You might think of roof damage happening mostly due to storms or age. But critters are another major source of roof damage. They might not mean you or your home any harm, but through nesting, burrowing and just existing, they create roof problems that translate to whole-home problems.
They Are Cute, Cuddly — and Destructive
Squirrels, mice, raccoons, bats and birds — they might be cute from a distance, but you don’t want them up close to your home, especially on, near or under your roof. These creatures have been known to destroy shingles, tear soffit vents and create holes that cause water and mold damage. They’re destructive and it’s important to keep them away!
What can you do to stop them?
Trim Your Branches
Don’t make it easy for them to access your roof. Trim back overhanging branches so creatures can’t climb trees and creep onto your roof. Pruning trees away from your roof is a good practice in general, as a storm could cause a branch to fall. Don’t take this project on yourself if the branches are too high. Hire an arborist to take care of the situation.
Clean Your Gutters
When your gutters are overflowing with leaves and sticks, birds can’t help but notice. They may try to nest in your full gutters, so clean them out regularly to remove nesting debris. Clean gutters are essential to the health of your roof as well.
Inspect Your Attic
Your attic is probably either a home for your extra boxes or you simply never enter the space at all. Break this habit! Make it a regular practice to go up into your attic with a flashlight and check the eaves and the insulation. This way you can tell if bats or mice are already holed up and intervene before they cause extensive damage.
Call an exterminator if necessary to remove any critters that call your roof and attic home.
Check Your Chimney
A chimney is also a common place for birds and mice to nest, but one of the best ways to prevent this is to install a chimney cap. This blocks access to your chimney but keeps it functional and doesn’t give critters the chance to set up a home near your roof.
Stow Garbage
One of the top reasons rodents pick your house as a nesting place out of all the others in the neighborhood could be due to your trash storage methods. If they have easy access to a snack, they will be highly motivated to stick around. Keep your garbage barrels in your garage or locked away in a storage shed to deter them.
The Roof Doctor is no stranger to repairing roof damage caused by animals, and we have plenty of advice on how homeowners can prevent it. Call us today for affordable fixes and expert feedback on what you can do to make your roof a less favorable place for animals to call home.