How Animals Gain Access to Roofs and Impact the Longevity of Your Property: Expert Insights from Tarzan Wildlife Control
When wildlife invades your home, the damage they can cause goes beyond the obvious signs of a nuisance animal. In fact, many animals gain access to your roof undetected, causing damage that can lead to expensive repairs and shorten the lifespan of your property. If you suspect or know that animals have infiltrated your roof or attic, it’s crucial to understand how they get in and the potential consequences for your home’s structure.
At Tarzan Wildlife Control, we specialize in humane and efficient animal removal services, providing you with the peace of mind that comes from knowing your home is secure. With a three-year guarantee on all of our work, we handle all types of wildlife removal including raccoon, squirrel, skunk, bird, and bat removal. Our effective and humane one-way door system ensures that animals can safely exit your property without returning.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at how animals gain access to your roof, the long-term impact of their presence, and how Tarzan Wildlife Control can help you safeguard your home.
How Animals Enter Roofs
Wildlife is resourceful, and they are always on the lookout for places to nest, shelter, and find food. Your roof, attic, or under-deck spaces provide the perfect environment for many creatures. Here are some of the most common ways animals gain access to your roof:
1. Roof Gaps and Damaged Shingles
One of the most common ways animals access your roof is through small gaps in the roofing structure. Over time, shingles can become damaged due to weather, wear, or general aging. When shingles are missing, cracked, or loosened, these small openings create easy access points for animals like squirrels, raccoons, and bats. Even the smallest of gaps can provide a pathway for creatures to get inside your attic or crawlspace.
How Tarzan Wildlife Control Can Help:
If you suspect that animals have entered your roof due to damaged shingles, our team of professionals will perform a thorough inspection to identify and seal these entry points. We also offer roof repair services to ensure that your home is protected from future infestations.
2. Chimneys and Vents
Chimneys are an ideal entry point for larger animals like raccoons and squirrels, as well as birds. Without proper covers, chimneys and vents provide an easy way for wildlife to gain access to your attic or other high areas of your home. Raccoons are particularly adept at squeezing through narrow openings, while birds may use these areas to roost.
How Tarzan Wildlife Control Can Help:
Our team uses humane trapping methods and one-way doors to safely remove any animals that have made their way into your chimney or vent spaces. Additionally, we install durable chimney caps and vent covers to prevent wildlife from returning.
3. Eaves, Soffits, and Fascia Boards
The eaves and soffits of your roof are often overlooked, but they are critical areas where wildlife can gain access. Damaged fascia boards or gaps between the eaves and the roof structure provide an easy entryway for squirrels, raccoons, and birds. These areas are especially attractive to animals because they often provide an excellent vantage point for foraging, and in the case of squirrels and raccoons, they offer ideal nesting opportunities.
How Tarzan Wildlife Control Can Help:
We provide sealing services to close up eaves and soffits, using materials that are durable and difficult for animals to penetrate. Our team will ensure that these areas are properly sealed and reinforced, protecting your home from future infestations.
4. Overhanging Branches and Trees
If your property has overhanging trees, raccoons and squirrels can easily climb branches that lead directly to your roof. They can jump from trees to your roof, using branches as natural bridges to gain access. This is a common method for animals like squirrels, which are expert climbers, but it also gives raccoons easy access to your home.
How Tarzan Wildlife Control Can Help:
We advise homeowners to trim back trees that are close to their homes, especially those that have branches extending over the roof. This simple step reduces the chances of animals using trees as a pathway to your roof and prevents potential damage from falling branches.
5. Attic and Roof Voids
Voids in your roof, such as attic spaces or crawl spaces, can provide an easy route for animals to enter your home. These voids are often overlooked and unprotected, making them an attractive nesting area for wildlife. Once inside, animals can cause extensive damage to insulation, wiring, and other structural components, which can lead to costly repairs.
How Tarzan Wildlife Control Can Help:
We offer professional attic and roof void inspections to identify any weaknesses in your roof or ceiling structure. Our team can quickly seal these entry points to prevent animals from infiltrating your home and causing damage.
