Leaks, ventilation, standing water, and lack of maintenance are all common roofing issues homeowners have to deal with. And while there are many acts of nature that can damage your home’s biggest protector, one of the most overlooked, yet common, roof problems includes small critters.
Small animals such as mice, birds, and even raccoons can wreak havoc on your roof. Cracks on your roof or missing shingles allow easy access for these animals to find shelter in your warm, insulated attic. Burrowing animals can cause even more damage to your roof; the best way to solve this problem is to prevent them from getting into your roof and attic in the first place. Here are three solutions to protect your roof.
Keeping your gutters clear of debris is essential for proper water flow. Clogged gutters can cause a lot of damage to your roof; if a gutter is heavy enough, it can even detach from your home and become a costly problem to fix. Keeping your gutters free of leaves and twigs also ensures that birds and mice don’t create nests in your gutter!
Take a look at your roof once in a while to make sure everything is intact. Heavy storms and other acts of nature can sometimes cause loose shingles to fall off or flashing to get damaged, leaving your roof vulnerable to small animals. They may use their sharp claws, teeth, or beaks to create holes or openings to break through and get inside. This damage can be as extensive as the amount of animals that want shelter in your home! Small animals often use these openings to access a warm and dry space where they can bring their young or reproduce. Infestations of mice are especially common, especially in areas of the home that aren’t often accessed. Fixing small repairs right away is key to reduce the chances of animals in your attic.
Trimming down tree branches is a simple way to maintain your roof and keep it clear from debris, and it also eliminates small animals from having easy climbing access to your home. Squirrels, opossums, and raccoons are common tree climbers that may find their way into your roof.
Capping your chimney is another way to protect your roof and home from nesting creatures. You can easily block off the hole of your chimney from small animals with a steel crate or cage. It’s an easy and cost-effective solution that can be installed at the same time as your roo or during regular roof maintenance.
While many critters appear to be small, they can cause big damage to your roof. That’s why IBEX Roof is here to help you prevent the small animals from taking over! We can help repair small damages or schedule routine maintenance for your roof so that you’ll never have to worry about animals in your attic. Contact us to learn more!
