"Twice a year is solid advice, but honestly, if you've got trees close to your roofline or previous critter issues, I'd even bump it up to quarterly checks... learned that the hard way myself."
Quarterly checks seem pretty thorough, especially with those sneaky squirrels around. I've noticed that some roofs seem to attract more wildlife than others, even when they're similar in design and location. Makes me wonder if certain roofing materials or colors might be more appealing to critters. Has anyone else noticed if asphalt shingles versus metal roofing makes a difference in how often animals try to move in?
I manage a few properties, and it's interesting—one building with metal roofing rarely has issues, while another with traditional shingles seems like a squirrel magnet. Could it be something about the texture or warmth? Or maybe it's just random luck...
Also curious if trimming back branches really helps as much as people say. I've seen squirrels leap impressive distances, so does cutting branches back actually deter them, or do they just get more creative?
Quarterly checks make sense, especially if you've got a squirrel circus performing on your roof like I do. Honestly, I think you're onto something with the roofing materials. My neighbor switched to metal roofing last year, and suddenly his place is critter-free, while mine (still asphalt shingles) remains the neighborhood squirrel Airbnb.
Branch trimming helps a bit, but squirrels are basically furry ninjas—they'll find a way if they're determined enough. I trimmed back branches last summer thinking I'd solved the issue, only to watch one leap from a fence post onto my gutter like it was nothing. Pretty sure he gave me a smug look afterward too...
At this point, I'm convinced it's partly luck and partly material choice. Metal roofs probably don't offer as much grip or warmth as shingles do. Might have to bite the bullet and upgrade eventually—though my wallet isn't thrilled about that idea.
I've been debating metal roofing myself, but I've heard mixed things about noise levels during heavy rain. Anyone here with metal roofs notice a big difference in sound compared to shingles? I don't mind a little white noise, but if it sounds like living inside a drum every storm, that might be a dealbreaker for me...
I've installed quite a few metal roofs, and honestly, the noise thing comes up a lot. It really depends on your insulation and attic setup. If you've got decent insulation, you probably won't notice much difference from shingles. I've had customers tell me they actually enjoy the gentle tapping sound during rain—kind of relaxing. But if your attic is bare bones, yeah, it can get a bit drum-like. What's your attic situation like?
We switched to a metal roof about two years ago, and honestly, I was pretty worried about the noise at first. Our attic isn't exactly bare bones, but it's not super insulated either—just basic fiberglass batting between the joists. I remember the first big storm after installation; I was bracing myself for a sleepless night, picturing something like living inside a snare drum.
But surprisingly, it wasn't bad at all. Yeah, you can definitely hear the rain more clearly than with shingles, but it's actually kind of soothing. My wife jokes that it's nature's white noise machine. Funny thing is, our dog used to freak out during storms when we had shingles—she'd pace around anxiously—but now she curls up and sleeps right through them. Maybe there's something calming about that steady tapping?
I think you're spot on about insulation making the difference though. My brother-in-law has a metal roof too, but his attic is basically just plywood and rafters—no insulation whatsoever—and when it rains hard at his place, you can barely hear yourself think. He ended up adding some insulation later on (spray foam, I think?), and it made a huge difference.
So from my experience, even moderate insulation can really tone down the noise factor. And honestly, now that I've gotten used to it, I'd probably miss the sound if we ever switched back to shingles. It's funny how quickly something new becomes normal...