6. Foundation Cracks and Gaps
While the roof is the primary entry point for many animals, the foundation is also a common area of vulnerability. Skunks, raccoons, and squirrels can burrow under decks, porches, or foundations, creating small holes that allow them access to your attic or crawl space. These gaps can be especially problematic because they are often hidden from view.
How Tarzan Wildlife Control Can Help:
We specialize in inspecting the foundation of your home for cracks or gaps and sealing them off with durable materials like steel mesh. This prevents animals from burrowing underneath your home and gaining access to your roof or attic.
The Long-Term Impact of Wildlife on Your Property
While it’s easy to overlook the entry points, the damage caused by wildlife can have a significant long-term impact on your property. Here are some of the ways wildlife can affect the longevity of your home:
1. Structural Damage
Animals like raccoons, squirrels, and bats often chew on roof beams, insulation, and even electrical wires as part of their nesting process. This chewing can weaken the structure of your roof and attic, causing long-term damage that requires expensive repairs. A weakened roof can eventually lead to leaks, water damage, and even collapse if not addressed quickly.
2. Water Damage
One of the most destructive consequences of wildlife in the roof is water damage. When animals tear apart insulation or chew through roofing materials, they create openings that expose your home to rainwater. Over time, these leaks can lead to significant water damage, affecting the structural integrity of your home and leading to the growth of mold and mildew, which further accelerates deterioration.
3. Fire Hazards
Wildlife, particularly squirrels and raccoons, often chew on electrical wires when they infest attics and roof spaces. This creates a serious fire risk, as exposed wires can spark and ignite nearby materials. Electrical fires are not only dangerous but can also destroy parts of your home, leading to significant repairs and potential loss of property.
4. Health Risks
In addition to the structural damage and fire hazards, wildlife infestations also pose serious health risks. Animals like raccoons, squirrels, and bats are known to carry diseases such as rabies, hantavirus, and leptospirosis. Their droppings and urine can also contaminate the insulation and air quality in your home, increasing the risk of respiratory illnesses. Additionally, parasites such as fleas, ticks, and mites can spread to humans and pets.
5. Increased Maintenance Costs
Once wildlife gets inside your roof, it can lead to ongoing maintenance costs. Animals can destroy insulation, chew through wiring, and create nests that are difficult to remove. Even after the animals are removed, you may face the cost of repairing the damage they caused. Without proper preventive measures, you could find yourself dealing with repeat infestations.
How Tarzan Wildlife Control Protects Your Property
At Tarzan Wildlife Control, we specialize in humane, effective wildlife removal that not only addresses the immediate problem but also prevents future issues. Our services include:
- Raccoon Removal: Using the one-way door method, we safely remove raccoons from your roof and attic without harming them. We then seal all entry points to ensure they don’t return.
- Squirrel Removal: We use humane traps and exclusion techniques to remove squirrels from your roof, preventing them from causing damage to your property.
- Skunk Removal: Our team can safely remove skunks from under decks or foundations and provide exclusion services to stop them from re-entering.
- Bird Removal: We remove birds from chimneys, vents, and attics using safe methods and ensure they don’t return with effective exclusion strategies.
- Bat Removal: Using humane exclusion techniques, we remove bats from your roof spaces and prevent them from roosting in your attic again.
Why Choose Tarzan Wildlife Control?
- Three-Year Guarantee: We stand behind the quality of our work, offering a three-year guarantee on all our services.
- Humane and Safe Methods: We use the most humane methods to remove wildlife, ensuring the animals are safe and unharmed.
- Expert Technicians: Our team is fully trained and experienced in wildlife control, so you can trust us to handle any situation with care and efficiency.
- Comprehensive Services: We don’t just remove animals; we also offer repair services to seal entry points and prevent future infestations.
Conclusion
Wildlife can cause significant damage to your home, especially when they gain access to your roof. From structural damage to health risks, the presence of animals in your roof spaces can shorten the lifespan of your property. At Tarzan Wildlife Control, we offer humane and effective wildlife removal services in Etobicoke with a three-year guarantee on all our work. Whether you’re dealing with raccoons, squirrels, skunks, birds, bees or bats, we are here to help protect your home and ensure it remains safe for years to come.
Contact us today for a consultation and learn how we can help you safeguard your property from wildlife damage!