What Damage Can Squirrels Do in the Attic? Squirrels are adorable, right? Well, if some of them become to move into your attic, you’ll begin to think differently about them. Squirrels can cause all types of unexpected damage. Besides, getting rid of them can be a huge hassle.

Let’s look at the damage that squirrels can do to your home and what you can do to live squirrel-free.

What Damage Can Squirrels Do in the Attic?

Damage from Squirrels in the Attic

An old roof can offer an ideal entry point for squirrels or other pests. Through a point like this, they can damage attic spaces in your home.

Thus, it’s essential to seal any gap in your home to avoid squirrels entering your attic.

What do they chew?

  • They can chew their way into your attic: an inch-wide hole in loose soffit and fascia is all that squirrels need to move into your home. They’ll make the opening bigger, chewing away from the edges.
  • Next, there are your personal belongings: when squirrels built up their nests in houses, they prefer dark spaces like chimneys and vents. Besides, they use soft materials such as clothing, blankets, and even books for their nests. So, these nests make up piles of flammable materials that mean serious hazards in vents or chimneys.
  • Then, there are the electrical issues: a wire isn’t food, and it isn’t nesting material. But squirrels chew wiring to sharpen, strengthen, and control the growth of their teeth. As a result, they cause grave safety issues by exposing wires. Also, issues translate into power service interruptions, fire-starting points, and can electrocute anyone who touches them.

So, be careful if you’re going to repair squirrel damage in your attic. You may find exposed wire hidden under the insulation.

Also, squirrels chew through PVC piping, and most water lines are made of PVC. Imagine how much destruction they can cause by damaging a water line in your attic!

But, there’s more.

Squirrels can also imply risk to human health since they can carry:

  • Ticks (which can spread Lyme disease)
  • Fleas
  • Mites
  • Rabies
  • Salmonellosis
  • Leptospirosis
  • Tularemia

Curtailing Squirrels

We’ll point out some measures you can make about squirrel control:

  • The key is to prevent squirrels from entering your house by sealing any possible gap in vents, soffit, and fascia.
  • Make sure that nothing is loose or in need of repair on your roof.
  • Are you planning to install a new roof? If so, request that your contractor make all necessary repairs to the roof trim.
  • Chimney caps also help to prevent squirrels’ damage. They impede weather, debris, and animals to enter while allowing your fireplace to vent when in use.
  • For squirrels, any branch hanging over your roof is a sidewalk to their new front door. Thus, keep trees and low branches trimmed away from your home. Additionally, it will help to extend your roof’s useful life.

Call in an expert.

The squirrels should stay outside your home, where they belong.

So, the Humane Society of the United States offers helpful ideas and services to keep under control wild critters like squirrels. In the Washington D.C. metro area, this society calls this a wildlife conflict resolution service.

Once you’ve removed your guests, you should check your roofing system’s overall condition.

Besides allowing weather elements to penetrate, old and failing roofs ease squirrels’ invasions. If a creature the size of a squirrel can find a way into your attic, the same will do with the rain, snow, or ice.

Therefore, if you’ve had squirrels in your attic, call a professional roofing contractor to inspect your roofing system shape.

Do You Need a Roof Replacement? Give Lenox a Call.

If you need a roof replacement, the best you can do is to call Lenox Roofing Solutions.

Contact Lenox Roofing Solutions at 843-839-2445 or visit us online to schedule a free, in-home consultation in Garden City, Surfside Beach, Horry, or Myrtle Beach, SC. Also, you’ll get answers to your home roofing questions.

Ask us about our industry-leading 50-year Owens Corning Platinum roofing warranty!

We build trust and peace of mind into every Lenox new Roof replacement.

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