It’s a problem we all face that only a seldom few have had the misfortune of experiencing: a bird dropping a little present on your head as you walk down the street. It’s an instant day restarter: you have to immediately go home, take a shower, and completely reboot your day. Now try to imagine how your roof feels when that happens hundreds of times per year. In this post, we will explore the damage that bird poop can cause to your roof and how to prevent this from happening.

Damage Caused by Bird Droppings

Fun fact for the day: birds do not have a bladder. Meaning, inside the fowl’s stomach they store food and liquid together, hence the watery nature of their droppings. The droppings are comprised of uric acid, which gives their droppings a pH level of 3-4.5. This low level eats through paint. Short term there is little damage but long term (over multiple seasons) the excrement causes worn-out shingles, missing granules, and weak spots. Primarily, this creates leaks and holes.

How to Remove Bird Poop

The sooner you address bird pop, the easier it is to clean it up. Whether you are cleaning bird poop off the side of your house, the patio, or concrete, do not wait. The easiest method to remove bird droppings is to use a garden hose at low pressure. A simple cleaning solution of dish soap and water usually gets rid of bird poop.

DIY Bird Poop Cleaning Solution

You can create your bird poop stain remover. Mix 1 teaspoon of mild dish soap with 2 cups of lukewarm water in a small bowl.

• Gently: Dip a clean cloth or paper towel into the solution.

• Blot: Gently blot the stain with the cloth, working from the outside of the stain inwards to prevent spreading.

• Change: Frequently change to a clean area of the cloth as you blot to avoid re-depositing the stain.

Other options include using a bird poop cleaner. Enzyme cleaners are specifically designed to break down organic matter like bird poop. Follow the product instructions carefully. You can also hire a professional but like the previous option, this gets expensive.

How to Keep Birds Away

Short of utilizing bird spikes, which work great for commercial buildings but are an eyesore in a residential area, we have a few more practical options.

• Trim overhanging trees: birds are simple creatures and eliminating a place where they congregate, which happens to be above your roof, will alleviate your issue

• Remove nests: physically removing a nest, in a humane way, will discourage birds from returning

• Use bird deterrents: these include a plastic owl or a different predator strategically placed so that the birds will see it can be effective. You can also purchase fake bird of prey eyes which are essentially balloons

• Sound recordings: playing sounds of other predator birds over a speaker will tell birds to avoid the area. High-frequency sounds are effective but dogs can also hear these

• Cover shingles with deterrent gel: we found some online for $77 or it can be purchased at Lowe’s. It is invisible but will make life more difficult for the birds

When to Hire a Professional for Bird Control

Bird droppings are unsightly, damage your property, and can be a health hazard. If birds are nesting on or in your house, you need to consider calling a professional. Bird infestations can quickly become a nightmare, resulting in widespread damage to both residential and commercial properties. If left unchecked, these avians can wreak havoc on structures, potentially leading to costly repairs and even some health hazards. 

Contact a professional wildlife service like Critter Control of the Triad to humanely remove the birds from your property.