Most roof repairs start with a leak, storm damage or a flashing problem. This University Park repairstarted with something less common: a raccoon had physically opened the roof to get into the attic.
The homeowner knew raccoons were getting into the house because he had already chased one out of the attic. They were climbing the east side of the home and reaching a high section of roof that is difficult to access. Instead of finding an existing opening around a soffit or piece of trim, the raccoon actually pulled up and damaged the roofing materials enough to create its own entrance.
A Small Repair in a Difficult Location
The opening itself was not especially large, but its location made the repair more involved than the size might suggest. This is a tall home, and the damaged area was well above the ground on a section of roof with limited access.
Once we reached the area, we found several damaged and displaced asphalt shingles along with a small amount of damaged roof decking around the opening. The existing roof was an asphalt composition system with slate-colored laminated shingles.
The photographs from the repair show how localized the damage was, but they also make clear that this was more than simply a loose shingle. The raccoon had created an actual opening through the roof system.
Repairing the Roof Instead of Just Blocking the Opening
The homeowner contacted us on a Wednesday afternoon. With dry weather and a moderate workload at the time, we were able to return the following morning and make the permanent repair. There was no need to install a temporary tarp.
We removed the damaged roofing around the opening, repaired the affected decking and installed replacement laminated shingles in a slate color selected to blend with the existing roof as closely as practical.
With wildlife damage, simply preventing the animal from coming back is only part of the solution. Once shingles, underlayment or decking have been damaged, the roof still needs to be restored so it can properly shed water.
This repair was completed on a home in University Park, in the 75225 ZIP code between Hillcrest and Preston. It was a relatively small roofing project, but certainly not one of the more typical causes of roof damage we encounter in Dallas.
