If you live in South Florida, roof maintenance involves making sure that your roof is in tip-top condition, especially before, (and during) hurricane season. Aside from weather damages, there’s another important part of roof maintenance that needs your attention—pest infestation.
Pests can destroy your roof without you noticing. To prevent pest damage, it’s important to have an understanding of the various pests that make their home your roof, and how to identify their presence.
Pests That Live In Your Roof
South Florida’s tropical climate means that winters are fairly moderate. However, summertime introduces an environment of heat, humidity, winds, and rain that can be quite unbearable if unprepared. It’s during this time that pests are likely to find shelter in the comfort of your roof.
Bees
Various roof structures, such as the eaves, are common nesting areas for bees. You’ll quickly know that a nest has settled by the constant buzzing sounds.
An infestation of bees is not only annoying but also potentially dangerous for those who have allergies. While honey bees are great in the garden providing pollination, you don’t want them living in your attic. In addition to their stingers being dangerous, they produce sticky remains that attract other pests like ants and other insects.
Birds
Birds may not be the first thing you think of when it comes to a pest infestation but their nests can cause a fair amount of damage to a roof. In addition to defecation on your roof, they also carry ticks, fleas, and other parasites.
Key signs to look out for are a large number of birds on your roof, bird droppings, damage, and more-than-normal amounts of noise.
Rats
‘Roof rats’ are one of the most popular (and annoying) pest infestations we experience. They are known to cause all sorts of damage, from nibbling on electrical wires to contaminating food and destroying the insulation of the roof.
There are a few easy ways to spot a rat infestation. Look out for rat droppings or listen out for scattering noises in the attic; you may even find a dead one. Rats are dangerous, they can carry many diseases, so make sure to use caution if you suspect an infestation.
Insects
There are several different types of insects that are nuisances in the home, especially when they’ve had time to settle into your roof. Termites, wood borer beetles, and carpenter ants are some of the most popular.
These pests can be destructive; they build their nests in the wooden parts of the roof and destroy the structure’s integrity. The real danger with insects is that they’re often not noticed until it’s too late; regular inspections are essential.
Mold and Algae
Mold and algae are common in areas that experience a humid summer. Despite being unattractive, the algae are not actually harmful, but it is contagious. Algae spores are airborne and can spread very quickly and can rapidly reduce the value of your home.
Mold can also cause significant damage to your roof. By nature, it holds moisture which can be detrimental to the structure of the roof.
How To Prevent Pests
The key to preventing a pest infestation of any kind is to commit to regular roofing inspections that should be done by a qualified, expert residential roofing contractor.
If the problem has escalated to a point where you need professional removal, you should call a roofing expert to conduct an inspection once you’ve had the pests removed to ensure that all pests are gone and that there is no remaining damage. Often repairs will need to be done to vulnerable areas of the roof.
If the structural integrity and safety of your home is a priority, then call us at 1-954-426-8500. No matter what roofing situation you’re under, we will work hard to get on top of it and provide you with the end results you are looking for!