You hear it before you see it. That persistent drumming echoes from somewhere on the outside of your house. By the time you walk out to look, the bird has flown off, but the evidence stays behind: a row of holes drilled into your siding. If you are dealing with woodpecker damage, you are not alone. Homeowners across Pittsburgh and the rest of Pennsylvania face this frustrating problem every year, and the older wood sided homes in neighborhoods like the North Hills, Mt. Lebanon and the river towns are a favorite target.
The good news is that you can repair the damage and stop future attacks. The less welcome news is that most insurance policies will not pay for the repairs. In this guide we walk through why woodpeckers pick on your house, what insurance does and does not cover, how to stop the birds humanely, and when it is time to call a Pittsburgh siding installation contractor instead of patching the same wall again next spring.
Why Woodpeckers Attack Your Home's Siding
These birds are not drilling into your siding out of spite. They are following natural instincts. The main reason is food. Wood boring insects like carpenter ants and beetle larvae make an easy meal, so if your siding has an insect problem or dry rot it becomes an attractive feeding ground. Soft, weathered cedar and older wood clapboard are the easiest for a woodpecker to work.
During breeding season woodpeckers also carve out nesting cavities. A quiet gable end on a two story house can look like a fine place to raise a family. Both males and females drum on resonant surfaces to mark territory and attract mates, and hollow sounding siding, metal gutters and aluminum fascia produce exactly the sound they are looking for. Drumming does less harm than feeding or nesting, but the same bird often does all three.
Can You Claim Woodpecker Damage on Insurance?
This is where many homeowners get disappointed. Standard homeowner policies typically do not cover woodpecker damage. Insurers classify it as pest or animal damage and treat it the same way they treat termite or rodent damage. When it comes to siding insurance claims, woodpecker holes will almost always be denied.
Insurance companies view this as a maintenance issue that the homeowner is expected to prevent. Even if you try to file, your deductible may be higher than the repair itself, and a denied claim can still show up on your record and affect your premiums. In most cases paying for the repair directly and spending the rest of your effort on prevention is the smarter approach. Read your own policy or ask your agent before you assume anything, because wording varies between carriers.
How Much Damage Can a Woodpecker Do to Your House?
Do not underestimate these small birds. A single hole can be the size of a quarter or, in the case of a nesting cavity, the size of a softball. Small holes might seem minor, but they create entry points for water, insects, squirrels and other animals. Once water gets behind the siding it soaks the sheathing and framing, and that is where the real cost lives.
Woodpeckers are persistent creatures of habit. Once they find a spot they like, they come back to it again and again. That means the damage compounds over time if you do not step in early. Water infiltration leads to mold and structural deterioration that costs far more to fix than the original holes. In our experience on Pittsburgh homes, a wall that has been hit for two or three seasons usually has rotted sheathing behind it by the time anyone opens it up.
What Are Three Things That Are Not Covered by Homeowners Insurance?
Woodpecker damage falls into a broader group of exclusions that surprises many homeowners. Understanding what your policy does not cover helps you plan for it.
| Exclusion Type | Examples | Alternative Protection |
|---|---|---|
| Pest and Animal Damage | Woodpeckers, termites, rodents, bats | Preventive maintenance and prompt repair |
| Flooding | Natural floods, sewer backups, ground seepage | Separate flood insurance |
| Normal Wear and Tear | Aging materials, deterioration, old pipes | Scheduled repairs |
When you are dealing with wildlife damage to siding, prevention is your best defense because insurance will not bail you out.
Immediate Steps to Stop Woodpecker Damage to Your Siding
The moment you notice woodpecker activity, take action. Speed matters because every week of delay means more holes and a bird that is more convinced your house belongs to it.
Cover and Fill Existing Holes
Walk the whole exterior and find every hole. Look at corners, under the eaves and near the roofline, since woodpeckers favor those spots. For small holes in wood siding, use an exterior grade wood filler or epoxy putty, then prime and paint so the patch matches and sheds water. Larger cavities may need to be packed with expanding foam before patching, and if the hole goes through to the sheathing the board should be replaced rather than filled.
Address Underlying Issues
Woodpeckers often point to a bigger problem. If they are feeding at your house, you probably have insects in the wood. Treat for carpenter ants or beetles before you finish the repairs. Taking away the food source removes the main reason the birds keep returning. Also check that the gutters are draining away from the wall, because chronically wet siding is the siding that rots and attracts insects.
