Contact us today at 970-460-4044. A: If you plug up the holes left by woodpeckers on outdoor structures without first ridding your property of what is attracting them, the winged backyard pests are liable to return to peck at the same or nearby sites. If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to ask! I had one such tree, and it did help. Woodpecker Damage: A Simple Solution to a Common Problem. WOODPECKER DAMAGE REPAIRS ABSOLUTE WILDLIFE CONTROL utilizes a proprietary blend of fiber and polymer modified resin mix to fill holes caused by woodpeckers and create a hard shell over the foam trim. Find Your Location. Answer: I would fill the hole with spray foam insulation. A woodpecker found some tasty carpenter bee larvae in this redwood trim board. Because EIFS stucco is one of the most popular cladding systems for buildings and commercial real estate, you can find standard and EIFS stucco damaged by woodpeckers everywhere. For a permanent bond on wood siding I have had much success using body fillers such as bondo. Once the damage is healed completely, remove all the tape. If you find yourself in the unenviable position of needing repairs, I hope my suggestions will help. by Kara Wenman 9/16/2019. Woodpeckers are more attracted to redwood and cedar siding over other woods, as well as stained trim wood over painted wood. 3. Granted, you may have to experiment to see what works for your problem. The insects themselves are very likely finding food of their own on or in the wood. However, if they find your house or trees appealing, the joy of bird-watching soon could become an annoying and costly problem. Hopefully, the continuous noise will frighten the woodpeckers away and keep them from setting up house. Homeowners' policies are designed to compensate a homeowner after catastrophic events, such as natural disasters, massive home structural damage and … Finally, if you have a dead tree in the yard, consider hanging a suet feeder (a wire cage with high-calorie bird food) from it to lure the birds to the dead wood and thus preserve living trees. The finished product is impenetrable by woodpeckers. Before making repairs to the tree, you should check to see if there is any bug infestation. The most foolproof way to prevent further damage to your home’s siding is to install strong, woodpecker-resistant James Hardie fiber cement siding. Some evidence suggests that woodpeckers are attracted to areas that exhibit woodpecker damage. Hang a fake owl or hawk on your home where woodpeckers frequent. Some methods for deterring woodpeckers are visual deterrents, noise makers, and patching the hole. 4. Expert advice from Bob Vila, the most trusted name in home improvement, home remodeling, home repair, and DIY. For starters, protect trees by mounting bird-repellent tape to tree trunks or hanging old mirrors from limbs: Their shiny, reflective surface will scare off nearby woodpeckers. Woodpecker Damage Repair is an excellent option if you notice the following damage to your home: Siding – Woodpeckers love to drill holes in siding, especially cedar shake siding, tongue and groove cedar siding, and other wood siding. If it looks real, it may scare them off. Woodpeckers that eat insects are much less problematic than woodpeckers that are sap eating. Plugging up holes left by woodpeckers in the following outdoor structures can prevent further woodpecker damage to your property. You can wrap the area with burlap, and tape with duct tape to protect the area. 2. Woodpecker Damage Repairs Our goal with every woodpecker pest control job we do is to repair these damages before installing repellents and deterrents to make them uncomfortable so they'll move on. Scrape the excess epoxy off before it dries. Woodpeckers causing damage to EIFS stucco is a common problem caused mostly by the Northern Flicker, a protected species in Canada. If you have been struggling with woodpeckers previously and now want to prevent them from coming back, you should focus on repairing the damage they have left. In fact, you may have to try several types of defensive deterrents at once to get the results you want. To keep woodpeckers from returning you can place sticky repellent sheets or tinfoil around the area of the damage. Q: Woodpeckers recently swooped in on my property and did a number on my cedar tree, siding, and roof. Prevention And Repair Of Woodpecker Damage. Woodpecker tree damage can cause trees to become diseased or even to die. Some people have found success using a sticky repellent like Tanglefoot Bird Repellent around the area or even