How to Inspect Your Roof for Spring Pests

Your roof may seem like a simple structural element, but for pests it’s a hotspot for activity. Pests of all shapes, sizes and classes gravitate towards rooflines for several different reasons. We’ll explain why so you can get a better understanding of how regular roof inspections factor into pest control.

 

Why the Roofline is a Hot Spot for Pest Activity

Pests are able to get around a lot easier than humans. Even insects without wings can climb walls and trees to get all the way up to the roofline with ease. If you venture up to the roof, you may be surprised at how many bugs are already there.

• Many pests prefer not to interact with humans for obvious reasons. That makes the roof a perfect place for pests to hang out, lay eggs and raise little pests.
• It provides protection. Eaves and overhangs help block the wind and rain so insect nests are protected.
• There are entry points into the home. Anyplace where there are seams and potential cracks gives insects access into your home. Unlike areas around windows and doors, homeowners rarely check for gaps around the roofline. As a result the roofline provides ample opportunities for pesky critters to get inside. There are also drainpipes and vents around the roof that provide additional access points.
• It provides direct access to the attic. The attic is the most popular squatting spot for pests that live inside the home. Like the roofline, it’s free of human activity and provides protection from the elements, but it’s still easy to get back outside, and there are routes from the attic to the rest of the house.

Roof Pest Inspection Tips

It’s always a good idea to regularly inspect your roof even if there aren’t signs of pests, like water damage and strange noises from up above. If you aren’t comfortable handling the task on your own, a professional pest control company can take the reigns and inspect the roof for signs of pest activity.

If you’re taking on the task yourself remember to:

• Wear gloves – During the spring in particular you are very likely to come across bees, wasps and spiders. Gloves will protect your hands and can make it easier to grip the ladder.
• Know how to use your ladder – Ladders can seem like simple pieces of equipment, but you have to know how to lock it in place and the proper way to brace or tie it against the building. It’s also a good idea to have a helper hold the base of the ladder while you are on it.
• Check the gutters – Dampness and water in gutters is a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
• Check under the eaves – Less obvious places are where most pests hide around the roofline of a home. Wasps prefer to tuck nests away under eaves, and spiders are often seen spinning webs in the nooks and crannies of overhangs.
• Keep an eye out for nests – If you see a wasp nest or bee hive keep away. The last thing you want is to get stung while you’re a story or two above the ground.
• Look for loose, missing or damaged shingles – This is a sign that a larger pest may have gotten into your attic at some point.
• Oily marks, droppings and bugs around openings – Carefully inspect around vents and drainpipes. This is where many larger pests make their way into the home. Rodents will often leave oily markings and droppings while insect colonies may have members die off near the entry points.
• Pay attention to the valleys – These are points where the roofline curves. It’s common for decay and water damage to occur around valleys, which gives pest easier access.

Preventing Pests From Hanging Around Your Roofline

Want to know how to prevent pests from hanging out around the roof of your home? It’s all about keeping the roof structurally sound and cutting off any entry points.

• Clean the gutters regularly and make sure they are draining properly.
• Apply caulk to the seams around the roofline to prevent bugs from entering your home.
• Repair any missing or damaged shingles as soon as possible. In addition to giving pests easy access into the home, damaged shingles can also lead to water damage that attracts insects like wood eating termites.
• Put mesh covers over drain and vent openings.

Hiring a professional pest control company is important for two reasons. 1.) You need to ensure that the pests are removed before sealing up gaps and holes around the roofline. 2.) Regular pest control treatments are the best way to keep insects and pests off of your entire property.

If you live in central Alabama and need help clearing your roofline of pests and insects give Vulcan Termite and Pest Control Inc. a call. For 50 years our highly trained pest control technicians have vacated pests from every nook and cranny in thousands of homes.

 Original source: https://www.vulcantermite.com/home-pest-control/how-to-inspect-your-roof-for-spring-pests/