Do rats and mice in the attic cause serious roof damage in Orlando Florida?

You hear the pitter-patter of little feet early in the morning and you assume they’re rats and mice in the attic or varmints on the roof. Actually, they’re not. Instead, they are likely to be squirrels in the attic and on the roof of your central Florida home, that without your knowing it, are a potential threat to the integrity of your roof and even your house.

The idea of having squirrels in the attic and on the roof may seem harmless than having rats and mice in the attic or other varmints on the roof. The truth is, squirrels do present a serious problem for homeowners.  The noises squirrels make may annoy you, but the real danger is in the things they can do to put your home at risk, leaving you with no choice but to call the trustworthy roofers to come and fix the holes they leave behind!

Here are the reasons why squirrels in the attic and on the roof can pose a threat of damage to your central Florida home:

• Because squirrels must constantly chew in order to keep their incisors from full growth, they can chew through anything in your attic and roof, including structural wood, aluminum, insulation, shingles, vents and electrical wires.
• Squirrels are adaptable in their use of nesting material and see no problem using insulation, vapor barrier, wood, drywall or paper.
• Squirrel nests tend to be large, dry, and very messy, and often are spread over several feet along a vent pipe or in an attic.
• The combination of dry nests and chewed electrical wires create a major fire hazard. Multiply the problem times five or six squirrel pups, and it all adds up to major building damages plus a fire hazard in your Orlando home.

When squirrels in the attic and on the roof cause damage, it is fine to have pest control come to take care of the critters, but be sure to have your roof repaired by professional roofers.