Solutions for Woodpecker Damage to Your House

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Your home is an investment, and any damage to it — interior or exterior — can wreak havoc on your stress levels and bank account. Woodpecker damage to a house can be a particularly frustrating problem for homeowners because, if not addressed, it can get progressively worse.  

The good news is there are several ways you can prevent or fix woodpecker damage to your house. Keep reading to learn more about our top tips and solutions.

At brick&batten, we’re leaders in exterior design, and we’re here to help you visualize your home’s potential. Our designers will create a digital rendering of your home with siding and paint color options, accessories, and more. Learn all about our virtual exterior design services. 

Brown wooden facade of the house full of holes made by woodpecker

Why Woodpeckers Damage Siding

The first step in fixing your woodpecker problem is understanding why these birds peck wood in the first place. The main reason woodpeckers peck wood is to find food. It’s not the wood they’re after, but rather the insects who feed on the wood. If you have a woodpecker problem, you probably also have a dry rot infestation that’s acting as a food source for various bugs. 

Another common reason woodpeckers peck is nesting. If a woodpecker is creating a single, larger hole — as opposed to several smaller ones — it’s likely that it’s trying to create a nest to live in. 

Finally, woodpeckers often peck on wood and other hard surfaces as a mating ritual. This usually happens in the springtime, and the woodpeckers may very well leave your home alone after the mating season comes to an end. 

A before and after of a home with siding designed to prevent woodpecker damage

Woodpecker Damage Solutions

Now that you know the main reasons why woodpeckers do what they do, it’s time to discuss potential solutions. While many homeowners will cover the affected area with bird netting or burlap or hang plastic owls from their siding or eaves, those solutions aren’t very aesthetically pleasing. Since we’re in the business of making exteriors beautiful, we’re going to highlight some other options that won’t negatively affect your home’s curb appeal.

The easiest way to keep woodpeckers at bay is to avoid real wood siding. If you want the look of wood siding without the potential for woodpecker damage, there are several siding types made from other materials that you can choose from. For example, the trim on the home above was damaged by woodpeckers, and the owners wanted to replace it and the siding with a low-maintenance option. We recommended one of our go-to brands, James Hardie, which we cover in more detail below. 

A before and after of a home with JAMES HARDIE siding

James Hardie Siding Solutions

James Hardie® fiber cement siding is made from cement, sand, and cellulose, but it looks like authentic wood. In addition to being unappealing to woodpeckers, this siding material is durable and doesn’t crack or expand in extreme weather. Plus, it’s available in all sorts of colors and styles, so it works well on a wide variety of homes. 

The main reason the owner of the home above enlisted our services was that they needed help visualizing new siding options after theirs was destroyed by woodpeckers. We recommended a combination of James Hardie® Plank lap siding and vertical siding along with Woodtone composite wood-grain siding. 

Exterior of a home with woodpecker damage

Here’s another example. The home above had lots of woodpecker holes that had been filled in. Because of this, the owner felt the exterior looked dingy and wanted to update the siding.

A before and after of a home with siding solutions to address woodpecker damage to house

Our team recommended James Hardie® Plank lap siding rendered in Sherwin Williams’ Mountain Road with limewashed brick.

A before and after rendering of a home with siding solutions to address woodpecker damage to house

CertainTeed Siding Solutions

Another brand we use often is CertainTeed, which has a variety of faux wood siding types that look like the real deal, from shake and shingle siding to board and batten and more. Most of these siding options are polymer, but CertainTeed also offers vinyl siding.

A home exterior with woodpecker damage

The columns on this home’s porch and carport had major woodpecker damage. In our design (two above), we recommended iron columns and turning the carport into a garage. We also suggested a mix of CertainTeed’s board and batten and lap siding, both rendered in Pepper Shaker by Sherwin Williams. 

A home with stone siding

Stone Siding Solutions

Stone siding is another excellent choice to combat woodpecker problems, as the material is too tough for the birds to peck at. Real stone siding can be expensive, though, which is why we often recommend architectural stone veneer from brands like Eldorado Stone or Solstice Stone. We used the latter on the lower portion of the home above with shingle siding from James Hardie cladding the rest of the exterior.

A home rendered with siding solutions to fix woodpecker damage to house

The Bottom Line on Preventing Woodpecker Damage to Your House

If woodpecker damage is affecting your home, there’s no need to panic. Choosing a siding solution like those we covered in this post can help. With so many color and style options available, you should have no problem finding the perfect fit for your property. 

Whether you want to explore siding options or need help selecting the perfect paint color for your home’s exterior, our expert team of designers is here to guide you. We’ll help you visualize all aspects of your home’s exterior so you can feel confident you’re making the right decisions. Get started on your exterior design project today.  

Author

Britteny has worked as a professional writer and editor for more than a decade. She launched her career as a features writer in New York City, covering fashion, food & beverage, and hospitality. She has contributed to a wide range of publications, including International Business Times, Glam, Thirsty Mag, and Cardinal & Pine and has worked with famous faces such as Kate Upton and Nigel Barker throughout her career. Britteny has been covering the exterior home design industry as a writer for brick&batten for almost two years. Britteny splits her time between New York City, her home state of Michigan, and Caye Caulker, a small island off the coast of Belize in Central America. When she’s not writing or editing, Britteny can be found at the beach or in the kitchen testing out vegan recipes.