Critter Problems

Critter problems are costly. Birds, squirrels and other wildlife can cause serious damage to your roof, attic insulation and your home’s electrical wiring. Many of these critters carry diseases and could pose a serious health problem to you and your family. Rats are particularly fond of the rubber insulation on your home’s wiring and gnaw on it to control the length of their teeth. This can result in exposed wiring which could cause an electrical fire.

Keeping these pests off your roof and out of your attic will prolong the life of your roof, keep your home energy efficient, save you thousands of dollars in costly roofing repairs and keep your family healthy and safe. The easiest way for pests to enter your home is through openings in your roof. Prevention is the key to keeping these pests from wreaking havoc on your home and there’s some easy steps you can take to keep them at bay.

Rat Guard

Rat Guards
The easiest way to prevent pests from getting in your home is to eliminate their access to the roof. To prevent these unwanted guests from taking up residence in your attic, trim back tree branches and bushes that touch or are close to the roof. To prevent rats from using power lines to get on your roof, purchase rat guards and have a professional roofing contractor or electrician install them for you. Not only will this deter pests, it will also keep your roof and gutters clean from debris that can degrade the life of your roof.

Bird Spike

Birds, particularly pigeons, tend to roost on roofs in areas protected by the elements and predators. Like rodents, they can also carry disease and their feathers and droppings can clog roof drains and corrode roofing materials. The easiest way to get rid of them is to place bird spike in the areas they are roosting. You can find this affordable and permanent solution here at Bird Spike Kit.

Expanding Foam Sealant

If you suspect you already have rodents in your attic, first follow the instructions above, and then proceed with the following. Locate any holes where rodents may be entering. These can usually be found under overhangs, near flashing details or at the high spot on a tile roof. Insert crumpled newspaper into the hole. Check back in a few days and if the paper is still there, plug the hole with expanding foam sealant.

If you check back and the paper has been moved or chewed up, do not plug the hole. This means the rodent is still in the attic and is using that hole to get in and out. You must first eradicate the rodent, then the hole can be plugged. If a rodent gets stuck in the attic and dies, the carcass will breed harmful bacteria and attract flies and maggots. A rotting carcass can smell for weeks or even months and is a major health risk.

If you hear noises or have other suspicions of critters in your attic, be proactive and address the problem as soon as possible. If you’d prefer to hire an exterminator, call us for recommendations on reputable companies. The county of Santa Clara also offers a free program called Vector Control. You can also check out our video on bats in the attic – Eastman Roofing Bat Video

For more information or to schedule a free estimate, call Eastman Roofing, your San Jose roofing contractor.