Good points overall, but I'd caution against assuming insulation issues always cause leaks. I've seen plenty of attics with tight insulation at the eaves and zero moisture problems. Sometimes leaks are just leaks—damaged shingles, flashing issues, or even clogged gutters.
"roofs can be sneaky like that—looking fine but secretly crying for help behind the scenes."
True enough, but don't overlook the obvious stuff first... saves a lot of headaches later.
Good reminder about checking the basics first. Had a client last month convinced his attic insulation was causing leaks—turned out squirrels chewed through some flashing. Roofs can definitely surprise you... always worth a second look before jumping to conclusions.
"turned out squirrels chewed through some flashing."
Interesting case—rodent damage seems to pop up more often than people realize. I've encountered similar situations, but usually it's raccoons or birds causing trouble around vent openings. Speaking of flashing though, have you noticed if certain materials seem more resistant to animal interference? I've been skeptical about claims that copper flashing deters wildlife... would be curious if anyone's observed a noticeable difference in practice.
Funny you mention copper flashing—I had a run-in with squirrels myself a couple years back. Thought I'd outsmart them by installing copper flashing around the chimney after hearing it was some kind of magical squirrel repellent. Well, turns out my local squirrels didn't get the memo. They chewed right through it like it was a gourmet snack. I swear, these critters must have teeth made of diamond or something.
After that fiasco, I switched to galvanized steel flashing, figuring at least it'd give them a tougher time. So far, so good... knock on wood. But honestly, I think it's less about the material and more about how determined your local wildlife is. My neighbor swears by aluminum flashing, but I've seen raccoons peel that stuff back like they're opening a can of tuna.
One thing I did notice though—if there's even the tiniest gap or loose edge, animals seem to zero in on it immediately. It's like they're trained inspectors looking for code violations. So whatever material you choose, make sure it's installed tight and flush. Otherwise, you're basically inviting them in for tea and biscuits.
At this point, I'm convinced the squirrels around here hold regular meetings to strategize their next move against my roof. Maybe I should just surrender and build them their own tiny house in the backyard...
Your squirrel story sounds way too familiar. Had a similar battle myself, but with raccoons instead. Tried aluminum flashing first, and like you said, they peeled it back effortlessly. Ended up reinforcing everything with galvanized steel and sealing every tiny gap with roofing cement—seems to have done the trick so far. You're spot-on about gaps; wildlife definitely has a sixth sense for weak points... Good luck out there!