remain up, finally succeeded, and climbed up. He had NO light of any sort, and took photos with his ipad; which show nothing, really. He came back down the ladder, removed it, tried to replace the attic closure board with a broom and discovered he had turned it 90 degrees. Back in went the ladder, he struggled but finally turned the board (I told him you didn't turn it back, turned it forward so now it is 180 degrees off), came down ladder. Removed ladder, got broom, and sort of got the board in.
A few hours later I receive an email estimate, says the job will be a one day job, if it extends there will be extra fees. Next I get an email from the office of when can they schedule this 3 day job. WHAT? Well, that was just an estimate, she says.
Three days later, second man arrives, has his own company, removes bats and other wildlife, does the decontamination, I will have to hire someone to put in the insulation. Highly rated company online. He comes in, takes one look at set up and says he doesn't have a ladder that will fit. He proceeds to bring in TWO in order to prove (to me, or himself) that he doesn't have a ladder that will fit. He tells me he has a ladder back at the shop which will do the job as it is in 5 foot sections with hinges (been there, done that, doesn't work) and he will also bring an old ladder which he can cut down to fit. Um, right. Lots of safety in THAT.
I've given up. I haven't seen up there myself (was going to use the photos of folks who gave estimates, but that didn't work), no idea how bad it is. At this point, don't care. Now if I can only find someone to completely turn and close that attic board, I will be able to move on to other things. The electrician had no problem; he had a ladder that fit - 8 foot extension - he was familiar with the set up as he lives locally and all the homes in this area were built by the same Developer and have the same set up. I may just have to call him and ask him to return and get the board shut.
