Your roof may not seem like an ideal place to set up a home, but for bugs and critters, it offers all kinds of opportunities. Bees, wasps, termites, squirrels, and even rats are among the many uninvited guests that love to take up residence near your roofline to escape the weather and raise their young. Here’s how to know if pests have taken up residence on your roof and how to stop them from causing serious damage.
Why Pests Love to Live on Your Roof
Bugs and other critters are experts at getting into high, out of the way places looking for food and shelter. Even pests that can’t fly know how to climb up trees, vines, gutters, and walls to gain easy access to your roofline.
Not only that, but roofs offer easy access to your attic through vents, drainpipes, and other gaps. Attics are prime real estate for pests looking for a safe place to take up residence. If you do an inspection of your roof, you will probably be surprised to find that it is a hot spot for pest activity
How to Know if Pests Have Taken Up Residence on Your Roof
Your roof should be inspected at least once per season. Not only should you look for signs of pests but checking for signs of water damage or loose shingles is also important. If you aren’t comfortable climbing up on a ladder, that’s ok! A professional roofing company will be happy to inspect your roof for you and let you know if there are any concerns.
How to safely perform a pest inspection yourself:
Put on some protective clothing, especially a long sleeve shirt and work gloves. If you encounter bees, wasps or spiders, you’ll be glad you did!
Be sure your ladder is locked in place and properly braced or tied to your house. Have a helper hold the base of the ladder to prevent wobbling.
Check the gutters for debris, standing water, and signs of mosquitos or other pests.
Now, look up under your eaves. Are there birds, wasps, or spiders nesting there? Look for hives, nests, and spider webs. Be careful not to get too close to any hives- the last thing you want to do is get stung while you’re up on the ladder or roof.
Check for loose or missing shingles that may indicate critters have accessed your attic.
Inspect drain pipes, vents, and other openings. If you see oily marks or droppings, insects or rodents are hanging out there.
Inspect the valleys of your roof for any signs of decay or water damage. Pests will use weak spots to nest or gain access to your attic.
How to Get Rid of Existing Pests and Prevent Future Unwelcome House Guests
If you want to prevent pests from hanging out on your roof, you need to make it less inviting and cut off any access points they may be using to enter your attic.
Clean all fallen leaves and other debris from your rooftop and gutters.
Trim away all overhanging or overgrown greenery to prevent it from being used as an access point.
Seal the seams of your roofline with caulking to keep bugs from entering the structure. Put mesh coverings over all vents and drain pipe openings.
If there are any damaged or missing shingles, rotted areas, or any other signs of roof damage, call your roofing company for repairs right away.
Wasp nests and beehives should be removed by your or a professional company.
Existing pests may leave on their own once you complete these steps. However, pests like termites and rodents can be tough to get rid of on your own. Sometimes it’s best to call in a professional pest control company for assistance.
Wrap Up
If you notice any signs of pests or roof damage, they should be addressed right away. The longer you wait, the worse the damage and the more expensive the repairs will be. Being proactive is the best way to protect the structural integrity of your home and roof.
Next Steps
To get started, you can give Elite Roofing a call. We’ll schedule a roof inspection to determine the overall health of your roof, and make recommendations for items that can be fixed now to prevent future damage. Please contact us at (201) 436-1011 or via email eliteroofinginc@hotmail.com for further assistance.