Rodents/Squirrels Chewing Composite Decking

Winilyme · 08-18-2025, 10:59 AM

A 22 rifle and scope?

Actually, many years ago, we had a similar problem in CT with grey squirrels chewing our white cedar shingles. It was clear something needed to be done or we'd be looking at a siding replacement. I tried all the recommended remedies such as essential oils, hot pepper spray, squirrel repellent, flashy hanging ribbons, etc.

Nothing worked. Besides, most of those things required reapplication or maintenance which wasn't going to work for us since we're mostly here at the lake in the summer. I was afraid we'd go home to CT one weekend to find nothing left of our house except the foundation, chimney and appliances.

What ultimately worked: I stapled aluminum window screening over all the siding from the ground and up about six feet (only on the back side of the house since, strangely, the squirrels didn't chew anywhere else). We haven't had a problem since then. In our case, it's not unsightly since it blends in well with our bleaching oil finish.

Not sure if this is a possibility in your situation but in ours, it put an immediately end to the problem and gave us peace-of-mind when we're away each year.

08-18-2025, 10:59 AM	#2
Winilyme Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: Ice in = CT / Ice out = Winnipesaukee Posts: 521 Thanks: 144 Thanked 305 Times in 165 Posts	A 22 rifle and scope? Actually, many years ago, we had a similar problem in CT with grey squirrels chewing our white cedar shingles. It was clear something needed to be done or we'd be looking at a siding replacement. I tried all the recommended remedies such as essential oils, hot pepper spray, squirrel repellent, flashy hanging ribbons, etc. Nothing worked. Besides, most of those things required reapplication or maintenance which wasn't going to work for us since we're mostly here at the lake in the summer. I was afraid we'd go home to CT one weekend to find nothing left of our house except the foundation, chimney and appliances. What ultimately worked: I stapled aluminum window screening over all the siding from the ground and up about six feet (only on the back side of the house since, strangely, the squirrels didn't chew anywhere else). We haven't had a problem since then. In our case, it's not unsightly since it blends in well with our bleaching oil finish. Not sure if this is a possibility in your situation but in ours, it put an immediately end to the problem and gave us peace-of-mind when we're away each year.