You might welcome the sight of birds on your roof. After all, who doesn’t like listening to birdsong in the early morning?
However, if you allow them to have their way on your property, you could wind up in a world of pain.
Why? Because birds have a nasty habit of damaging roofing materials.
How Do Birds Damage Your Roof?
Birds can damage your roof in a number of ways and reduce the value of your home.
First, their droppings are highly acidic. That means that they naturally dissolve many common roofing materials (or, at the very least, leave permanent scars on your tiles).
In some cases, birds can poop into AC outlets and down chimneys, causing additional interior damage that you don’t see. What’s more, their droppings provide nutrients that other species, such as algae, can use to further destroy your roofing materials.
Birds can also lead to water buildup in your gutters and drains. Over time, they bring leaves and twigs to the roof to construct their nests. And these can then make their way into your water draining facilities, stopping the flow of water and blocking them altogether.
Lastly, birds can cause airflow issues in your roof by blocking vents and structural openings with their nest materials.
How Do You Stop Birds From Damaging Your Roof?
So what can you do to prevent birds from damaging your roof? Fortunately here you have several excellent options.
One strategy is to coat your roof in a protective layer that won’t react with the droppings (and that you can easily clean). Pages on https://jrcousa.com/roof-restoration/ describe various spray finishes you can apply.
Another strategy is to eliminate the so-called “ponding” on your roof. It happens when slight depressions form and allow water to pool after a rainstorm. Usually, they’re not a problem if your roof is waterproof. But they can become an issue if they attract birds as a water source.
Again, professionals can help solve this problem. All it requires is leveling up the roof and ensuring that your existing drainage systems work correctly.
Another tactic is to remove gravel from your roof. Many birds, including pigeons, eat gravel to help them digest food. Small stones rotate in their guts, breaking down tough foliage. So if they see a ready-made supply on your roof, that could attract them, according to https://www.rspb.org.uk/.
You can also try investing in predators to keep birds away. In many places, it is illegal to remove a bird’s nest from your property once it becomes established. And so your best bet is prevention. Buying a cat to patrol your property discourages birds from setting up shop.
If you don’t want to use a cat, you can also use plastic decoy hawks, falcons, and owls – most birds’ natural predators. There are also dummies that you can set up on your roof or in your garden if your bird problem is severe.
So, in summary, while birds on your roof might look and sound nice, they can create issues long-term. That’s why taking small preventative measures is a good idea overall.