# Educate me about flashing, weather and squirrels **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 9, 2007, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/educate-me-about-flashing-weather-and-squirrels/395257 "2007-03-09T15:38:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![rivulus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@rivulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rivulus)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/educate-me-about-flashing-weather-and-squirrels/395257/1 "2007-03-09T15:38:29Z")
We are having squirrel and roof issues. We recently bought a new home that was a rehab (i.e. 100 year-old home, but with all new systems, etc.) The rehabbing company put on a new roof 2 years ago, but did not finish the job in terms of final details (like flashing) to make it secure against weather and animals, and then let it sit on the market for a year while fuzzy creatures moved in. During the inspection process in January, we had roofers come out and see what work remained and get estimates – but for some reason they did not discover the 12 squirrels holes that had been nibbled out over the past year! OK, so now that spring is approaching, the roof is teeming with millions of squirrels (c’mon, I had to say it!). We called a pest control company, and along with trapping them and blocking the holes with mesh and whatnot, they recommend installing flashing that goes under the edge of the shingles and down to the gutters – in steel, I think, but not aluminum, which the squirrels can apparently chew through. Since we were going to get flashing installed anyway, for weatherproofing purposes, who should we have do it? Apparently, we might be able to ask the roofers to do it, and just request something better than aluminum they would normally install. Alternatively, we could have the pest control guys install it. But will the pest-flashing do the water-resisting job that we need?? Is it all the same thing? ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/educate-me-about-flashing-weather-and-squirrels/395257/2 "2007-03-09T15:49:15Z")
I had a _completely_ different notion as to what this thread was going to be about before I actually read your OP. -FrL- ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/educate-me-about-flashing-weather-and-squirrels/395257/3 "2007-03-09T15:56:55Z")
Nitpick: Flashing is not a fine detail. It is a crucial element of the job. The flashing is installed \*before \*the shingles go down. I have no idea why they felt that they could wait a year before finishing the job, but I wouldn’t let those guys anywhere near my property if I were you. They missed 12 squirrel holes? Unforgiveable. Ask around for a qualified roofer or general contractor who will inspect the roof for water damage, and make whatever repairs are necessary. Ask for references. Consider suing the previous guys for whatever it costs. They seriously screwed up. ---
**Author:** ![Slypork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc29f/32.png) [@Slypork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slypork)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/educate-me-about-flashing-weather-and-squirrels/395257/4 "2007-03-09T16:46:59Z")
[QUOTE=Frylock] I had a _completely_ different notion as to what this thread was going to be about before I actually read your OP. -FrL- [/QUOTE] Yeah, I was going to say, “I don’t care what the weather is like, do not flash squirrels or they will go after your nuts.” ---
**Author:** ![rivulus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@rivulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rivulus)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/educate-me-about-flashing-weather-and-squirrels/395257/5 "2007-03-09T17:55:45Z")
Yeah, I considered clarifying what I meant by “flashing,” but then I thought, why ruin the fun? But seriously, is the flashing the pest guy wants to install the same as the kind a roofer would install anyway? In other words, do I say “No thanks, pest control guy, I am going to have my (new, qualified, referred, bonded, insured, etc., etc.) roofer install this instead, since they were going to have to take care of it anyway for water-proofing reasons, and it will keep the squirrels out too?” ---
**Author:** ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/educate-me-about-flashing-weather-and-squirrels/395257/6 "2007-03-09T18:01:00Z")
[QUOTE=rivulus] Yeah, I considered clarifying what I meant by “flashing,” but then I thought, why ruin the fun? But seriously, is the flashing the pest guy wants to install the same as the kind a roofer would install anyway? In other words, do I say “No thanks, pest control guy, I am going to have my (new, qualified, referred, bonded, insured, etc., etc.) roofer install this instead, since they were going to have to take care of it anyway for water-proofing reasons, and it will keep the squirrels out too?” [/QUOTE] Sure, it’s probably the same stuff and might be applied with the same quality, but I would still have a roofer do the work. For all the reasons you state plus they could knock it out in short order. I think the pest guys would not be as quick or as craftsmanlike as the roofers. ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/educate-me-about-flashing-weather-and-squirrels/395257/7 "2007-03-09T18:03:42Z")
[QUOTE=Contrapuntal] Nitpick: Flashing is not a fine detail. It is a crucial element of the job. The flashing is installed \*before \*the shingles go down. I have no idea why they felt that they could wait a year before finishing the job, but I wouldn’t let those guys anywhere near my property if I were you. They missed 12 squirrel holes? Unforgiveable. Ask around for a qualified roofer or general contractor who will inspect the roof for water damage, and make whatever repairs are necessary. Ask for references. Consider suing the previous guys for whatever it costs. They seriously screwed up. [/QUOTE] I’ll second everything in this post. ---
