Pest Problems Around Roofs

Pest Problems around Roofs 

The roofs and attics of homes provide very appealing opportunities for unwanted pests to take up residence, and establish themselves as nuisances until major steps must be taken for their removal. Once entrenched, these pests can cause some serious damage to their new environment, and that can cost you a ton of money, in addition to what it would cost to have them removed. Here are some of the ways that undesirable pests can impact your roof and attic areas.

Bird droppings 

If local birds decide that your roof is an ideal stopping place, you may find that your roof becomes covered with droppings. These droppings can be highly acidic, given the fact that much of a bird’s diet consists of substances high in acid. If you don’t clean these droppings off regularly, you’re likely to sustain damage to the shingles and sheathing.

Fungus and dropping from bats 

You might think you have an airtight roofing system, but bats are capable of squeezing through an opening no bigger than 3/8″ wide, and nesting in your attic. If a group of them sets up there, you could have bat droppings in the attic, and there’s also a possibility that they could spread a fungus which is present in the droppings. This fungus can become airborne and travel throughout the rooms of your home, and when inhaled, it can install a life-threatening infection in the lungs.

Squirrel nests 

Squirrels are notorious for chewing through roof shingles and setting up shop in attics. You’ll probably become aware of an infestation pretty quickly, because their urine is particularly pungent, and is unmistakable. If they do go unnoticed, this urine can build up and weaken or destroy wood in your attic, and then you’ll have a bigger problem.

Roof rats chewing on wires  

When roof rats burrow into your home through the roof, they leave holes large enough for rain and snow to enter the house, and begin to weaken the superstructure. These pests will also chew through insulation, pipes, and wiring, and all of these can be problematic. Roof rats have been known to cause electrical fires by chewing through the wiring in an attic or elsewhere in the home. In some cases, the rats have been killed by chewing electrical wires, but that presents a different problem – the smell of dead rats.

Termites eating through wood 

Termites may be the single most damaging kind of pest that can invade your home. These vermin will eat through wood voraciously, causing major damage to your home’s structure, as well as to deck areas or any other sections made of wood. Unless you make a point of checking for them regularly, termites can do a great deal of damage before they’re even detected.