Older homes are notorious for allowing entry to wild animals. However, is this perception entirely accurate? Are there issues with new homes that could allow entry as well? Older homes and newer homes can each have their own unique issues that lead to wildlife intrusion. The issues are not necessarily the same, but the end result is that when unwanted animals find a way into your home, you need wildlife removal services to get them out.
Issues With Older Homes
Older homes have been standing a long time, during which they endure a lot of wear and tear due to weather conditions and other factors. Over time, these factors may lead to structural damage that can lead to wildlife issues and a host of other problems as well.
For example, the foundation of the house could shift, causing cracks to form. These cracks do not necessarily have to be very large or wide to allow wildlife to get in. Small animals, such as mice and bats, can fit into extremely small spaces. Foundation problems are most likely in areas with seismic activity, unstable bedrock and abundant soil moisture, but they can occur anywhere.
If the windows are original to the house, they are more likely to have gaps around them. These, too, could allow entry to wildlife, particularly smaller animals. Gaps around windows can also allow air to leak out, which is terribly inefficient and costs you more on your utility bills.
The roof often bears the brunt of adverse weather conditions. Though built to stand up to the elements, your roof may start deteriorating over time. This could allow larger forms of wildlife to get into your home. For example, if you have damaged or missing shingles, a raccoon could get ahold of them with its dexterous paws and start pulling them off. Raccoons are tenacious and likely to keep going until they find a way to get into your attic, where it is safe, warm and dry. Of course, if a raccoon tears a big hole in your roof, it can allow water to leak in causing even further issues.
Issues With Newer Homes
While newer homes haven’t been enduring the elements as long as older homes, they are not completely impervious to wildlife issues. If you have a new construction house that was built on an empty lot, the area was probably home to many forms of wildlife already. You may think that the construction project sent a clear eviction notice to them, but the animals may see new opportunities to find shelter instead.
Don’t assume that being built to code means that your home is safe either. Building codes are intended to make sure the home is habitable for humans. Whether or not the structure is animal-proof is not even a consideration. In other words, a new home can be completely code-compliant and still vulnerable to wildlife issues.
Ideally, your new home has no foundation or roof damage. Nevertheless, there are other vulnerabilities that wildlife could exploit. For example, raccoons are agile climbers that could shimmy up your downspouts to access the roof. From there, they could pull off the plastic or metal tops that cover your roof vents and get into your attic that way.
Soffits are panels under the eaves of your roof that provide ventilation to your attic. They are made of vinyl and are easy to bend or tear. They can also be pushed up to allow an animal a way into your attic. They may then fall back into place, leaving little or no evidence of the animal’s entry.
Wildlife Removal Services From Skedaddle
The best way to prevent wildlife entry is with proper maintenance of your home. Even then, there are risks to both old and new houses, so regular home inspections are necessary to catch issues as they arise. Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control returns the animals safely to the wild while preventing them from getting back in later. Contact us for more information.