Fix Raccoon Damage with Prevention in Mind

So the raccoons have gotten in the attic, what now?

After removal of the raccoons, the next step is a repair that lessens the chances that a raccoon intrusion will occur in the same way.

Fool Me Once…Fool me Twice

For obvious reasons, no one is too excited about having raccoons get in the house. But, as we’ll quickly attest, raccoons have the ability to find any structural weaknesses and exploit them. Raccoons happen.

Once the raccoons find a weakness in the design or maintenance of the structure, it is a wise homeowner that learns from this experience and takes the steps to PREVENT the issue from happening again.

We suggest tracing the steps of the raccoon’s intrusion and seeing how it could have possibly been avoided. This replay of events will dictate the needed repairs.

When we make repairs, we often reinforce the defenses in areas where the design gives raccoons extra opportunity.

To illustrate this point,consider these pictures:

This is taken looking up toward the peak of a roof on the side of a house. The chimney is on the outside of the house and there is vinyl soffit under the eave. A raccoon was able to peel back the soffit by either reaching over the edge of the roof and/or working off the chimney. The electrical service is also close by. This combination of elements gave the raccoon enough stability to overcome the obstacles in its path and get in. Maybe some loose soffit caught the raccoon’s attention, but, in reality, the “weakness” exploited by this raccoon really wasn’t all that weak to start. This is a determined raccoon for sure.

Obviously, the soffit needs replaced/repaired.

This is easily accomplished, but is it good enough? Remember, our challenge is to not be fooled a second time.

In this case, the client opted to take our suggestion and truly raccoon-proof this area by shoring up the design.

Here is a better visual of the area overall and one that shows a key element in the prevention fix: some strategically placed plywood. Adding the plywood under the soffit material in this area will do the trick. If ever a raccoon were to peel back the soffit again, the extra defense of the plywood would then repel the intrusion. We guarantee it!