Critter Damage

5 Animals that can cause damage to your home

June 2, 2022

Raccoon

Exterior Damage to Your Home Can Cause More Damage Than You Think

Having wildlife living in your home isn’t just a nuisance, it could cause serious and costly damage to your property as well. The damage could be significant enough to empty out your wallet, hurt the resale value of your house and can even cause disease to the people living there.

There are many types of critters that often make human houses their own homes due to damage to a roof, attic, windows or a garage. Whether for safety, warmth, food, or other reasons, they end up causing damage during their residence.

A standard homeowners insurance policy may help cover repairs if a critter damages or destroys any of your home’s structures, however, homeowners are typically responsible for repairing or replacing personal items that may have been destroyed.

Common Types of Home Critters

There are the five most common types of critters who might be living in your house and damaging your property due to lack of maintenance.

  • Squirrels, mice & rats
  • Raccoons
  • Woodpeckers
  • Bats
  • Opossums

All these critters listed above love to nest inside walls and attics. They will turn a small exterior hole into a much larger one allowing water to enter your home. Raccoons and squirrels can create an unbelievable amount of damage in short period of time. If you hear scurrying or scratching noises between floors and walls, call an exterminator right away. These same animals will be back when colder weather arrives.

Woodpecker Damage to Your Home or Foundation

Woodpecker damage is one of the consequences of an insect infestation. If insects are inside the structure of your home, a woodpecker will treat it like a tree and hammer holes into the siding or shingles. This could mean you’ll need to repair or replace exterior boards and siding.

Woodpecker damage could also lead to a moisture problem or rain damage. If your home’s exterior frame is perforated with woodpecker holes, water could start to run down inside your walls. This can result in damaged drywall, electrical problems, mold growth, along with attracting still more bugs.

The best way to solve these issues is to conduct a yearly home maintenance check on the inside and outside of your home and call a professional to assist in the repairs.

Need home damage advice?

Have a question on home damage or repairs? Ask the Home Damage Guru at info@madisonaveconstruction.com

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