Raccoon Damage to Homes

Raccoon damage to homes can get very expensive if you do not fix the problem immediately when they are in your home in the attic or one of the buildings attached to your home. They can make a hole in the roof or in the siding to get in. This allows rain and wind to do more damage. Some homeowners will have major water damage to ceilings and walls if there is a lot of rain or snow that gets into the attic.

In addition to the environmental damage, the raccoons may leave their scat or poop along with urine-soaked insulation in the attic. This only happens if you ignore the problem and let them live in your attic for some time. Perhaps you think that your homeowner’s insurance will cover all of the damages, remove the raccoons, and repair the damage they caused.

Raccoon Damage to Homes – Insurance Coverage

It comes as a surprise to most homeowners that their insurance company does not cover damage from animals. This is often one of the exclusions in the fine print that many homeowners never read until they are told their insurance does not cover this area. Of course, whoever expects to have thousands of dollars of damage from raccoons.

Act immediately as soon as you suspect that there are raccoons in the attic. Install a one-way trap door at the entry point so they can get out but not back in. Once you are sure they are out, replace the trap door with a permanent covering of heavy gauge wire mesh. The mesh will prevent them from getting back in.

If they have been in your attic for a few weeks, there is a chance that they will have had baby raccoons in your attic. You will have to either go into the attic and remove them yourself or wait until they are old enough to travel on their own before installing the one-way trap door. Failing to do this may cause the parents to tear another hole in your roof or siding to rescue their babies.

And yes, the homeowner’s insurance you pay for each month will not cover this expense either. For more information on damage by raccoons to your home, how they get in, etc., click here.