If you live in Toronto or the Greater Toronto Area, chances are you’ve either dealt with raccoons on your roof or know someone who has. At Classic Products Roofing Systems Inc., we receive multiple calls every week from homeowners who are losing sleep due to raccoon activity on their roof or in their attic.
For many GTA homeowners, the story is the same: repeated raccoon removal, damaged shingles, torn roof decking, contaminated insulation, and thousands of dollars spent year after year. As frustration builds, more homeowners are asking an important question:
Can a metal roof help prevent raccoon problems?
To answer that properly, it helps to first understand why raccoons target roofs and attics in the first place.
Why Do Raccoons Get Into Attics?
Raccoons are remarkably intelligent animals with strong nesting instincts, especially in spring and early summer, which coincides with peak raccoon activity across Southern Ontario.
Female raccoons actively seek:
- Warm, dry shelter
- Safe places to raise their young (kits)
- Quiet, elevated spaces away from predators
Unfortunately, attics check every one of those boxes.
Traditional asphalt shingle roofs are particularly vulnerable. Over time, raccoons can tear, pry, and chew through shingles and roof components, eventually gaining access to the attic space below. Even after repairs, raccoons often return, remembering successful entry points year after year.
How Do Raccoons Get Onto the Roof?
Despite their stocky appearance, raccoons are excellent climbers and problem-solvers. In Toronto neighbourhoods and older GTA communities, we commonly see raccoons accessing roofs by:
- Climbing nearby trees or overhanging branches
- Using porch roofs or garage roofs as stepping points
- Scaling downspouts and corner brickwork
- Exploiting weak roof edges or aging shingles
Wildlife experts confirm that raccoons learn through trial and error and will persist until they succeed.
How Should Raccoons Be Removed From an Attic?
Once raccoons have nested in an attic, removal can be difficult and should never be attempted as a DIY project, especially when young are present.
Important considerations:
- Raccoons often remain until their babies are fully developed (8–9 months)
- Improper removal can lead to aggressive behaviour or property damage
- Raccoon droppings can contain roundworm, a serious health risk
Homeowners should always contact a professional, humane wildlife control company, not a standard pest control service. Humane exclusion and proper attic remediation are essential before roof repairs or upgrades are completed.
How Can a Metal Roof Help Deter Raccoons?
While no roofing system can guarantee wildlife will never climb onto a roof, interlocking metal roofing systems offer significant advantages when it comes to raccoon deterrence.
Compared to asphalt shingles, premium metal roofing systems:
- Are far more difficult to pry apart
- Cannot be chewed through
- Do not provide loose edges raccoons can grip
- Eliminate common weak points caused by aging shingles
At Classic Products Roofing Systems Inc., we have installed thousands of metal roofing systems across Toronto, the GTA, and Southern Ontario, many for homeowners who previously struggled with raccoon infestations.
“In over 35 years working with interlocking metal roofing systems, I have yet to return to a home because of raccoon damage after installation.”
— Armand Bourget, Metal Roofing Technician, 35+ years experience
What Wildlife Experts Say About Metal Roofing
Bill Dowd, a wildlife control expert with over 28 years of experience servicing more than 75 municipalities across Ontario, Quebec, and Nova Scotia, shares this perspective:
“Metal roofing can be an effective deterrent against raccoons entering attics. Raccoons overwhelmingly target traditional shingle roofs. Regardless of roof type, vents and ridge areas should always be properly protected.”
He also emphasizes the importance of working with reputable wildlife control companies such as Skedaddle Humane Wildlife Control to properly raccoon-proof homes.
A Brampton Homeowner’s Experience
John D., a homeowner in Brampton, Ontario, installed an interlocking aluminum roofing system as part of a long-term solution to repeated raccoon problems:
“Classic Products Roofing closed and reinforced every area where raccoons were getting into our attic. We heard them shortly after trying to get back in, but they couldn’t. Several years later, we remain raccoon-free and couldn’t be happier.”
Metal Roofing and Urban Wildlife in Toronto
Toronto’s raccoon population growth is well documented. In neighbourhoods like The Beaches, homeowners report frequent raccoon activity on traditional roofs.
One Toronto homeowner noted that since installing a metal shingle roof in 2004, raccoons stopped frequenting his roof entirely, likely moving on to nearby homes with more accessible roofing materials.
Why Roofing Experience Matters
A metal roof’s effectiveness as a deterrent depends heavily on:
- Roof design and detailing
- Proper vent and ridge protection
- Quality of installation
- Experience with local wildlife challenges
This is where working with an established, local metal roofing specialist makes a difference.
Toronto & GTA Metal Roofing Experts You Can Trust
At Classic Products Roofing Systems Inc., we specialize exclusively in premium metal roofing systems designed for Canadian conditions. With decades of experience serving Toronto, the GTA, and Southern Ontario, we understand how roofing choices impact long-term home protection, including against wildlife intrusion.
If you’re dealing with raccoon problems or planning a roof replacement, our team can help you evaluate whether a metal roofing system is the right solution for your home.