What kind of roof damage can rodents and other animals cause?
Even a true animal lover will agree that animals do not belong on your roof or in your attic. Not only do they leave behind unsanitary messes and expensive damage to your roofing system, but they can also be injured by electrical wires, metal nails and screws and other man-made items.
Homeowners can take some measures themselves to prevent animals from entering their attic or house through their roof. However, sometimes, it is best to hire professionals to prevent this even from happening or to repair the damage they leave behind.
Because rats, squirrels, birds and raccoons are often uninvited guests, they cause some damage breaking into your home through the roof. One common entry point is the soffits. It provides the perfect protection from predators and severe weather. They can chew through or tear open the soffits to gain entry to the attic space, or they may gnaw through the screens or grates and enter through a soffit vent. They can also tear off siding or shingles and chew or scratch until they get inside.
Rodents, such as rats and squirrels are constantly chewing to keep their teeth healthy. Chew marks are easy to spot on wood and wiring. Damaged electrical wires in your attic may be signs that an animal has taken up residence. They will also chew on wood that surrounds their nesting site, such as the rafters.
Other entry points that animals tend to use are gutter lines, vents, fans and chimneys.
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Animal Intrusion is Not Funny!
Soffit vents made of screen can be easily chewed by rodents. Although roof vents and attic fans are specifically designed to keep animals out, they are often compromised by very determined squirrels or rats. Birds are known for nesting in gutters and unused chimneys. It is a good idea to keep your gutters and chimneys well maintained to keep those animals out.
It is important to deal with an animal intrusion as quickly as possible before they cause serious damage. Besides the mess they leave behind, their entry point will often leave the inside of your attic open to water damage, wind, rain and nasty insects.
Think wasp nests, for example!
Animals will use the same entry point over and over so their “marks” will not be far away. They may leave chew marks, droppings, nesting materials and dark oily marks from their fur brushing up against the wood. This can also cause a very smelly environment!
One of the most important things for homeowners to do after the animals have been removed, is to seal all the entry points.
Squirrels can also cause damage by scurrying across your roof. Their sharp claws can wear down your roof. Because these animals need a way to reach your attic, they often need to use the nearby limbs from surrounding trees and bushes to get on your roof. This is another reason why it is always advisable to keep limbs trimmed back away and from the property. The other reason being that trees and tree limbs leave debris on your roof.
Our specialized roof inspection and roof rodent proof inspection maintenance program is suitable for ALL residential and commercial roofing systems.
Animal intrusion is not just a tile roof problem. Any type of roof is vulnerable to this type of roof damage!
