Woodpecker Holes in Siding: What Rockford Should Do

If you have started finding round holes in the siding, chips at the base of a wall, or that steady drumming early in the morning, you are dealing with woodpeckers. Around Rockford, Roscoe and the rest of the Stateline, wood and engineered wood siding take the hit most often. This post is a short checklist for what to do this week. For signs, material options and the full repair path, see our woodpecker siding damage repair page.

Martin Exteriors has served the Stateline since 2006. We are a Certified James Hardie Installer.

What woodpecker damage looks like

Woodpecker holes are usually round or oval. Fresh ones show light wood inside. Older ones darken, soften at the edges, or collect dirt. You may also see a row of shallow pits where a bird was drumming rather than nesting. Fresh pecking leaves chips and fine litter under the wall.

Pay attention to patterns. The same gable, chimney chase or shaded north wall often gets hit again and again. If the holes go through the siding into the sheathing, water is next. That is the moment to stop watching and get an estimate.

Why wood-based siding gets hit

Why wood-based siding gets hit is covered on our woodpecker siding damage repair page. The short version: wood and engineered wood give birds a soft face to drum on and can hold insects they hunt for. We do not name competing brands here. The material class matters more than the label on the board.

What to do this week

1. Photograph every elevation. Snap wide shots and close-ups of each hole cluster. Date them so you can see whether new holes appear.
2. Check for soft spots. Gently press around holes. Soft, swollen or crumbly boards mean moisture or insects may already be involved.
3. Look inside if you can. Stains on drywall, damp insulation or daylight through exterior walls mean the damage has gone past the siding.
4. Skip filler and patches. Filling or covering holes without replacing the damaged boards does not last. Isolated damage on otherwise sound walls can sometimes be handled by replacing just those boards or that section, after we check for soft sheathing and moisture.
5. Call for a free siding estimate. We walk the house, show you photos and tell you whether a small section repair is enough or whether replacement is the smarter spend. Call (815) 624-6278 or use our free estimate form.

When Hardie enters the conversation

If the same wall keeps taking damage after earlier board repairs, putting the same wood or engineered wood back usually means the birds return too. That is when we recommend James Hardie fiber cement. James Hardie says its siding holds little appeal for woodpeckers; the full attributed detail is on the service page. We will not promise birds will never visit your yard.

What we do not do

Martin Exteriors repairs and replaces siding. We do not trap, relocate or exclude woodpeckers. If you have an active nest or a wildlife issue that needs a specialist, talk with a licensed wildlife professional first. Then call us for the siding work. Our job on these projects is the exterior: inspect, explain options and install.

Local help

We serve Rockford, Roscoe and the Stateline. Full town list on the service page. Offices in Roscoe and Rockford. Financing is available as low as $149/month for qualified buyers. Siding estimates are free for everyone.

Next step

If you are seeing fresh chips under a wall this week, start with photos and a free estimate. Read the full woodpecker siding damage repair page, compare siding options, or call (815) 624-6278. We were voted What Rocks Rockford Best Roofer and Best Siding, and we would rather show you an honest section-repair-or-replace call on your house than sell you a product you do not need.