deer repellent like Plantskydd to discourage additional feeding on the taped area. Watching woodpeckers is great fun, but the damage that they can cause is not. Usually, damage to a building involves only 1 or 2 birds, but it may involve up to 6 or 8 … Then comes the added problem as the sap begins to ooze from the tree. OsmoWeld bonds to wood without shrinking or cracking and returns strength to the damaged section of the pole. Our technicians are trained in the installation of bird deterrents, and once the animal has been removed, they will be able to repair any woodpecker damage left behind. If you have holes in your siding or deck, here is a simple way to repair the damage: Use lightweight structural adhesive epoxy putty. Home Repair & Maintenance; General Home Repair; Homeowner Policy and Woodpecker Damage By Shauna Zamarripa Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Thus damaged areas should be repaired to prevent woodpeckers from returning at a future time or used by other cavity nesting birds. Scrape away any excess with the putty knife when you’re done and allow it to air dry. James Hardie fiber cement siding is an excellent option to prevent woodpecker damage because it is: Woodpecker damage to trees can be a serious problem. Trees with woodpecker damage primarily confined to areas of dead wood are often salvageable. The woodpeckers pecked through the outside wood, then through the sheetrock, and into the house. Woodpecker Damage to a Minnesota Home Solved by James Hardie Siding. Overfill the entire hole in your siding when applying the filler; it’s critical that you leave no void uncovered, and excess putty is easily removed. By Manasa Reddigari and Bob Vila. We recommend starting with plugging up the holes in siding holes, roof shingles, and trees. Buildings or houses with wood exteriors in rural wooded settings or in suburbs near wooded areas are most apt to suffer hole and pecking damage. Note: If you are planning on painting, leave the epoxy slightly rough so that the paint will more easily cover it. Woodpecker Repair. Reply ↓ Judy Boker July 23, 2018 at 5:05 pm. Hello Frank, on: Woodpecker Damage Repair. Since I like to see the woodpeckers around my house, I'm not one who really likes to use a sticky repellent. Once a woodpecker has created holes in your siding, your house is vulnerable to other pests and unwanted guests. You can also opt to hang DIY wind chimes or plastic owls or hawks from tree limbs or siding or eaves of the home to frighten encroaching woodpeckers. This tape is good for the garden as well. Use lightweight structural adhesive epoxy putty. However, the sapsucker woodpecker forages in a different method for its food. But deer repellent does work. Woodpeckers create unsightly marks that weaken wood siding, making it vulnerable to rotting, mold, and leaks. If you hear repeated tapping and pecking noises against your house or roof, you can assume a woodpecker is making himself known. Insect eaters usually only feed or nest in already dead wood and are usually considered more or less harmless to a tree. Once you know how much damage your tree has suffered, you can make a plan to repair it. Investigate and remove any of the following insects from outdoor structures to reduce the likelihood of woodpecker damage from birds drilling for food on your property. However, it is also time for you to look for any damage that this tapping bird may be causing. Tape any bark that has become dislodged by the woodpecker using simple duct tape or strapping tape. Woodpeckers are more attracted to redwood and cedar siding over other woods, as well as stained trim wood over painted wood. Sometimes woodpeckers are pecking on a tree, but there is not a lot of damage. Whichever you may have, you still need to fix the damage. Home Repairs From Woodpecker Damage. Sometimes it takes a little work to coexist with a woodpecker, but it is doable. Then wash off soap with water. You can go to Home Depot and buy that Great Stuff foam, and spray it in the holes, then once it dries, use a saw to cut it flat, then paint it. Screw or nail a p… Partially used cartridges can be resealed and reused with a new nozzle. Ever wonder how to repair a hole made by a woodpecker? If the tree has bugs around the woodpecker holes you will need to get control of the bugs. You agree that BobVila.com may process your data in the manner described by our Privacy Policy. The succulent scent of the sap will draw insects, porcupines, and squirrels, further compromising the tree. The holes are often used by other birds to create nests