Are you worried that rats, birds, or even raccoons might be sneaking into your home through the roof? Do you suspect that pest control didn’t solve the problem (or worse, made it more expensive)?
If you live in the Seattle area, where trees are close and rainfall is constant, it’s not uncommon for pests to find creative ways into your roof, and even your walls. The truth is, these issues often stem from overlooked gaps in the roof system that even experienced pest specialists miss.
At RoofSmart, we inspect hundreds of homes every year, and have seen evidence of pests in a lot of them (we’re talking everything from chewed wood, mouse droppings, and even animal carcasses). We can even tell when pest control did a mediocre job of keeping them out.
In this article, we’ll show you:
- The most common (and surprising) places pests enter your roof
- Real examples from local homes where gaps led to infestations
- What you can expect from pest control vs. roofing repairs
- How a qualified roofer can permanently seal your home from pests
How do pests get into my Seattle roof?
A poorly constructed roof leaves gaps that can let in all kinds of unwanted guests, including:
- Rodents
- Mice
- Rats
- Ants
- Bats
- Birds
- Racoons
If you have a tree right next to the house, and a little rodent can climb up and then jump on the roof, they probably will. If you have a chimney on one side of the house that’s made of rock and goes all the way to the ground, they might be able to climb that, too.
Here are some of the most common places that pests can enter your Seattle roof:
- Hanging Valleys
The little area behind the hanging valley is a popular spot for pests to hang out because it makes a dark cave space. If your roofer didn’t take proper precautions on your roof, then the hanging valley will have a little gap all the way in the back where pests can freely enter the roof.
- Damaged Tiles or Shakes: If you have damaged or missing pieces of roofing, any of these pests can get in. However, we did have one notable case on a roof in Redmond where we inspected a roof and discovered that a raccoon had ripped off a cedar shake to get into the roof.
- Siding Gaps: Gaps in the siding of your house are also a great place for pests to fly or crawl into, allowing them to access the attic. This is a pretty common issue.
- Bird Blocks: In a perfect world, your bird blocks only let air in. They’re supposed to have a mesh covering to keep pests out.
In this image, the mesh is still intact. But if the mesh is forgotten or somehow gets damaged, then it will no longer keep out small pests like mice, birds, or bats.
- Fascia Board Gaps: On houses with no overhang, the edge of the roof touches the fascia. Usually, there’s a gap there. It’s not always visible, but it can still be a huge problem. Even on houses with an overhang, there can still be a gap there due to poor installation.
Here’s an example:
The gap looks exaggerated in this, but pests can get in if they go above the fascia board, right where it meets the asphalt shingles. It’s a giant opening if they can find it (and they will).
- Gable Vents: These are a notorious entry point for smaller pests because the slats can be big enough to fit them. Birds and bats can fly right up to this opening. If you have a tree next to the gable vent, mice might be able to use it to access your roof.
Can a pest control specialist help keep pests out of my Seattle roof?
It would be nice if the answer to this were yes, but that’s not always the case. They can help, but make sure that your pest control specialist is thorough and considers ALL entry points on the roof. You can even have them collaborate with a roofer to make sure that everything gets fixed.
I know that this seems like it shouldn’t need to be said, but we’ve seen way too many cases where there were still pest issues even after a “specialist” came out to block entry points.
For example, let’s revisit the example image that I used in the previous section:
Someone put up this mesh wiring to block the gap right above the gutter. However, that gap above the mesh was left wide open. The mesh should’ve been installed all the way up to the edge of the roof decking.
Hanging valleys are another problem because they have a lot of gaps that need to be covered. Here’s the fix that one pest control specialist used on a customer’s roof:
The entry point under the hanging eave was covered to keep pests out. It looks ok in this picture, right? Well, how about we take a closer look:
This is a zoomed-in version of the previous picture, which clearly shows a gap big enough for pests to get through that wasn’t covered by the mesh. Yikes!
Pest control specialists can be helpful, as long as they take the time to cover every gap on your roof. This is a good option to pursue if your roof is already done and you’re noticing problems.
How can my roofer make sure that pests stay out of my roof?
If you want a more permanent and less visible fix for keeping out pests, then you can hire a roofer to help you out. This is a good option if you already need to repair or replace your roof.
It can get expensive and tedious if you don’t need any other roof work done. Often, closing gaps properly can require tearing up part of the roof. It’s a better fix, but at a higher cost.
How can you make sure your roofing contractor will keep pests out of your roof?
Even the best materials can fail if your roof isn’t installed properly, and when it comes to pest prevention, the quality of your roofer’s workmanship makes all the difference. Gaps, improperly sealed valleys, or skipped details like fascia board sealing are open invitations for rodents, birds, and bugs.
If you’ve dealt with pest issues in the past (or want to avoid them altogether), it’s critical to hire a roofer who pays attention to the small stuff. But how do you know if a contractor is truly qualified (not just saying the right things)?
Read our article “Is Your Seattle Roofer Actually Good? Here’s How to Tell Before It’s Too Late” to learn what to look for when choosing a Seattle roofing contractor you can actually trust.
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