Way Up on the Roof

When most people think of roof damage, they think of aging or storms. Unfortunately, pests like animals and birds can also be responsible for damages to a roof. Knowing the signs of pest damage is a must so you can have the problems repaired before leaks cause problems in your home.

Bird Droppings

Birds on the roof may seem harmless, and they typically are in small numbers. The issue is when you have large populations of birds spending long periods on the roof, which is sometimes experienced with larger birds like pigeons and gulls. Bird droppings are highly acidic. The acid can eat through roof coatings and shingles or cause flashing and seals to corrode more quickly. Cleaning the roof can remove the droppings before damages occur, then you can install spikes or scare devices on the roof so the birds don't return.

Nesting Damages

Nests from birds or small mammals like squirrels can also pose a problem. Nest can be built around rooftop vents, which blocks the airflow from the attic and increases the chances of condensation damage to the attic and underside of your roof. In winter, blocked vents increase the chances of the formation of an ice dam. Removal of the nest is a must. You can also have cages installed around vents to help prevent future nesting. If the problem is bird nests, then anti-bird devices can help.

Lifted Shingles or Flashing

Mammals like raccoons or squirrels are more likely than birds to lift up shingles or pull back flashing. Raccoons in particular can be quite destructive since they are powerful enough to pull off both shingles and underlayment. In some cases, they are even able to damage the roof decking sufficiently to gain access to an attic. First and foremost, have the animal removed from your attic and remove anything that may have attracted them, such as a food or water source. Then, repair the damage so that the animal can no longer gain access.

Eaves and Soffit Holes

Birds and small mammals like squirrels are typically responsible for damages to the eaves. They may chew or peck holes in the eaves to gain access to the interior for nesting. The pests may also pull out the mesh screens in the soffit vents to gain attic access, which will also unfortunately give access to other pests like bees and wasps. Repair damages to the eaves promptly. You can also replace wooden eaves with metal eaves that are more resistant to pest incursion.

Contact a roofing company like Cloise & Mike Construction Inc in your area if you suspect pest damage on your roof.