Preventing Squirrel Damage On The Roof
If you have just bought a house in an area with lots of squirrels, then you need to take measures to protect your roof from the furry animals. Squirrels can cause serious damage to the roof if you give them the chance. Here are some of the measures to take to prevent that from happening:
Trim Trees Near The House
Squirrels love to climb and hide in trees. The trees also provide them with food, such as acorns and seeds. This means they can use the trees growing near your house to jump onto the roof. Therefore, the first tip is to prevent squirrels from using trees as their launching pads to get onto the roof. This means you should trim tree branches, especially those facing the roof. Trees without branches should be removed, especially if they are growing too close to the house.
Seal All Possible Entryways
It will be difficult for the squirrels to get into the attic or damage the roof if all the possible openings are sealed. Squirrels do gnaw on roofing or other construction materials and can make their own openings. However, they usually enlarge existing openings rather than starting from scratch. Therefore, get a contractor to seal all the potential entry points such as the areas around the soffits, chimneys, and ridges, among other places. Other possible entry points include loose boards or rotting or decayed parts of the roof.
Take Squirrel Repellant Measures
There are humane ways of repelling squirrels; you can invest in them to prevent the squirrels from invading your home in the first place. A good example is a sonic repellent that emits high-pitched noises that human ears can't detect but is annoying to squirrels ears. There are also repellents in the form of paints that you can paint on the roof and other possible entry points to keep the squirrels away.
Be Aware Of Signs of Squirrels' Infestation
Lastly, you also need to be on the lookout for signs of squirrel damage. That way you will be able to tell immediately the animals have invaded your house so that you can take mitigation measures. You don't want to leave with squirrels in your attic only to realize that they are there when they have caused extensive damage. Here are some of the early signs of squirrel infestation:
- Disturbed insulation in the attic
- Damaged electrical wiring
- Scratching sounds from the attic or roof
- Squeaks and squeals from the attic
The above tips should help you keep squirrels at bay. All isn't lost, however, if your house has already been invaded by squirrels; call a pest control company to help you handle the animals. For more information, contact companies like Canady's Termite & Pest Control.
