Asking the Roofers in Irving, TX: How Pest Birds Can Damage a Roofing System?

A Story in Review
December 20^th, 2008 – This was just another day. The queues of cars lined up at the Shell station, located in the Yuma County of Arizona. One by one they came, stationed and departed the gas station after being re-fuelled. Everything was going as per norm, when suddenly Ms. Chris Doss heard a loud bang as she seated herself in the car. The canopy of the gas station collapsed on top of a BMW and a Hummer. Luckily, no one was injured. But, Chris Doss believes had she been a little late she might have found herself under the wreckage. Police and firefighters immediately arrived at the scene. On inspection it was found that the actual cause for the collapse of the overhang was the pigeon droppings that had been loitering on the roof for over 20 years. Eventually, the weight of bird droppings became too much for the canopy to bear and it collapsed as a result.
This incident was reported on NBC News. The reason that we decided to share this incident with our readers is because of the continued queries that we receive from our clients in Irving, TX, asking us:
Can pest birds damage a roofing system?
Yes, they do. Those peaceful pecking birds found on our rooftops can damage our roofing systems and present serious problems – one that we only associate with extreme weather, hail and excessive weight load. In fact as long serving roofers in Irving, TX we have come across many cases where we had to fix roof damages caused by the pest birds. It is a major issue and considering it is largely ignored by majority of homeowners, we decided to blog on the subject. Please note that the information contained in this blog does not intend to deter a reader from calling for the services of a professional.

How Pest Birds Can Damage Your Roofing System?

They Can Degrade the Substrate Materials

Birds can degrade the substrate materials of a roofing system in two ways.
The first is through bird droppings that are acidic in nature because they contain uric acid. This high concentration of uric acid degrades tar based roofing materials and can cause granular loss from the roofing shingles. As per the studies conducted by New York Environment Department, the bird feces can reduce the life of a roofing system by almost 50 percent, especially if they are left to deposit over a number of years. And it’s not just the tar based roofing materials which are susceptible to corrosive damages from bird droppings. The uric acid can also corrode a metal roof. This may come as a surprise for many readers but this fact is well documented. In August 2007, a bridge in Minnesota collapsed after the steel beams rusted because of continued exposure to bird droppings. If you ever find signs of rust or corrosion on your roof shingles, please contact roofers in Irving, TX immediately.
Pest birds are often found pecking on a rooftop while searching for insects and grains. This pecking can degrade the substrate materials and cause punctures in your roofing system. A punctured roofing system gives way to roof leakages that cause water to infiltrate a building. It is important that these punctures are repaired in time by professional roofers in Irving, TX to avoid any inconvenience in the future.

They Can Discolor the Roof Tiles

Again, the bird droppings can discolor the roof tiles because of its acidic nature. Discolored roof tiles not only affect the energy conservation efficiency of a roofing system but it also devalues a property by impacting the aesthetics of a real estate. Furthermore, a discolored tile is susceptible to brittleness under UV exposure. Discolored roof tiles should be inspected by certified roofers in Irving, TX to assess the extent of damage.

They Can Cause the Ceiling to Collapse

Pest birds are always looking for enclosed spaces in homes where they can build their nests. As such, if they find any opening through roofs they can lodge inside the ceiling cavities, with attics being a preferred place. There, they discard their bodily waste and build nests which can add up to weigh in excess, eventually causing the ceiling to collapse. Moreover, since the nests are largely made from twigs and straw, they also carry fire hazards. And with most homeowners preferring to deploy home wiring through an attic, it only increases the chances of a potential fire breakout.

They Promote Development of Lichen and Moss

The most common type of lichen and moss found on roofs are Ascomycetes Foliose and Bryophyte Andeaeacea. The nutrients found in the bird droppings together with an alkaline roofing substrate provide ideal growing conditions for lichens and mosses. They can significantly deteriorate the service life of a roofing system.

What You Can Do?

There are a number of measures that you can take to minimize the damages caused by pest birds to a roofing system. Keep in mind, that it is a continuous cycle that needs to be regularly followed, especially, because it is hard to get rid of the pest birds completely. All the stated measures in no way are intended to cause any harm to the birds.

• Scheduled Maintenance: You need to develop a scheduled maintenance program for your roofing system with a company that provides professional roofing in Irving, TX. It could be a bi-annual or annual maintenance plan, whichever you feel is feasible for you.
• A Thorough Inspection: Contact local roofers in Irving, TX and ask for a thorough inspection of the roofing system. Identify any roof openings that may be used by pest birds to build a nest, and cover them. Look for any cracks that may serve as an infestation point for the lichens and moss, and fill them.
• Use Lay Perch Repellent Gel: Make sure that before you apply a lay perch repellent gel on your roofing system, you know everything about its chemical formulation. You cannot afford an adverse reaction between the gel and the substrate of your roofing system. For professional help, consult certified roofers in Irving, TX.
• Regularly Wash Down the Bird Droppings: To wash down the bird droppings you will need a powerful garden hose. However, make sure that water pressure is not too high as it could remove shingle granules.

Need Help?

Anderson Industrial Roofing has over 25 years of experience in roof maintenance and installation services. We provide certified and experienced roofers in Irving, TX and other adjoining areas. To schedule an appointment, please click here.