Tom Silva teaches Kevin O’Connor all about woodpecker damage. After explaining the different types of holes that woodpeckers make (and why they make them), Tom goes through his best tips for repairing existing damage. Tom even explains some convention (and not-so-conventional) options for keeping woodpeckers at bay.
Types of Woodpecker Damage
Woodpeckers can do lots of damage, and it’s helpful to be able to identify the type of damage. Large holes bored into the sides of the home are typically for nesting, so if the hole seems large enough for a bird, there’s a good chance they’re trying to make your home their home.
Small conical holes are actually used during mating seasons to attract mates. Small holes that aren’t necessarily conical are more likely a result of the woodpecker looking for food, which could indicate that there is a pest issue behind the wall.
Expert Insight: Kevin O’Connor consulted Paul Curtis, an associate professor and extension wildlife specialist at Cornell’s Department of Natural Resources, about woodpecker damage to cedar clapboards. Based on the damage description, Curtis identified it as the work of downy woodpeckers—a federally protected species he’s studied extensively in the field. Downy woodpeckers won’t hesitate to drill into house siding in search of insects or a warm roosting hole.
How to Fix Woodpecker Damage
There are several ways to handle woodpecker damage, but note that it’s important to look behind the damaged area for insects that may have attracted the woodpecker in the first place.
For large holes, removal and replacement is the best option. When replacing the siding on a home, it’s a good idea to save some of the shingles or clapboards. This way, if anything gets damaged, it’s possible to remove and replace the siding with the same materials. The same applies to large holes in soffits or corner boards.
For smaller holes, it may be possible to patch the holes with wood putty or an epoxy. Simply patch the holes, sand them flush, and paint the repair area.
Another option is to cover the damaged area with metal flashing and then paint it to match the home. This will effectively cover the damage, but bending flashing neatly can be difficult.
When replacing damaged clapboards, start by scoring the entire length of the damaged piece from end to end with a utility knife, about halfway up from its bottom (butt) edge. Be careful not to slice all the way through, or you may cut the builder’s felt underneath. Then gently tap a small pry bar underneath the butt edge, next to a nail, pulling the bar toward you — not pushing it — so you don’t mar or crack neighboring clapboards. Once the lower half breaks off, save it as a template for sizing the replacement piece.
Pro Tip: Tom Silva, This Old House general contractor, emphasizes the urgency of addressing any siding damage promptly: “Siding is a raincoat for your house. If you’ve got a hole in the raincoat, you’ve got problems.”
How To Prevent Woodpecker Damage
Woodpecker damage is preventable with the right steps. Shiny, moving objects like streamers and yard whirligigs placed in areas prone to woodpecker action work well to scare them off. Also, CDs placed on monofilament fishing line and left to dangle in the wind are an effective deterrent to keep them away.
One of the best options is to get a fake owl and place it in the area. Keep in mind that birds will get used to things in their environment, so it’s important to move the owl around the area frequently to prevent the woodpecker from foiling your plan.
Expert Insight: Kevin O’Connor, This Old House host, consulted Paul Curtis, an associate professor and extension wildlife specialist at the Cornell Department of Natural Resources, about woodpecker damage. According to Curtis, who has studied woodpeckers extensively in the field, “the only real option, in most cases, is to scare them away.” Helium-filled Mylar balloons at trouble spots are another option, though such scare tactics tend to work only temporarily — reinforcing the importance of regularly changing up your deterrents.
Resources
Tom explains how to identify woodpecker damage, what repair options there are, and how to prevent it.
Tom first explains the reasons woodpeckers may drum into your home could be for their March-May mating season or also because they are feeding on insects. He explains that similar clusters of cone-shaped holes are more likely for mating while irregular small holes are probably for feeding.
Tom explains damage can be anywhere on the exterior of the home but a few repair options include replacing cedar shingles, making a dutchman repair to siding or corner boards, the old painter’s method of nailing aluminum siding over holes, and using wood filler for smaller holes.
There are many options to deter woodpeckers. It’s important to remember that woodpeckers are federally protected birds, so all deterrents must be humane. Tom mentions the importance of highly reflective materials and materials with sudden, unpredictable movements.
Examples include mylar balloons, reflective streamers, CDs, reflective tape, or pinwheels. Tom notes that decoy predators can work as a deterrent but it is important to move them regularly around the property so that the woodpeckers do not become desensitized to them.
Pro Tip: Tom Silva warns against taking drastic measures with woodpeckers: “A flicker is a type of woodpecker and so is protected by state and federal wildlife laws. Don’t shoot it, no matter how frustrated you get, or you’ll end up in a heap of trouble.”