**Author:** ![rivulus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@rivulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rivulus)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/educate-me-about-flashing-weather-and-squirrels/395257/8 "2007-03-09T18:44:12Z")
[QUOTE=Uncommon Sense] Sure, it’s probably the same stuff and might be applied with the same quality, but I would still have a roofer do the work. For all the reasons you state plus they could knock it out in short order. I think the pest guys would not be as quick or as craftsmanlike as the roofers. [/QUOTE] Thanks, I will start finding a good roofer, then! ---
**Author:** ![rivulus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@rivulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rivulus)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/educate-me-about-flashing-weather-and-squirrels/395257/9 "2007-03-09T18:52:12Z")
[QUOTE=Contrapuntal] Nitpick: Flashing is not a fine detail. It is a crucial element of the job. The flashing is installed \*before \*the shingles go down. I have no idea why they felt that they could wait a year before finishing the job, but I wouldn’t let those guys anywhere near my property if I were you. They missed 12 squirrel holes? Unforgiveable. Ask around for a qualified roofer or general contractor who will inspect the roof for water damage, and make whatever repairs are necessary. Ask for references. Consider suing the previous guys for whatever it costs. They seriously screwed up. [/QUOTE] Based on what you say, I’m now kind of pissed with the roofers we had inspect the place. They should have caught the animal damage. We won’t be using them for the repairs, believe me. As for the original rehabbers, we at least had the foresight to have money held in escrow at closing for roof repairs. Since they never got around to finishing by the deadline, we have about $3000 coming to us. So it may not be worthwhile suing at this point, as long as we can get this cash that the title company is holding – and then get our own (new) roofers to do the job right. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/educate-me-about-flashing-weather-and-squirrels/395257/10 "2007-03-09T19:15:36Z")
[QUOTE=rivulus] Based on what you say, I’m now kind of pissed with the roofers we had inspect the place. They should have caught the animal damage. We won’t be using them for the repairs, believe me. As for the original rehabbers, we at least had the foresight to have money held in escrow at closing for roof repairs. Since they never got around to finishing by the deadline, we have about $3000 coming to us. So it may not be worthwhile suing at this point, as long as we can get this cash that the title company is holding – and then get our own (new) roofers to do the job right. [/QUOTE] If all you need is flashing, and to repair some (unknown) water damage, $3,000 should be plenty. The reason I suggest a general contractor, or perhaps a company that specializes in home repair, is that roofers tend not to like small jobs. They make their money but paying low wages and knocking out whole houses at a time. You need someone who is experienced at diagnosing water damage. It is worth it to pay him/her a consulting fee just to be sure a proper diagnosis is made. After you know exactly what needs to be done, you may decide to have a roofer do the work. FWIW, it would not be a bad idea to have the entire job inspected. These first guys sound like a bunch of jack-legs to me, which, unfortunately, is not uncommon in the roofing trade. There is no telling what else they may have screwed up. (Apologies to conscientious roofers everywhere.) ---
**Author:** ![rivulus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/839c29/32.png) [@rivulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rivulus)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/educate-me-about-flashing-weather-and-squirrels/395257/11 "2007-03-09T20:28:49Z")
[QUOTE=Contrapuntal] If all you need is flashing, and to repair some (unknown) water damage, $3,000 should be plenty. The reason I suggest a general contractor, or perhaps a company that specializes in home repair, is that roofers tend not to like small jobs. They make their money but paying low wages and knocking out whole houses at a time. You need someone who is experienced at diagnosing water damage. It is worth it to pay him/her a consulting fee just to be sure a proper diagnosis is made. After you know exactly what needs to be done, you may decide to have a roofer do the work. FWIW, it would not be a bad idea to have the entire job inspected. These first guys sound like a bunch of jack-legs to me, which, unfortunately, is not uncommon in the roofing trade. There is no telling what else they may have screwed up. (Apologies to conscientious roofers everywhere.) [/QUOTE] The $3000 will also have to cover repairs of a couple of areas of flat roof (a small balcony thingy and a porch cover) that were shingled (stupid idea!) but need that special flat-roof covering instead. Not to mention the price of squirrel trapping (which really adds up when you have a bunch!). Oy. I really appreciate the advice, by the way, and we will be asking around among our friends for recommendations on good contractors/roofers. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/educate-me-about-flashing-weather-and-squirrels/395257/12 "2007-03-09T21:14:00Z")
[QUOTE=rivulus] The $3000 will also have to cover repairs of a couple of areas of flat roof (a small balcony thingy and a porch cover) that were shingled (stupid idea!) but need that special flat-roof covering instead. Not to mention the price of squirrel trapping (which really adds up when you have a bunch!). Oy. [/QUOTE] If you can wait until after your roof is repaired, you might want to invest in a couple of [Hav-a-Hart traps](http://www.bestnest.com/bestnest/search.asp?src=googleaws&searchcrit=hav-&kw=havahart_traps) and do the job yourself. Actually, trapping the squirrels before the roof is repaired would be pointless, come to think of it. ---
**Author:** ![Phlint](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c89c15/32.png) [@Phlint](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlint)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2007, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/educate-me-about-flashing-weather-and-squirrels/395257/13 "2007-03-09T21:35:44Z")
Well, if you’re interested in squirrel traps (or just a laugh) you might want to check out this [squirrel trap](http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1013001935981918780&q=squirrel+catapult&hl=en) .