A squirrel job frequently leaves a short list of other work behind it, and the order that work happens in makes a real difference to what it costs.
Done in the wrong order, some of it gets done twice.
The right sequence
- Control work — the £280 visit
- Proofing — £180, once the space is confirmed clear
- Roofer, for any genuine repair to the covering, underlay, fascia or soffit
- Electrician, for anything gnawed near a cable run
- Plumber, for damaged pipework, tank lids or stripped lagging
- Clearing — contaminated material out
- Insulation back in
- Ceilings and decoration, last of all
Why that order and not another
- Proofing before the roofer is not always right — where a detail has actually failed rather than merely opened, the roofer's repair comes first and the closure follows. That is a judgement made on the day rather than a rule
- Roofer before insulation, always. Working on a roof drops debris into the space below it
- Electrician before insulation, always. Once the wool is down, the cable is buried
- Clearing before insulation, obviously — and it is the step most often skipped, with fresh wool laid straight over a contaminated nest
- Decoration last. A stained ceiling painted before the leak above it is fixed simply stains again
The expensive mistake. Redecorating a marked bedroom ceiling before anybody has established why it is marked. A stain after loft activity means water is getting in from somewhere, and paint does not address that.
Which trades are actually needed
Fewer than the list suggests, in most cases. A typical job needs the control work, the proofing, some clearing and some insulation. The roofer, plumber and builder come in only where there has been genuine damage — and knowing which of those apply is one of the things the proofing survey establishes.
The structural question
Gnawed timber is usually cosmetic: surface damage on the face or arris of a rafter or joist takes an insignificant fraction of the section. It is worth a builder's or surveyor's opinion where the damage is at a joint, a bearing or a truss plate, or where gnawed timber has also been damp — because decay follows moisture rather than gnawing.
Keeping the record
Photographs of everything before it is put right, dated notes of when the noise started and what was found, and copies of any certificates from the electrician. That file costs an evening and is what every subsequent conversation — insurance, a sale, a recurrence — turns on.
Questions
Do I need a roofer as well?
Only where a detail has genuinely failed rather than simply opened. The proofing survey establishes which.
Is gnawed timber a structural problem?
Usually not. It is worth an opinion where the damage is at a joint or a bearing, or where the timber has also been wet.
Can I decorate the ceiling now?
Not until you know why it is marked. Water is getting in from somewhere and paint will not stop it.
Squirrel Control Hadleigh
Squirrel control in Hadleigh is £280 fixed cost. Proofing work, where it is needed afterwards, is £180. Call 01502 630 122 and tell us what you have heard or seen.
For squirrel control in Hadleigh, call 01502 630 122, or read the Hadleigh squirrel control page.