Create a barrier between the woodpecker and the house. To deter woodpeckers from homes, individuals can use motion-detector sou nd machines placed in areas commonly inhabited by the pests. Woodpeckers are 7 to 15 inches long, have short legs, sharp-clawed toes and stiff tails. Once a woodpecker drills holes in your home, more of them will likely be drawn to the area. It is possible to stop woodpeckers from pecking the house if you eliminate them with special products. Woodpeckers prefer coniferous trees, cedar and mahogany, especially if the material has retained its natural properties after being processed. Also, setting up netting at least three inches away from homes can prevent drilling and drumming. Insects may crawl into the holes and infest your house, exacerbating the problem. Once one woodpecker drills holes in your home, more will be drawn to the area. Because most woodpeckers peck homes to reach insects, an insect-free home goes a long way to control this pest. Insects may crawl into the holes and infest your house, further exacerbating the problem.To repair existing holes, seal each one with smooth application of putty, let dry, then coat with a polyurethane or oil-based paint. Preventative Maintenance – If you’re preparing to re-side or re-roof your house, you can help prevent a woodpecker problem by choosing siding or shingles that aren’t made of wood. Reflective “scare” tape has a better track record than most other woodpecker deterrents. If scare tactics don't work, create a physical barrier by screening the drumming site with hardware cloth, sheet metal, or nylon bird netting. Woodpeckers cause property damage by drilling holes in wood and synthetic stucco siding and eaves, and are an annoyance when hammering or “drumming” on houses. Woodpecker prevention starts with eliminating their food source. The main problem with these birds is that they peck holes. These include houses with aluminum siding, as well as the trim boards and fascia boards of any wood, brick, and stucco homes. You will need to place long strips of this tape dangling in front of areas of woodpecker damage. Woodpeckers are excellent at spotting threats—and dismissing benign ones. Netting is one of the most effective methods of excluding woodpeckers. There are three primary reasons that these birds will peck on your house or shed. Overall, repairing homes damaged by woodpeckers can get expensive. Three Reasons Why Woodpeckers Drill Holes on Houses: Drumming Holes Many siding types are potential instruments for woodpecker drumming behavior. The problem is not a big one if it is a tree – unless you want to protect that tree – but a very big one if woodpeckers are pecking on your wood house … Bees, termites, and ants are the three most common pests that attract woodpeckers to wooden houses. Use putty to fill the woodpecker holes as soon as you find them. Woodpeckers can be a real nuisance for many homeowners. How To Prevent Woodpeckers From Damaging Your House Posted: Jan 7, 2016. Woodpecker House Damage ... Prevention & Removal. We suggest using more than one type at the same time to confuse them and make your home less appealing to them. If your house has a wooden siding with small round holes, it is likely infested with the carpenter bees. The wood provides an easier material for the birds to drill into, and it is more likely to harbor insects. The woodpeckers are smart enough to realize that there is no real threat and return after a few days. Repair holes in your house to discourage woodpeckers. Woodpeckers can be a pain for homeowners; Whether you live in the Okanagan or Florida, these birds have a tendency to peck holes in the sides of buildings. 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