Spring has sprung. Even in Rochester, we are finally seeing sunshine, flowers, and birds returned from the south. But that also means that woodpeckers are out and about and not always sticking to nature, as they should. Each spring woodpeckers try to find sustenance not only in the trees but oftentimes in the wood siding on homes as well. While the noise of a woodpecker knocking at your home may seem like the most annoying part of the problem, there’s a lot to watch out for if you find a woodpecker at your door.
Why Is The Woodpecker Here?
According to the experts at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, there are a few reasons that woodpeckers may start hammering at your home.
- Woodpeckers don’t just pound away to find food, the noise they make also declares their territory and attracts a mate. Your house may make the best sound in the neighborhood.
- Woodpeckers often try to create nest cavities (usually in April and May) and maybe making an attempt to live right where you do.
- They’re looking for food and the small irregular holes they are drilling in the sides of your home may indicate that you have some insects that made a home in your walls before the woodpecker did.
- Even if they are not looking for food the woodpecker may be hammering at your home to make holes to store the food it finds elsewhere.
Considering what the woodpecker damage looks like will help determine the reason a woodpecker has appeared nearby. It can also indicate whether significant structural damage to the building needs to be addressed.
How To Keep Woodpeckers Away
There is no one solution for ridding your home of a woodpecker, though a recent study conducted in Ithaca did offer a few options to prevent or deter the species from making their homes besides yours.
- Installing Iri Tape, a holographic tape that flashes in the sun and makes noise when it’s windy has been shown to deter woodpeckers when attached to a home.
- When painting a home it is recommended that homeowners avoid earth-tone paints and stain colors, especially in large wooded areas.
- Brightly painted homes (including those in white, or pastels) were shown to be less attractive to woodpeckers overall.
Woodpecker-Resistant Materials
When taking on a new construction project it is important to consider the future of the structure and the nature that resides in the surrounding area. If woodpeckers have been known to be a nuisance there are a few materials to avoid and a few more to consider when building or modifying a home.
It is recommended that anyone worried about woodpecker damage avoid the use of wood, plywood, or wood composites for siding, as those are the most attractive materials for a woodpecker in general. Vinyl siding is a much better option and what most people opt for when replacing their wood siding after woodpecker damage. It is also important to remember that even if a structure is made of a recommended siding material, wood present on any other portion of the building may still attract a woodpecker in your neighborhood.
Be sure to repair damage from woodpeckers as soon as possible to prevent any further harm to your home. Holes in siding can let additional moisture into the interior structure and foundation of your home. Contact us today if you think you need to replace your wood siding with a durable, vinyl option that will protect your home and prevent future woodpecker damage.