or as access for bats, insects, and other critters. Habitat modifications for woodpeckers include covering areas of damage with netting, mesh, or metal. Polywater® UPR™ Utility Pole Repair makes it easy to repair woodpecker damage and pole line hardware holes on utility poles. Why? I am an avid self-taught gardener (I learn as problems arise), bird watcher, and nature lover. Sand the epoxy across the wood's surface so it blends in with the wood with light grade sandpaper. In this video Ryan shows how to repair such a hole. How do I plug up the holes they’ve left behind, and is there a way to prevent them from returning and creating more? Prevent any insects from invading the weakened area and disguise the site by painting or staining the repair over. Clean the tree with liquid dish soap and water wherever the holes may be on the tree. Woodpecker control quotes are always free. OsmoWeld ® and AquaWrap™ products are designed to repair woodpecker holes and other damage that results in a void to utility poles, including decayed and splitting tops. Check for holes and note how big they are. Anything that will flash or reflect light will create an unfriendly environment for the woodpecker. One example could be a spinning pinwheel. Best of luck! When woodpeckers damage EIFS and create holes in the finishing, you will need to replace the entire panel. Woodpecker damage repair, how to prevent them Woodpecker holes can be filled with wood putty, or steel mesh with polyurethane overlay. The home repair version is thicker than that used for … Leave the duct tape over the loose bark wound for three months and then check the damage to see if healing has occurred. If you have a dead tree in your yard, you can hang a suet feeder on the dead tree to draw the woodpeckers away from the home. Fixing the damage that woodpeckers cause to your home or trees can be a full-time job. Woodpecker damage is not covered by homeowners' policies. I really hope this was of some assistance to you. PHOTO CREDIT: Tim Carter A variety of woodpecker deterrents are available to keep woodpeckers away from outdoor structures after you have repaired them. Remove any debris. Copyright © 2020 Acton Media Inc. All rights reserved. Replace shingles or use wood putty to cover the holes that are already drilled woodpeckers. An epoxy putty product will easily repair the damaged wood. In fact, the sapsucker will continue to forage on the tree, eating the sap and the insects that are attracted to the sap of the tree, until it kills it. Your Best Defense Against Woodpecker Damage EIFS Armour is an anti-woodpecker exterior wall system. Often buildings have more than one damaged panel and we’ve seen anywhere between ten to three hundred holes in a building. Thus habitat modification, non-harmful harassment, and making repairs is what we recommend to people with woodpecker problems. After you’ve followed strategies to first get rid of potential food sources, use the methods below to effectively repair woodpecker damage in trees, siding, and roof shingles as well as prevent future attacks. Disclosure: BobVila.com participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for publishers to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. My house had over $7000 damage to it from woodpeckers. The first step is to examine your tree and determine how much damage has been done. Affordable Woodpecker Services Near You. Get your quote. You just hang the tape from the windows or outside beams and let it blow in the wind. One piece of advice: Since woodpeckers are looking for insects, you have to assume they have found the same in your siding. Woodpecker Damage, Repair, and Protection in Calgary Northern Flicker Woodpecker. This L-shaped hole was large enough for a large raccoon to enter. We can help you deal with a pesky woodpecker and also repair any existing damage while we’re there. Non-harmful harassment includes noise making, hanging of shiny objects, and the use of all kinds of predator facsimiles. This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional. Renew Your Home’s Beauty with Woodpecker Damage Repair. Question: How do you treat woodpecker damage to a red maple tree? Keeping them off your house can help prevent damage. The birds return annually, so it can cost tens of thousands of dollars to repair the woodpecker damage each year. Finding stucco damaged by woodpeckers is a common thing in Canada. The holes are from quarter size to 4in size. Epoxy putty is a commonly recommended wood filler for use in repairing woodpecker damage. Get A Free Quote. Some