Repairing Entrances

In this article, we will discuss some of the more common areas that a wild animal may get into your home and the best way for you to deal with the damage.

Grab a pad of paper, a pen, and the following safety equipment:

• Filter mask or respirator (preferably HEPA rated)
• Tyvek suit
• Gloves

Before you get started, it is important to remember that your safety and health are very important and definitely at risk if you do not take proper precautions. Depending on the type of pest, you could be dealing with some nasty illness and disease. That’s why it’s important to wear a disposable Tyvek suit and gloves. Most important, however, is a filter mask or respirator. Pest waste contains diseases like hantavirus and the plague. Wearing a filter properly will protect you from most airborne illnesses.

Now that you have taken the time to ensure your safety, you are ready to get started.

1. Inspect your basement and attic first, as these are the most common points of entry for most wild animals. Make note of any areas you see feces, chew marks, holes, or any other type of obvious damage. You’ll also want to pay close attention to any chewed wiring, pipes, or vents, as these can lead to more serious damage to your home.
2. Check the exterior of your home for any holes that are obvious from the ground.
3. Bring out your ladder and inspect the roof for any holes. You will need to check for:
   • Missing or damaged screen on all roof vents
   • Holes where the soffit meets the roof, eave vents, or wooden boards
   • Chewed ridge cap vents
   • Open plumbing stacks
   • Chewing damage
   • Brown fur
   • Animal tracks

It is important to note that if you are still dealing with an active infestation of pests in your home, repairing the damage they are causing without first dealing with them may show less than favorable results.

It is likely that they will continue to cause damage to your property and you will have to begin the process all over again. If you are safe, smart, and thorough, however, you will be successful in repairing the damage done to your home.

If you find an entrypoint in your basement, there are a few ways you can deal with the damage.

• Small to moderately sized entry holes – you may be able to use some type of filler
• Larger holes – you are likely going to have to remove the damaged bricks/blocks and install new ones into your wall. These blocks are an integral part of your property and need to be repaired or replaced with care to ensure the structural integrity of your home.

You should also inspect the ground outside your home near the hole in your basement wall. You will likely find a burrow nearby where animals are accessing your home from. You need to fill this as well.

Another common point of entry is your attic. Wild animals love to come in to get out of the elements and often end up nesting in the insulation of your attic. Here you are more likely to find baby animals under the protection of their parents. You need to be extremely careful if this is the case.

Causes of Holes

In your attic, you are more likely to need to deal with larger holes from animals like raccoons. If you find smaller holes in your attic they are typically caused by smaller animals like mice, roof rats, and bats.

Fixing the Damage

To fix this type of damage it would be wise to employ a two-part solution. Sheets of wood will cover the damage but will still allow an animal to chew through it and gain entry again. Instead, try covering the hole with a steel mesh screen before covering the hole with wood. This is harder for them to chew through and should offer some additional protection from pests.