Your roofing protects your home, but pests can quickly destroy it. Insects, birds, bats, rodents, raccoons, and many other pests would love to build their homes in and under your roof. If allowed to take up residence, pests can eventually destroy your roof, leaving your home exposed to water damage and other problems. Here are five of the signs that pests are destroying your roof.
Hearing strange noises emanating from the attic or roof is a sure sign that you have rodents, squirrels, birds, or raccoons up there. The louder the noise, the bigger the critter. These animals often gain entry through a broken roof vent or loose roofing. You’ll need to remove the animals, locate their entry point, and repair it. In most cases, it’s safest to have an animal or pest control professional remove the intruding creatures as they can be dangerous.
While many things can cause a roof leak, you’ll want to include insects on your list of possibilities. Termites, carpenter ants, carpenter bees, and powderpost beetles are just a few of the destructive insects that can destroy your roofing. While these insects are often hidden within the wood, you may notice wood dust on the floor or holes bored into the wood.
Birds, such as pigeons, can become a big problem for your roof. Birds can build nests on or under your roof features, or they may get into the attic or crawl space and build nests there. It may not seem like it, but bird droppings are very acidic and can begin to dissolve your asphalt shingles, reducing their effectiveness. A roofing company can evaluate the damage and install pigeon spikes or other deterrents to keep the birds away.
Smelling urine and feces in your attic or crawl space is also a sign that rodents have settled in. While larger animals can be heard thumping around, rats and mice are often fairly quiet. Not only can these pests chew away at the wood, but their urine can also do damage. Plus, rats and mice can spread disease to your family.
Your roof is a great place for bees and wasps to build their nests. No one wants these insects in or near home. While not all varieties can sting, those that can could be dangerous, especially if anyone in your family is allergic to them. Additionally, while bees are unlikely to sting unless they feel threatened, some varieties of wasps can be aggressive.
While safety can be an issue, certain varieties of bees can also do real damage to your home. Carpenter bees tunnel into the wood of your roof to make their nests and lay their eggs. Unlike honey bees or yellow jackets, carpenter bees are mostly black. They can also sting multiple times. If you have an infestation of carpenter bees, you’ll likely also need a pest control company to remove the nest and a roofing company to assess the damage.
If you notice pest damage to your home, you need to take action quickly. Pests living under your roof will not only require a pest control specialist, but also a roofing specialist to assess and repair the damage. Once the infestation is contained and removed, a roofing company can assess the damage that was done, repair it, and take measures to prevent the same issue from reoccurring.
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