How To Prevent Roof Damage From Animals

Animals are always looking for a safe habit to stay warm and dry. Don’t let it be in your home! Learn  more about how to stay critter free and prevent roof damage from animals this winter.

There are so many things that can cause damage to your roof. From high winds to falling tree branches, there’s so many dangers that you need to be aware of. One thing you may not have thought of is the threat of roof damage from animals.  They cause more damage than you’d imagine to your roofs, so you need to be prepared. Here’s how you can stop them causing that damage and creating large repair bills.

Why Are Animals Such A Threat To Your Roof? 

In the colder months, animals are looking for somewhere warm to stay. Your roof offers the perfect solution. It’s warm, undisturbed, and they won’t be under attack from predators. There’s all kinds of reasons why animals will want to hang out in your attic.

There are lots of animals that would love to set up home in your roof. These include:

• Bats
• Possums
• Raccoons
• Mice
• Squirrels, and more
• If they find a chink in your roof’s armor, they’re going to find their way in.

Types of Roof Damage from Animals

Animals usually cause damage to your roof by trying to get in, or by destroying parts of the roof in order to create a nest. When they try to get in, they will often gnaw at areas to create a hole they can get into. Most often, they’ll come in through soffits and soffit vents. If they find a hole, they’ll tear at it until it’s large enough to get in through.

Roof damage from animals can also remove shingles, and gnaw through rotting wood to make their way inside. Once they’re in your roof, they’re going to cause even more damage. As there’s now a hole in your roof, water is going to find its way in.

That’s going to cause rot and mold, two things that will damage your roof from the inside out. You’ll also need to be aware of animals like mice and squirrels instinctively gnaw on things to keep their teeth at the right length. They may chew through electrical wiring and wood, which will cause even more roof damage.

There are other problems that animals pose too. If they get in through vents, they’ll block them up with their nests. This is dangerous to your home, and can even allow carbon monoxide to build up. As they build nests they’ll build up flammable material. If this comes into contact with exposed wiring, it’s a serious fire hazard.

How To Stop Animals In Their Tracks

The best way to stop animal damage to your roof is to prevent it. Here are ways you can prevent any roof damage from animals.

• Trim Your Trees: If you have trees near your home, look at trimming the branches. Animals very commonly climb up trees and along branches in order to get access to your roof.

To stop this, all you need to do is trim the trees back. This also stops branches falling on your roof and causing damage, so it’s a very good idea. If you feel the tree is too close to the house, you can also have it removed.

• Check Your Attic: You should always be doing regular inspections of your roof from the inside and out, and that includes looking for evidence of animals getting inside. When you check out your attic, take a look for droppings, or chew marks in your wood.

These are signs that animals have got into your attic. You’ll need to call for a pest control service right away, to stop them from causing more damage.

• Replace Missing And Broken Shingles: An animal can easily get into your roof if there’s a missing or broken shingle. They’re your first line of defense, so ensure that they’re all in good condition.

Take a good look at the roof from the ground. Can you see any shingles that need repair? Get them replaced as soon as possible, to prevent animals from getting in that way.

• Clean Out Your Gutters: There are lots of reasons why you should clean out your gutters. Debris settles in them, and that stops water from flowing through them as it should. The water then overflows onto your roof, causing water damage and high repair bills.

You’ll also see that birds love to nest in the gutters when they’re blocked. That makes the problem worse, leading to more damage down the line. It’s easy to clear out your gutters, simply grab a pair of gloves and a trash bag, and scoop the debris out. You can also add a gutter guard. These stop debris falling into the gutter, and will deter birds from nesting there.

• Cover All Gaps And Cracks: The problem is with many animals, they can squeeze through even the tiniest gaps. Mice in particular are very dexterous, and you’ll be amazed at how small they can make themselves in order to fit through gaps. That’s why you need to fill up every gap you find on your roof.

These are most commonly found between the soffits and the bricks, and where wood has rotted. You’ll also need to take a good look at the flashing on your roof, as this covers the seams on your roof. If it has broken or come away, then that’s a good way to get roof damage from animals.

• Cap Chimneys And Vents: You need your vents to be clear, for air to flow through them. However, that does offer an invite to animals as they’re so easy to get through. The same goes for your chimney. You can stop this happening by using covers on your chimney and vents in order to stop the animals from getting in. These stop infestations, but they’ll still allow air to flow.

Keep Your Roof, and Your Home Safe

Now you know how to stop roof damage from animals. Use these tips to help you stop them getting into your roof, and running up those repair bills. Be vigilant and you shouldn’t have anything to worry about.