Not All Wildlife Repairs Are Created Equal: A Better Way to Protect Soffit Returns
Soffit returns are one of the most common vulnerable areas we encounter on homes throughout Lexington and Central Kentucky.
Where an eave or soffit meets an adjoining roofline, the construction often creates a small area of flexible vinyl that can be surprisingly easy for a raccoon, squirrel, or other wildlife to manipulate. An animal can simply walk up the roof, reach the return, and begin pushing or pulling until it gains access to the attic.
Because of that, we repair and reinforce these areas regularly.
But how a soffit return is repaired matters.
Before: A Repair That Covered the Problem
This home had already received professional wildlife exclusion work from another company.
A piece of bright galvanized flashing had been installed over the outside of the soffit return and fastened through surrounding materials. From a distance, the repair was very noticeable against the lighter exterior of the home.
More importantly, the metal primarily covered the vulnerable area rather than reinforcing the flexible soffit behind it.
The installation also required screws through adjacent finished materials, leaving permanent holes that were not necessary to create an effective repair.
Our goal was to approach the same problem differently.
Expose the Actual Vulnerability
Our specialist Tim first removed the previous repair and carefully disassembled the soffit return.
Once opened, the construction behind the finished exterior becomes visible: the roof decking, framing, fascia and the channel that holds the vinyl soffit.
This is an important part of our process.
Rather than simply installing material over the outside of a vulnerable area, we want to understand the construction beneath it and build the repair into the structure of the home.
Reinforce It From Behind
Tim then custom fabricated a piece of Rezibond steel specifically for this return.
The steel was bent and hemmed for additional rigidity and fitted behind the finished soffit. Its attachment points allowed it to be securely fastened without unnecessarily drilling through surrounding exterior finishes.
This changes the function of the repair considerably.
The vinyl soffit is no longer being asked to resist an animal on its own. Behind it is a substantially stronger steel reinforcement tied into the surrounding construction.
Anyone can cover a vulnerable area. We believe in strengthening it.
Restore the Original Appearance
Once the reinforcement was installed, Tim began putting the original soffit system back together.
And this is another important part of our approach.
Wildlife exclusion doesn’t have to look like wildlife exclusion.
The steel does its job behind the finished surface while the original exterior materials continue to provide the appearance the home was designed to have.
Finished: Stronger Without Looking Repaired
The final photograph was taken from just a few feet away on the roof.
Even at that distance, very little evidence of the repair remains. From normal viewing distance on the ground, the work is essentially invisible.
Unfortunately, some holes from the previous installation remain in adjacent materials. Those components can be replaced when a homeowner chooses, although doing so can add significant cost. Whenever practical, our own repair methods are designed to avoid creating that type of unnecessary damage in the first place.
The finished soffit return now looks much like it did when the home was originally built — but underneath it is concealed steel reinforcement designed specifically to protect one of the home’s most vulnerable areas.
Compare More Than Arrival Times
Wildlife problems understandably create urgency.
When an animal is living in an attic, homeowners often begin by asking, “How soon can someone get here?”
That’s a reasonable question.
But we encourage homeowners to ask a few others, too.
How will the entry point actually be repaired? What materials will be used? Will the vulnerable construction be reinforced or simply covered? Will the repair blend into the home? Will surrounding materials need to be unnecessarily drilled, cut or damaged?
Those differences may not seem important while an animal is scratching above the ceiling.
They become much more important after the animal is gone and the repair remains on the house for years.
Compare reviews. Compare craftsmanship. Compare repair methods. Then decide who earns your trust.
At Trifecta Wildlife Services, removal is only part of the solution. We believe the repair that remains behind should receive just as much attention as the wildlife problem that brought us there in the first place.
