Seeing squirrels around your property is a normal part of everyday life in Northern Delaware. For the most part, they’re more entertaining than harmful, but they do have the potential to cause problems for homeowners. This is especially true if they decide to make a home in your attic or anywhere on your roof.
In this post, we’ll detail some of the common signs that squirrels have damaged your roof, preventative action you can take, and who to call to get the timely roof repair you need.
How to Know If Your Roof Damage Was Caused by Squirrels
There are several common signs that indicate the damage to your roof was caused by squirrels. Once squirrels get in there and start doing their thing, you may notice signs that include:
- Squirrel droppings in your attic
- The pungent odor of squirrel urine
- Torn up attic insulation
- Wet spots in your attic
- Unusual noises on the roof or in the attic early in the morning or at dusk
- Chewed up vent pipes or plumbing pipes
- Chewed up wires call mom molding, and beams
- Urine stains on your ceiling just below the attic
- Clogged gutters from squirrels dropping nesting materials
- Acorns in your attic or gutters
- Leaves, debris, and other signs of squirrel nests in your attic
Risks of Not Taking Prompt Action
If you notice any of these signs in your home, you will want to take action as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the higher the likelihood of experiencing issues that could affect the well-being of your family or damage your house. Squirrels are known for gnawing and chewing constantly, and they aren’t particularly fussy about what they are chewing on.
In the US, there are more than 20,000 house fires caused by squirrels every year due to chewed wires, which is one of the main reasons you want to get to the bottom of the problem as quickly as possible. Another issue when squirrels have taken over your attic or roof is clogged gutters, which can cause water to pool at the base of your foundation and result in costly water damage.
Preventative Measures You Can Take
Preventing squirrel damage to your home is always better than simply reacting when something bad happens. Here are some preventative measures you can take to try and keep them out and keep damage to a minimum:
- Take the time to regularly inspect the areas of the home that squirrels are most likely to target. These include the roof, areas around your chimney and roof vents, attic, and edges around dormers.
- Prune any mature trees and shrubs that are right next to the house so squirrels can’t climb them and get onto your roof as easily. If you make it too challenging for them to get up there, they may choose another location.
- Install a drip edge on your roof. This is a piece of metal that slides under the first row of shingles on your roof and hangs over the edge of the fascia. It’s designed to help water drain into your gutters, but it also makes it more challenging for squirrels to get between your shingles and your fascia
- Clean your gutters regularly if you don’t have gutter guards for protection. The gutters often end up stuffed with debris and nesting materials, but keeping them clean will help you avoid unnecessary water leaks or flooding.
- Have squirrels removed from the interior of your home if they’ve found a way in. Reach out to a humane animal removal service to get rid of the squirrels and then seal up any access points as soon as possible.
Trust Best Choice Roofing for Industry-Leading Roof Installation
If the time has come for you to have a new roof installed, you can trust our team at Best Choice Roofing to get the job done right. We exclusively install the Owens Corning brand, so you can feel confident that your roof will be of the highest quality with the best possible curb appeal.
Get in touch with us today to schedule a free consultation and find out how we can help transform and repair your home’s roof in New Castle or Kent County.
