Are Pests Bugging Your Roof?
For most people, their home is their biggest asset and protecting this investment can be costly.
The roof is one of the most important elements in protecting your home.
It keeps out weather and debris, which can negatively impact the rest of your home.
Roof repair can be the most expensive type of home repair and keeping up with regular maintenance can save you thousands of dollars in the end.
Although weather damage can significantly damage a roof, it is not the most common reason for roof damage.
Damage caused by animals and pests are more likely to be the root of your problem and can cause repeated trouble over time.
Whether the pest is using the roof to get from one location to another, or using the roof as a source of shelter, the effects can significantly impact the quality your roof.
What's Bugging You? Many pests cause minimal damage that quickly evolves into higher cost repairs if allowed to go unnoticed for long periods of time.
Damage to the shingles and underlining materials is the most common type of damage caused by pests.
If shingles are loose, damaged or missing, the roof base materials may be exposed to greater threats such as rain or dirt.
Bird or squirrel droppings can be corrosive as the droppings are acidic, which can eat away at the shingles or base materials.
Ants and termites may get underneath broken shingles and cause damage to the wood that cannot be seen unless the shingles are removed.
It is important to inspect your roof often to look for signs of hidden damage caused by insects.
Flashing bridges the gap between shingles and the underlying materials as well as any transitions between the roof and chimney line.
If the flashing is damaged, bent or missing the wood underneath is exposed, leaving the roof line vulnerable for rodents to chew holes into the wood.
Typically, rodent will chew holes into the wood in attempt to get inside the attic to nest.
Your roof is at greater risk of rodent and large animal infestation as the winter months approach.
Many squirrels, raccoons, opossums and rodents find burrowing in the attic an adequate place to spend the cold winter months.
Once these animals enter your attic, their feces can become toxic and become hazardous to the interior of the home.
The chimney is another area at high risk for pest infestation.
Birds like to build nests inside the chimneys or between the chimney and roofline to shelter their young from predators.
If the nests accumulate, they can attract other insects and even clog the chimney opening.
Wasps and bees may build hives in the chimney during winter months to shield them from the cold weather.
Besides causing damage to your chimney and roof, having a wasp or bee hive nearby is dangerous for the whole family when outdoors.
Fight Back Against Pests As a homeowner, properly maintaining your roof is just another bullet point on your to-do list each month.
It doesn't take long to get on the roof and inspect the materials to make sure they are in good shape.
Be sure to know your surroundings and examine the best points of entry and exit from your roof.
Take note of where the trees are and any hazardous objects that might be in your way.
You should always have someone on the ground watching and helping when you are on the roof.
Never get on the roof alone.
Always, Be Careful when you are on the roof! If your roof is too steep to comfortably walk, hire a professional roof contractor to inspect your roof twice a year.
Most roofing contractors charge minimal fees for inspection and these fees are small compared to what you may end up paying if you don't maintain the roof properly.
If you find pests on your roof, call a pest or animal control company.
Never attempt to remove pests by yourself, especially rodents or animals.
These pests are often dangerous and have the potential to carry diseases.
The roof is one of the most important elements in protecting your home.
It keeps out weather and debris, which can negatively impact the rest of your home.
Roof repair can be the most expensive type of home repair and keeping up with regular maintenance can save you thousands of dollars in the end.
Although weather damage can significantly damage a roof, it is not the most common reason for roof damage.
Damage caused by animals and pests are more likely to be the root of your problem and can cause repeated trouble over time.
Whether the pest is using the roof to get from one location to another, or using the roof as a source of shelter, the effects can significantly impact the quality your roof.
What's Bugging You? Many pests cause minimal damage that quickly evolves into higher cost repairs if allowed to go unnoticed for long periods of time.
Damage to the shingles and underlining materials is the most common type of damage caused by pests.
If shingles are loose, damaged or missing, the roof base materials may be exposed to greater threats such as rain or dirt.
Bird or squirrel droppings can be corrosive as the droppings are acidic, which can eat away at the shingles or base materials.
Ants and termites may get underneath broken shingles and cause damage to the wood that cannot be seen unless the shingles are removed.
It is important to inspect your roof often to look for signs of hidden damage caused by insects.
Flashing bridges the gap between shingles and the underlying materials as well as any transitions between the roof and chimney line.
If the flashing is damaged, bent or missing the wood underneath is exposed, leaving the roof line vulnerable for rodents to chew holes into the wood.
Typically, rodent will chew holes into the wood in attempt to get inside the attic to nest.
Your roof is at greater risk of rodent and large animal infestation as the winter months approach.
Many squirrels, raccoons, opossums and rodents find burrowing in the attic an adequate place to spend the cold winter months.
Once these animals enter your attic, their feces can become toxic and become hazardous to the interior of the home.
The chimney is another area at high risk for pest infestation.
Birds like to build nests inside the chimneys or between the chimney and roofline to shelter their young from predators.
If the nests accumulate, they can attract other insects and even clog the chimney opening.
Wasps and bees may build hives in the chimney during winter months to shield them from the cold weather.
Besides causing damage to your chimney and roof, having a wasp or bee hive nearby is dangerous for the whole family when outdoors.
Fight Back Against Pests As a homeowner, properly maintaining your roof is just another bullet point on your to-do list each month.
It doesn't take long to get on the roof and inspect the materials to make sure they are in good shape.
Be sure to know your surroundings and examine the best points of entry and exit from your roof.
Take note of where the trees are and any hazardous objects that might be in your way.
You should always have someone on the ground watching and helping when you are on the roof.
Never get on the roof alone.
Always, Be Careful when you are on the roof! If your roof is too steep to comfortably walk, hire a professional roof contractor to inspect your roof twice a year.
Most roofing contractors charge minimal fees for inspection and these fees are small compared to what you may end up paying if you don't maintain the roof properly.
If you find pests on your roof, call a pest or animal control company.
Never attempt to remove pests by yourself, especially rodents or animals.
These pests are often dangerous and have the potential to carry diseases.
