When we think about keeping our homes properly insulated and closed-off, we’re trying to keep the cold out and critters away. Oftentimes however, that’s not enough.
If you’ve ever been sitting in your home and suddenly hear continuous tapping on the side of your house, then you know the kind of damage animals can do to siding.
Wood siding is a top target because it’s easier to get through and birds like woodpeckers can easily turn your beautiful homes siding into planks of wood full of holes. Not only is this visually unappealing and frustrating, but those holes leave your house wide open for entry by other rodents or pests so being vigilant about repairing them is key.
Here are some tips to stop animals from making holes in your siding.
Perform Regular Inspections and Repairs
Whether you do it yourself, or hire a professional, you should have your home inspected regularly to ensure that holes are patched and there aren’t any damages or other issues threatening the integrity of your dwelling. As you’re doing this be sure to also trim back any tree branches that are a welcome mat to accessing your home.
Patch Up any Holes
To deter woodpeckers and carpenter bees from making holes in your home’s siding, it is recommended that you patch any holes they’ve made in the siding with a foam or wood filler. Other options include covering the holes with aluminum foil, using a chili paste mixture or laying netting to stop them from pecking at that location. Squirrels also love to chew on wood and could be getting in to chew wires which is a hazard itself. The same methods of using a taste repellent to turn them away from feasting on the wood is a common recommendation.
Get Vinyl Siding
If you’d rather not deal with pests who target wood siding, consider having vinyl siding replacement done on your home. You’ll still need to be attentive of critters who could make their way in from other entry points, but you’ll gain the benefits of low maintenance, budget-friendly and expansive color options offered by vinyl siding.