With the cooler months approaching, we tend to spend more time indoors safely tucked in our heated homes, away from the elements and cool fall winds. Unfortunately, we are not the only ones looking for a little extra warmth come the fall – you might find your local wildlife try to make themselves at home as well!
Here at Professional Roofers in Toronto, it is not uncommon for us to receive calls from distraught homeowners with critters like raccoons that have found their way into their homes and set up shop. We can’t get rid of the animals for you, that’s a call better suited for animal control; however, we can help you identify the signs of wildlife in your home, and help you prevent these sorts of occurrences in the future.
As much as we would like them to, animals don’t usually appreciate the use of doors or windows as entry points to the home, instead they use other ways. Critters can enter your home through a variety of means and methods; however, they tend to choose eaves, vents, chimneys, other pre-existing holes, or other accessible weak points on your roof to climb in. The best and most effective method to prevent and eliminate your uninvited houseguests from entering your home is regular, proper maintenance and inspections of your roof. If your roof is difficult to access, or you simply don’t feel comfortable completing these steps, please feel free to contact us, and we’ll be happy to complete the inspection for you!
First and foremost, you are going to want to clear any debris that may have built up on your roof or in the gutters. Not only is this good for your roof in general, as debris can encourage moss growth and water retention, but you will be able to see any trouble areas that have developed as well. It’s difficult to see shingles that have been pulled off by a sneaky raccoon on your roof when it is covered in leaves!
Secondly, you are going to inspect the outside of your roof and home for anything that might seem out of place: flashing that might have come loose or separated from the house, rot, missing shingles, curling shingles, holes (particularly those larger than ½ an inch or 1.3cm in diameter), mold growth, or anything else out of place. Look for signs specific to animal use as well, particularly around eaves, vents, or your chimney as these are the most likely points of entry. Common clues include nesting, scraps of food, or a build up of animal feces around your home. Raccoons are our number one offender in the GTA and are particularly nasty critters that can easily scale your home on downspouts and then tear open eaves, shingles, or other weak points on your roof so look out for any abnormal damage as well!
Once you have finished inspecting the outside of your home, the next step you need to take is to look in your attic. Oftentimes people will have mice or rats that have nested in their attic insulation, but because these particular animals can be quite quiet, the homeowner is completely unaware. Go through your attic space and do another visual inspection, looking for many of the same signs of weakness, animal use, or potential entry points: holes, rot, mold, nesting in the insulation, animal teeth marks or scratches on wood, feces, etc.
At the end of your inspection if you have noted any problem signs or cause for concern, please do not hesitate to contact us. We offer a FREE consultation and estimate for all our potential customers, so what have you got to lose?