have found reflective tape to be a good deterrent. If you see long, straight holes appearing in your wood or synthetic siding, it's time for repair and damage control. Thus, before you repair the damage that a woodpecker has caused, it would be wise to check for insects, particularly termites. Once bugs are under control, wash the holes with liquid dish soap. Manasa Reddigari, Bob Vila, These Classic Vinyl Siding Colors Deliver Curb Appeal for Years, 7 Ways to Hide the Ugly Things Your House Can't Do Without, 7 Documents You're Probably Forgetting to Shred, 7 Natural Disinfectants You Probably Already Own. How to Repair a Tree from Woodpecker Damage. The problem of woodpecker damage to buildings may be significant regionally and locally. We have learned through years of experience these deterrents do not work. Keep an eye on the holes for the next three months to see how it is healing. Seven holes are visible here, some with insulation hanging out. Question: What material would you use to repair a hole in a foam column caused by a woodpecker? As a stucco contractor, our founder found himself returning to the same buildings every year to repair the damage caused by woodpeckers and flickers. We are experts in assessing a woodpecker problem and working with you to formulate the best possible solution for your situation. Woodpecker Damage Repair . If woodpeckers are creating holes in your house or deck, you have to be prepared for the possibility of them deciding to set up residence in some area of your home. Whichever you may have, you still need to fix the damage. Repair holes as soon as possible to prevent them from excavating a den and doing more damage. Family owned and operated since 1991, Goldshot Exterminating's AZDA Licensed Bird Control Pros do the best woodpecker deterrents and repellents installation and services in town. That tap-tap-tapping on your home’s siding isn’t just annoying—it’s damaging. Find licensed pros in your area and get free, no-commitment estimates for your project. For months, homeowners Michael and Kimberly Kaul of Stillwater, Minnesota were woken nearly every morning by a woodpecker jackhammering through their chimney. Use one of the products above and once you’ve noticed their absence for a while, go ahead and repair the woodpecker damage. Keep reading to learn more about how to prevent woodpecker damage and the steps for repairing woodpecker damage once it has happened. In addition to the intense noise, the pest created a softball-sized hole in their home. The birds will see a reflection, hear the noise, and fly away. Here are some simple ways to keep these birds from either nesting or creating holes in your house, porch, or deck. These holes measure at least 5"x5" each. Apply the structural adhesive epoxy putty liberally over the holes so that it sinks in. If you have holes in your siding or deck, here is a simple way to repair the damage: Most woodpeckers will leave healthy trees alone and scavenge dead trees for insects. It is a known fact that the sapsucker woodpecker can and does cause a lot of damage to trees. Answer: 1. Because of this it is important to stop woodpecker damage before it hurts or kills beloved trees in your yard. What about woodpecker damage repair? Notice the ineffective owl decoy in the lower left-hand corner. The best way to stop woodpecker damage i… It has no interest in dead wood like other woodpeckers, but prefers instead the sap of a live tree. Thus, it is important that you repair the damage before disease or other animals become attracted to the sap seeping from the tree. Damaged Stucco by Woodpeckers – Repair/Protection. Woodpecker Damage Repair There are numerous ways to deter woodpeckers from pecking on homes and businesses. Frank R. asked, What’s the best way to fill wood on the outside of the house that’s been pecked by woodpeckers? But sometimes, the woodpecker does not get the hint, and then it is repair time. If the wound is still in the process of healing, add more duct tape or strapping tape and wait an additional three months. Apply stain or paint after sanding. Once the areas on the tree are cleaned, let the open air heal the damage. Therefore, repair always should start with eradicating the insects that woodpeckers feed on. Woodpecker Damage. In most cases we include the repairs for woodpecker damage and woodpecker holes on your house with the work. We're able to do so almost all of the time and only occasionally recommend the customer call a … The two-part formula is mixed quickly and injected into the hole through the 8” mixing nozzle.