What Pests Can Damage My Roof?

One day, when you’re doing some work in your attic, and keep finding holes bored into the wood. Perhaps you’re relaxed, enjoying your favorite TV show after work, you hear the sound of scurrying in your ceiling. Ants, rats, and beetles are only a few of the kinds of pests which can get into your home. If your roof is damaged, then your home could be facing a decrease in value, and reduced energy efficiency. Contact a Tulsa roofer to help you out if you suffer from any of these problems. Schedule an inspection.

Roof Pests

During the winter, pests are more likely to try to infest your home as a way to escape the frigid temperatures. Your home provides them a with a good spot to find food and nest. Oftentimes, this can lead to pests getting into the woodwork which makes up your roof, as well as the singles, attic, and wiring.

These are just some of the pests which can infest your home and damage your roof, including:

Termites

Termites feed on cellulose, including paper, plant litter, and most importantly wood. Most roofs are made with wood, making them a perfect food source for termites. As they eat through the wood, they can cause leaks, and other major structural damage given enough time. Additionally, termites breed quickly, making them difficult to exterminate.

Powderpost Beetles

These beetles are named powderpost due to their destructive relationship to wood. Powderpost beetle larvae mature in wood, and feed on it to the point they reduce it to powder. Like termites, this can eventually lead to major damage to your roof.

Ants

While they do not eat wood like termites of powderpost beetles, carpenter ants do construct nests inside it. Fire ants, too, can cause major structural damage, and indoor ants will make use of the spaces created by carpenter ants.

Rats and Mice

Rats and mice will gnaw through anything to find a way into your home, and your attic serves as a perfect habitat for them. They can spread disease and contaminate food, so keeping them away from any weak points in your roof is imperative.

Squirrels

Whether gnawing on insulation, chewing through wires, or urinating on the wood, squirrels can cause damage your roof, your electric, and invade your living space.

Honey Bees

Honey bees can infest your roof, and make their homes underneath your shingles. Their honeycombs can stain the shingles, and damage them to the point of needing replacement. Need a professional pest inspection? Call Integrity today.