Once squirrels have been removed from a loft, the job isn't finished until every entry point has been found and properly closed off. Miss one gap, or repair it with the wrong material, and it's only a matter of time before another squirrel — or the same one — finds its way back in. Bracknell's varied roof styles, from older tiled pitches to newer boxed eaves, each have their own typical weak spots.
Common Entry Points on Bracknell Roofs
- Gaps where soffit boards meet fascias, especially where timber has softened or warped
- Damaged or missing sections of soffit vent covers
- Gable end vents and louvres, which squirrels can widen by gnawing
- Loose or slipped roof tiles, particularly along ridge lines and valleys
- Gaps around where pipes or cables enter the roof space
- Chimney flashing and stack junctions
How to Survey a Roof from Ground Level
Most entry points can be spotted without going onto the roof at all. Walk the full perimeter of the property in daylight and look up along the roofline with binoculars, checking soffits and fascias for dark gaps, splintered edges, or fresh chew marks — these often look different from old weathering damage, with paler, more recently exposed wood. Pay particular attention to any point where a branch, fence line or drainpipe gives a squirrel a direct route up to the roof edge, since entry points cluster around these access routes rather than appearing evenly around the house.
Why the Repair Material Matters
Timber offcuts, expanding foam and standard sealant are common DIY choices, but none of them hold up to a squirrel determined to get back into a familiar nesting site — foam and sealant can simply be chewed through, and timber patches without reinforcement are gnawed open again in the same spot. Proper proofing uses heavier-gauge materials, such as galvanised mesh or metal flashing, fixed securely enough that gnawing can't reopen the gap.
Why Timing Matters as Much as the Repair
Entry points should only be sealed once the loft has been confirmed clear. Blocking a gap while a squirrel — or worse, a litter of young — is still inside traps the animal in the roof space, which causes far more damage and distress than the original problem, and often results in a far more unpleasant secondary issue.
Getting a full, accurate list of entry points on a Bracknell property, and repairing them properly the first time, takes a trained eye and the right materials. Pest Services Berkshire carries out full exterior surveys as part of every squirrel control visit and can advise on or carry out lasting proofing work. Get in touch for a free quotation.
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