"Curious though, has anyone tried those scent-based repellents like peppermint oil or predator urine?"
Tried peppermint oil last summer—smelled nice but squirrels didn't seem bothered at all, haha. Mesh screens worked way better for me too. Glad you got your attic sorted, that's a relief!
I've been inspecting homes for years, and honestly, those scent-based repellents seem pretty hit-or-miss. Peppermint oil does smell pleasant, but from what I've observed, rodents and squirrels quickly adapt to it. Predator urine might have a slightly better track record, but even then, animals can get used to scents if there's no actual threat present.
In my experience, physical barriers like mesh screens or hardware cloth are far more reliable long-term solutions. Animals simply can't chew through properly installed metal screens. Plus, sealing up entry points around vents, chimneys, and soffits is crucial—otherwise you're just treating symptoms rather than the root cause.
Glad to hear you found a roofing company that did right by you; good contractors can be tough to find these days. Did they also check for any hidden entry points or weak spots? Sometimes roofers overlook small gaps that pests exploit later...just something to keep an eye on.
I had a similar experience with peppermint oil at my place. Smelled great for about a day or two, but then the squirrels were back like nothing happened. Eventually had to bite the bullet and install metal mesh around the attic vents. Haven't seen a critter up there since, knock on wood. Glad you found a decent roofing company—good ones are rare these days. Did they suggest sealing around flashing and vents too? That's where I had most of my hidden entry points.
"Did they suggest sealing around flashing and vents too? That's where I had most of my hidden entry points."
Yeah, sealing around flashing and vents is key. I've inspected plenty of homes where folks thought they'd solved the critter issue, only to find tiny gaps around flashing that were basically welcome mats for squirrels and raccoons. Had a client recently who tried cayenne pepper—smelled like a taco stand up there, but critters weren't impressed. Mesh and proper sealing are really your best bet...sounds like you're on the right track now. Did your roofing company mention checking soffits too? Those sneaky little spaces can be trouble spots as well.
Had the same issue a couple years back—thought I'd sealed everything tight, but turns out I missed a tiny gap around one of the vents. Squirrels had a field day up there. Ended up using metal mesh and some heavy-duty caulk, and that finally did the trick. Never bothered with cayenne pepper though...sounds messy. Glad you found a decent roofing company; they're hard to come by these days.
