Many homes in the Inner North were built with fireplaces, and plenty still have their old brick chimneys even if the fireplace has not been used for years. An open chimney is an easy way in for a possum. So are roof vents, exhaust outlets and open plumbing pipes. Once inside, a possum can end up in the roof space, a wall cavity or behind a fireplace.
The crew we book checks every opening on the roof and fits mesh or a cap that suits each one. Air and smoke can still escape, but animals cannot get in. Each opening is different, so the mesh is cut and fitted on site. The work can include:
- Fitting a mesh cap to an unused or working chimney
- Sealing the gap where the chimney meets the roof
- Meshing around roof ventilators and exhaust outlets
- Capping open vent pipes and flues
Meshing is often booked alongside roof proofing, since the crew is already on the roof with ladders set up. For a working fireplace or gas flue, they use a cap made for that purpose and tell you what was fitted. If a chimney is cracked or leaning, they will suggest getting a builder to look at it. It is a small job that closes off one of the easiest paths into an older home.
Scratching inside a wall near the fireplace, or soot and droppings in the hearth, are signs that something has come down the chimney. To book chimney and vent meshing in the Inner North, call 07 3543 7770. Tell us how many chimneys and vents are on the roof, and whether any are still in use, and we will give you an upfront price and a time.
