Cedar wood siding may look fabulous, but it comes with a price tag: its vulnerability to pests like termites, woodpeckers, and even squirrels. The problem with squirrels is that they chew holes through cedar siding, allowing other pests to nest in their holes. Water can also infiltrate the holes, setting the stage for wood rot, mold, and mildew in your siding.
Dayton homeowners who try to plug the holes made by squirrels in their siding find that it drives the squirrels to another location in their home siding to create yet another hole!
The only way to break the vicious cycle of squirrel damage is to install siding they can’t chew through.
Natural Attempts to Decrease Squirrel Damage
Cut Back Trees and Bushes
Trim or reduce the trees and bushes that currently give squirrels easy access to your home.
Add Porcupine Wire
Secure porcupine wire over the areas where squirrels usually sit when they chew on your siding. This will help deter them from chewing more holes in your siding.
Spread Repellent
Next, spread a tactile repellent like “Birds Away” on the areas squirrels chew. They don’t like the thick sticky material in their fur, and it will help deter them from destroying your siding.
Spray Deterrent
Next, spray a taste deterrent like “Ropel” on your home siding. It makes your wood siding taste bad, and squirrels will be deterred from damaging your home siding. This needs to be reapplied after a hard rain.
Add Roofing Cement
Apply roofing cement to any areas where squirrels chewed your siding. They won’t like the taste of the roofing cement (tar), and it will discourage them from chewing up your siding.
Once a home’s structure has been compromised due to squirrel damage, if it’s not repaired promptly, snowfall, high winds, or other outside stress can cause it to collapse. Squirrel damage can cost you thousands of dollars in repairs, which usually can’t be claimed on insurance.
Why not just prevent the squirrel damage in the first place? Get squirrel proof siding for your home, and get your free time back!
A Squirrel Proof Siding Solution
If you’re tired of dealing with squirrel damage, it’s time to look for a solution that will simplify your everyday life and protect your home for the long term.
You can avoid wildlife damage by installing fiber cement siding. This durable siding solution is made of cement, sand, and cellulose. It doesn’t attract pests like termites or carpenter ants, and both squirrels and woodpeckers have no reason to try to create nests in it because of its makeup.
The Most Popular Brand of Fiber Cement
James Hardie fiber cement siding is the most popular siding in America. Squirrel-proof your home exterior by installing reliable Hardie siding and protecting it from the pesky damage of squirrels, birds, ants, and even termites.
Win the battle against squirrel damage by preventing it once and for all with Hardie siding.
The Power of Protection with Hardie Siding
Get the reliable protection your home needs with Hardie siding. Hardie siding resists pests like squirrels and birds, but that’s only one of the many reasons homeowners love this exceptional product.
- Moisture resistance—Hardie siding is durable and reliable against water intrusion. Avoid the hassles of water infiltration with strong fiber cement siding.
- Fire resistance—Noncombustible Hardie siding will not contribute to a fire, and some insurance companies even give discounts to homeowners with this protective siding.
- Weather resistance—Engineered for climate, Hardie siding is made to stand up to the specific weather for the region in which it is installed. The HZ5 product fights cold, snow, ice, and extreme temperature variations. Its high-performance surface gives it superior paint adhesion and moisture resistance. Its drip edge provides improved water management. This siding product was engineered with Dayton, OH weather in mind, and will stand up to it for decades.
- Fade resistance—James Hardie ColorPlus technology gives you factory baked-on color that won’t fade in the sun. Get a gorgeous home that will keep looking beautiful for years to come.
- UV resistance—ColorPlus technology stands up to the harsh impact of the sun. The UV rays won’t damage your siding’s looks, so you can keep enjoying the exterior color you chose for many years.
- Outstanding warranty—James Hardie siding comes with a transferable, non-prorated 30-year warranty. As long as you have your siding installed by a James Hardie Preferred Contractor, your warranty will be honored.
- Low maintenance—Hardie siding stands up to the weather and pests, so you won’t need to do the repairs most homeowners do after a storm, or due to pest infestation. Simply wash your Hardie siding twice a year with a garden hose and medium bristle nylon brush. Inspect your caulking twice a year to verify it is still in good condition. Replace caulking as needed if it starts to deteriorate in order to keep your home well sealed.
- Beauty—The gorgeous style of Hardie siding will make you love coming home again.
- Durability—Hardie siding lasts up to 50 years when it’s installed properly and maintained well.
- Customization—Choose from popular siding styles:
- HardiePlank lap siding—Timeless look
- HardiePanel vertical siding—Board-and-batten look
- HardieShingle siding—Looks like cedar shakes
- HardieTrim—The perfect finish
- HardieSoffit—Protects your home
Find out more about James Hardie in our “Complete Hardie Siding Guide”
Reliable Siding Installation
At American Way Exteriors, we specialize in James Hardie siding installation. We are the only James Hardie Elite Preferred Contractor in the area, and we install your siding according to the strict standards outlined by the James Hardie company, ensuring your 30-year transferable, non-prorated warranty is honored.
We offer convenient financing options so you can address your home exterior upgrades with ease. Learn more about our James Hardie siding services today.