A flock of birds can be a pretty sight to see to many homeowners, that is until they land on your roof. At Roof Right, a residential roofing company in Maryland, we have seen our fair share of roof damage caused by birds and nests. Let’s take a look at what kind of damage our little flying friends can do to your roof and what you can do to prevent it.

Acidic Droppings

Bird droppings on your roof is a different experience in comparison to having it on your car. Having bird feces on your roof can cause damage overtime in large quantities and should be addressed when noticed. Not only is it unsanitary, bird feces is naturally acidic due to its high concentration of uric acid. The acidic properties of the bird feces can cause corrosive damage to the shingles of your roof and wear it down overtime. We recommend that you contact a professional for clean up or shingle replacements. You also have the option of cleaning the feces yourself but exercise caution when doing so. Bird feces contains over 60 diseases that can be transferred to humans and sometimes the results are fatal. Be sure to wear protective clothing and wear a mask. 

Chimney Problems

Birds will typically make their homes in hollow trees or roof gutters, but for some birds, they might prefer the chimney as an ideal nesting spot. Although bird nests on a chimney don’t present itself as a fire hazard, they can disrupt airflow and create blockage for smoke and carbon monoxide, causing it to linger in your home. Not only that, birds can occasionally slip and fall out of their nests and into your chimney (hopefully the fireplace isn’t in use when it happens). Have your chimney inspected and sweeped regularly before the colder seasons. We recommend that you consider having a chimney cap installed to deter unwanted guests from entering your home.  

Clogged Gutters

Roof gutters are an ideal spot for birds to settle down and build their nests. It’s one of the most common places for birds to nest that aren’t from mother nature. Gutters provide easy access to water and are typically the next best thing to trees. Unfortunately, having a bird nest on the gutter presents itself with problems that can really damage your roof. Birds will build their nests at spots where the gutters converge and connect to the downspout. This stops the water flow and can cause damage to the gutter and roof. Debris from the nest can also clog the gutters and affect your foundation stability. This is a really difficult problem to solve because you have to remove the nest without injuring yourself or the bird. We suggest that you call animal control and have them move the bird before you clean out the gutters. Then, inspect your gutters to ensure that water flows smoothly and evenly away from your home and its roof. You can also install gutter guards to prevent large debris from building up in the channels.

Shingle Damage

Birds like to hang out on your roof, so there’s a good chance that they might be vandalizing your shingles. Birds like to peck and tear away bits and pieces of shingles to use as building materials for their nests. Although the damage is usually small, it’s still enough to cause issues to your roof and increase the chances of having leaks in your home. If left unattended for too long, you might have some unwanted visitors in the attic scavenging for whatever they can carry with their beaks. If you notice a large gathering of birds on your roof, chase them off and check for shingle damage and if they need to be repaired or replaced.

Has Your Roof Been Damaged by Birds? Contact Roof Right for help! 

We are sensitive to the fear many homeowners may have when selecting a roofing contractor and understand that trust is something that has to be earned. We work hard to earn the confidence of each and every customer every day. Our company is dedicated to homeowners and their service needs, and we offer one of the best warranties in the industry.

Call us today at 410-374-5923 or email us at info@roofright.com