How Much Does It Cost to Fix Woodpecker Damage?
Repair cost depends on how many holes there are, how deep they go and what the siding is made of. Patching a few shallow holes in wood siding is a small job. Vinyl siding cannot be patched cleanly, so a damaged panel is usually swapped for a new one, which is quick if the color is still available. The cost climbs when water has been getting in for a while and the sheathing, insulation or framing behind the siding has to be replaced along with the boards. Height matters too, since a second story gable needs staging that a first floor wall does not.
DIY repairs work for a few small holes if you are comfortable on a ladder. For anything significant, especially with rot behind it, hiring a professional siding contractor makes sure the job is done once and done right. We give a free written estimate on siding repair and replacement anywhere in the Pittsburgh area, and that estimate, not a national average, is the real number for your house.
Non-Lethal Deterrent Methods That Work
Before we get into deterrents, one important legal point. Woodpeckers are protected under the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act, so it is illegal to harm or kill them without a federal permit. Keep your efforts to humane deterrence.
Visual and Sound Deterrents
Reflective tape, aluminum pie tins and small mirrors create movement and flashes of light that unsettle woodpeckers. Hang them close to the problem area and move them every week or so, because the birds get used to anything that stays still. Wind chimes add both sound and movement. Electronic devices that play predator calls or woodpecker distress calls can also work, though neighbors may have opinions about them.
Physical Barriers
Bird netting hung from the eaves and angled out from the wall is the most reliable barrier. Keep the netting at least three inches off the siding so the bird cannot reach through it. Metal flashing fastened over a spot that has been hit repeatedly works very well, since a woodpecker cannot get through metal. Burlap or heavy plastic sheeting over the area for a few weeks can also break the habit.
Long-Term Solutions to Protect Your Siding from Woodpeckers
If woodpeckers have become a recurring nightmare, think about permanent solutions. Short term fixes only go so far when the birds come back season after season.
Replace Vulnerable Siding Materials
Cedar and other wood sidings attract woodpeckers most often. Fiber cement siding such as James Hardie resists them, because the bird cannot drill through the cement, sand and cellulose blend and there is nothing living inside it to eat. We install James Hardie fiber cement and Mastic vinyl siding on homes across the Pittsburgh area. Fiber cement costs more up front than vinyl, but it lasts for decades and stands up to birds, insects, fire and rot. Quality vinyl is also a good answer, since there is no wood for insects to live in and a woodpecker quickly loses interest in a panel that does not give.
Provide Alternative Options
Put up a woodpecker nest box on a tree well away from the house. A suet feeder near the trees pulls the birds' attention in that direction. Giving them an acceptable alternative lowers their interest in your siding considerably.
Protecting Your Investment Going Forward
Your home is one of your largest investments, and the gap in insurance coverage for woodpecker damage means protecting it is on you. Inspect your siding every season, especially in early spring when drumming and nesting peak, and again in the fall when the birds are storing food.
Deal with insect problems right away. Keep deterrents in place through the active months in areas where woodpeckers are known to be a problem. When damage does happen, repair it promptly so water cannot get behind the wall. With the right mix of repairs, deterrents and prevention, you can keep your home free of these persistent birds for years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which siding is most woodpecker resistant?
Fiber cement and vinyl. Neither one has any wood for insects to live in, and a woodpecker cannot make headway in cement board. Metal siding and metal trim are also safe from holes, though birds sometimes drum on them for the noise.
What time of year is woodpecker damage worst in Pittsburgh?
Early spring, when the birds are drumming for mates and digging nest cavities, and again in late fall when they are hunting insects and caching food before winter. Summer damage is usually a sign of an insect problem in the wall.
Can I just paint over the holes?
No. Paint does not seal a hole or keep water out. Fill or replace the damaged wood first, then prime and paint the repair.
Does Malick Brothers repair woodpecker holes or only replace siding?
Both. Small repairs are worth doing when the rest of the wall is sound. When a wall has been hit for several seasons and there is rot behind it, we usually recommend replacing that elevation or the whole house, and we put both options in writing so you can compare.
If woodpeckers have been working on your house, we are happy to take a look. Malick Brothers Exteriors is a family owned, BBB A+ accredited siding and roofing contractor based at 500 Perry Highway in the North Hills, and we serve homes across the Pittsburgh area. Contact us for a free written estimate on siding repair or replacement.
