Keeping Birds and Squirrels Out of Gutters and Eaves in Cleveland

Birds and squirrels are drawn to two places on a house: open gutters full of debris and standing water, and gaps in the eaves that lead into the attic. Zipco addresses both. Zipco Leaf Shield covers the gutter and eliminates the standing-water nesting environment that attracts birds, squirrels and mosquitoes. Properly sealed fascia and soffit terminations keep birds, bats and squirrels out of the attic.

One thing to be clear about up front: Zipco doesn't remove animals. Our work is on the gutters and the eaves, closing off the places animals are drawn to.

Why gutters attract birds and squirrels

An open gutter full of leaves, twigs and standing water is an easy nesting spot. Debris gives birds material to build with, and standing water attracts birds, squirrels and mosquitoes alike. On tree-lined Cleveland streets, from Lakewood and Rocky River to Westlake and Strongsville, branches over the roof put the gutters within easy reach.

Once nesting material and debris build up, the gutter has another problem: it stops draining. Water overflows the front, runs behind the gutter, and soaks the fascia, which is how the eaves start to open up too.

Why eaves attract animals

The eaves are where the roof meets the walls, right behind the gutters. Openings there can lead into the attic. Gaps can come from:

• Rotted fascia that has softened and opened up behind the gutters.
• Sagging or damaged soffit panels.
• Unsealed terminations where fascia and soffit meet the rest of the house.

Animal entry holes are one of the signs that fascia or soffit needs replacing. As the weather cools, a sheltered attic can be appealing, and an open eave is an easy way in.

Signs animals are using your gutters or eaves

Animal activity around the roof edge often shows up as:

• Nesting material sticking out of the gutter.
• Birds flying in and out of the same spot at the eaves.
• Holes or gaps in the soffit or fascia.
• Sagging soffit panels.
• Gutters that overflow because nesting material and debris are blocking them.

Why gutters and eaves need to be addressed together

Gutters and eaves are connected. A gutter clogged with nesting material overflows onto the fascia, and fascia that stays wet softens and opens up, giving animals a way into the eaves. Closing up the eaves without dealing with the gutters leaves a nesting spot right beside them. Covering the gutters without repairing damaged fascia and soffit leaves the attic open. That's why Zipco looks at both during the free on-site visit: the leaf protection quote measures linear footage and identifies tree-coverage hot spots, and the fascia and soffit assessment probes for rot and photographs problem areas.

How leaf protection helps

Zipco Leaf Shield is a perforated aluminum panel that fastens to the gutter itself. Leaves, pine needles and twigs stay on top while water drains through, and because air moves above and below the panel, debris dries out and blows off instead of matting down. With the gutter covered and free of standing water, the nesting environment that attracts birds, squirrels and mosquitoes is gone.

Leaf Shield also brings its other benefits:

• Mounts to the gutter, not the roof. It's never lifted or slid under your shingles, so your roof warranty stays intact.
• Lifetime no-clog guarantee. The manufacturer guarantees clog-free performance, and we back it up with our installation warranty.
• Fewer cleanings. Most homeowners go from twice-yearly cleanings to once every 2–3 years.

Installation starts with a full hand-cleaning of the gutters, and the panels are then fastened to your existing gutter and color-matched. See our Cleveland leaf protection page.

How fascia and soffit work helps

Our fascia and soffit service closes up the eaves:

• Fascia replacement and wrap. Rotted fascia is removed and replaced with treated lumber, then wrapped in .024 aluminum trim with a 30+ year lifespan.
• Vented soffit panels. Damaged or sagging soffit is replaced with aluminum or vinyl panels, properly vented to balance attic airflow.
• Bird and pest blocking. Properly sealed terminations keep birds, bats and squirrels out of the attic.

The process starts with an on-site assessment: we probe for rot, photograph problem areas, and quote with line items. Our post on vented soffit and attic airflow covers soffit in more detail. See our Cleveland fascia and soffit page.

What the work looks like

For leaf protection, the free on-site quote measures linear footage and identifies tree-coverage hot spots, and an existing gutter check flags any repairs needed first. On installation day, the gutters get a full hand-cleaning, the panels are fastened and color-matched, and at the final walkthrough we show you the system from a ladder and explain the no-clog guarantee.

For fascia and soffit, damaged material is stripped and underlying rafters or sheathing are repaired as needed. Then the fascia is wrapped, vented soffit is installed, and all terminations are sealed. Both can be done together, or as part of a complete gutter project.

If animals are already inside

Zipco doesn't remove animals. If an animal is already living in the attic or the eaves, that has to be resolved before any openings are sealed. Once it has been, we can repair or replace the fascia and soffit and seal the terminations, so the eaves are closed up.

Pest exclusion beyond birds and squirrels

Standing water in gutters also attracts mosquitoes, which is part of why leaf protection's pest exclusion matters in the warmer months as well. Our post on mosquitoes and standing water in gutters covers that side of the problem.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will gutter guards keep birds out of my gutters in Westlake?

Zipco Leaf Shield covers the gutter and eliminates the standing-water nesting environment that attracts birds, squirrels and mosquitoes. It fastens to the gutter itself, so your roof warranty stays intact.

Can you seal the eaves where squirrels have been getting into my Strongsville attic?

We repair and replace fascia and soffit and seal the terminations, which keeps birds, bats and squirrels out of the attic. Zipco doesn't remove animals, so any animal still inside has to be dealt with before the eaves are sealed.

Does Zipco remove animals from homes in Lakewood?

No. Zipco doesn't remove animals. Our work is leaf protection and fascia and soffit, which close off the gutters and eaves animals are drawn to.

Close up your gutters and eaves

The Zipco Gutters team installs leaf protection and fascia and soffit across Greater Cleveland, from Lakewood and Rocky River to Westlake, Strongsville and Medina. Reach out for a free estimate. No pressure.