Raccoon Prevention at Gable Vent
Once upon a time (pre mid-1970s), gable vents were installed as the primary means of venting attics. With our older housing stock in the Akron, Canton, Kent area, you’ll see many gable vents still out there, especially in the Cape Cod designs.
The picture to the right is a pretty standard example of what a gable vent looks like.
As a result, nuisance animals getting into the attic by going through gable vents is a common occurrence we at Frontline Animal Removal see. Bats, birds, squirrels, and raccoons all make use of gable vents.
When we encounter animals using gable vents, it is standard practice to ensure the animals are gone and make a repair to keep future animals out. This is often done by installing screening for the gable vents. This can best accomplished from the outside (preferred) or the inside (not best for bat or bird prevention).
An outside screen after removal often looks like this.
The screen used is vinyl-coated steel that is screwed in. It has to be strong as raccoons are strong. And, the screen has to be rust-proof for longevity. It is a good option in some cases.
But, with all this in mind, today’s post shows that there is sometimes a different way to raccoon-proof an old gable vent. And that method is to remove the gable vent or cover it completely.
Are Gable Vents Necessary?
In the mid-1970s gable vents started to fade into obscurity with new construction as the ridge vent became the industry standard. For the last 40 or so years, the ridge vent/soffit vent combo has been the king of roof ventilation.
As a result, many older homes with gable vents have had ridge vents installed over the years as re-roofing became necessary. So it is very possible to find a home with both ridge vents and gable vents.
When we find nuisance animals entering an attic through a gable vent that also has a ridge vent system, sometimes the best raccoon prevention is to just get rid of the gable vent to get rid of any future raccoons’ opportunity.
That is what Ryan did at the home in this video.
Since the gable vent was not necessary for proper roof venting, Ryan and the homeowner made the decision to cover it over with a stout piece of OSB. This assures that raccoons won’t force their way through the old gable vent still underneath. With the eave mostly protecting this from the elements, a matching coat of paint, and some excellent caulk, this repair/prevention step will last for years.
Siding over a vent removal is also possible in many cases. Just remember the cautionary note contained in this video from a couple of months ago: make sure the area is solid however the repair is done.
Removal & Prevention of Raccoons | Akron, Canton, Kent
In order to solve a raccoon-through-the-vent problem, the offending raccoons need removed and the weak area needs raccoon-proofed in some form.
Lucky for those of you in the Akron, Canton, Kent metro area, Frontline Animal Removal is good at raccoon removal AND raccoon repairs.
No matter the vent, we can help you get the vents and attic raccoon free. If a raccoon is getting into a building through a vent and you’d like it to stop, give us a call.
