When it comes to protecting your home’s roof, some things are easier to prepare for than others. While storms and accidents may be first to come to mind as threats to your roof’s integrity, a common cause for the need for roof repair comes from pests. With just a little ingenuity and some elbow grease, there are a few steps you can take to secure your roof from most critters that might try to infiltrate your home.

How to Pest-Proof Your Roof

1. Keep Your Trees Trimmed

Tall trees next to a house might add visual appeal, but what you may not realize is that they’re both ammunition for storm damage and a natural ladder for raccoons, rats, and other critters. If you have limbs overhanging your home, trimming them back—as well as not planting trees too close to your home—can spare you some serious roof repairs. 

2. Secure Existing Roofing Material

A home’s roof will typically either consist of shingles or metal. Each has its advantages, and each requires occasional maintenance. The nails holding shingles in place can get loose, and so can the screws holding metal panels.

Check for dislodged and raised shingles or look for screws sticking up. Water and insects can enter even the smallest openings, and any openings in shingles can be picked at by birds, rats, and other animals. 

Drive nails back down, replace damaged shingles, and reseat screws. If your shingles are cracked, you may need to reseal them. If there’s any visible damage already, contact a roofing contractor right away to assess your roof repair situation.

3. Check Your Insulation

Make sure your insulation is properly secured and evenly distributed. Buildings with fiberglass insulation will have an advantage here over blown-in cellulose due to fiberglass’s thickness. 

While the outer surface does most of the protecting, your insulation will still slow down invading pests. Replacing worn, damaged, or thin insulation will not only improve the building’s heat and air efficiency but also help fortify your roof against unwanted critter guests.

To strengthen or repair your roof, contact Ray St. Clair Roofing Inc. Serving the greater Cincinnati, OH, area since 1954, the team prioritizes customer service and will never try to talk you into a roof replacement when a repair will do the job right. They specialize in both residential and commercial roofing and excel at repairing tree, storm, and pest damage as well as working with gutters and insulation. Learn more about their services on their website or call (513) 874-1234 to arrange for roof repairs today.