If you're hearing scratching in the eaves or watching wasps slip under the overhang, the gap they're using is usually small — and fixable once the wood behind it is sound.
Why the roofline is an easy target
The edge of your roof is warm, dry and out of reach — everything a nesting animal wants. All they need is a gap, and a Florida roofline offers plenty of chances: a loose soffit panel, a rotted corner of fascia, a missing vent, or a spot where wind lifted a section just enough.
Where the gaps come from
- Wood rot. Soft, rotted fascia or sub-fascia crumbles into an easy opening — see wood rot repair.
- Storm damage. Wind pops soffit panels loose and tears trim, leaving the eave open — see storm damage repair.
- Gaps at corners and joints. Where panels meet the wall or turn a corner, small openings appear as the house settles.
- Missing or damaged vents. A broken vent screen is a doorway with a welcome mat.
The usual culprits in Florida
Birds and wasps take the smallest openings under the overhang. Squirrels and rats will gnaw a marginal gap into a usable one. Once one animal finds the way in, the scent tends to draw more — which is why the problem rarely fixes itself.
Why foam and quick patches don't last
Spray foam and a dab of caulk might close a hole for a season, but animals chew back through soft fixes, and if the wood underneath is rotted the patch has nothing solid to hold to. Covering a gap without fixing the cause just moves the problem a few feet down the eave.
If animals are still living in the eave, have them removed by a wildlife-removal professional first. We handle the roofline repair and seal the entry points once the space is clear.
How we close it for good
We find every opening along the roofline, replace any rotted wood behind it, and close the gaps with solid, correctly-fitted soffit and fascia plus proper vent screening — so the eave is sealed but the attic still breathes. Request a free estimate and we'll inspect the roofline and show you exactly where they're getting in.
