ᐅ Martens in the roof space of a new build? Construction defect?
Created on: 26 Jan 2016 15:17
K
kklaus
Hello everyone,
We have been living in our own home, a mid-terrace house, since summer 2014. Our problem is a marten. We have had this marten issue since the first winter after moving in (2014). At first, we couldn’t identify it—just some scratching and rummaging noises under the sloped ceiling in our daughter’s room, and then nothing for a long time. Last autumn (2015), it happened a few times again, as if something was about to claw through the drywall and OSB panels. That’s when we started researching and concluded that it must be a marten. It appeared again just yesterday.
Reading reports online, this unwanted visitor can cause a lot of damage, and I don’t even want to imagine what the insulation looks like now and how many carcasses have decomposed there! All suggestions for repelling martens using "smells" that need to be placed regularly nearby won’t work for us because the marten moves in an area under the tiles within the insulation, which we cannot access. We also don’t have an attic; it has been converted and now houses the heat recovery unit. Our neighbors don’t have this problem—or don’t notice it—but we are the only ones with dormer windows on the roof, and I imagine this might make it easier or even enable the marten to enter.
Shouldn’t a new house be built in a way that keeps unwanted guests out?
What options do we have with our builder, who casually says that we first have to prove there is a building defect or damage they are responsible for?
Who establishes or can handle this chain of evidence for us?
Would legal expenses insurance and then a lawyer help?
I don’t have the funds at hand to quickly erect scaffolding and hire tradespeople to repair everything and secure the house against re-entry and/or collect evidence.
I have already spoken with building experts, but they are not familiar with these kinds of problems and refer me to pest control or the forestry office. However, martens are protected by conservation laws, and if one is removed, another will come. Also, pest control services are costly, especially since the animal is not regularly present, and this is a building with five units and many access points to the roof for the marten, which certainly increases the expense. Setting traps, inspections, questioning neighbors—who knows?
Help, what should I do, how should I proceed? Something needs to be done!!
Best regards,
Klaus
We have been living in our own home, a mid-terrace house, since summer 2014. Our problem is a marten. We have had this marten issue since the first winter after moving in (2014). At first, we couldn’t identify it—just some scratching and rummaging noises under the sloped ceiling in our daughter’s room, and then nothing for a long time. Last autumn (2015), it happened a few times again, as if something was about to claw through the drywall and OSB panels. That’s when we started researching and concluded that it must be a marten. It appeared again just yesterday.
Reading reports online, this unwanted visitor can cause a lot of damage, and I don’t even want to imagine what the insulation looks like now and how many carcasses have decomposed there! All suggestions for repelling martens using "smells" that need to be placed regularly nearby won’t work for us because the marten moves in an area under the tiles within the insulation, which we cannot access. We also don’t have an attic; it has been converted and now houses the heat recovery unit. Our neighbors don’t have this problem—or don’t notice it—but we are the only ones with dormer windows on the roof, and I imagine this might make it easier or even enable the marten to enter.
Shouldn’t a new house be built in a way that keeps unwanted guests out?
What options do we have with our builder, who casually says that we first have to prove there is a building defect or damage they are responsible for?
Who establishes or can handle this chain of evidence for us?
Would legal expenses insurance and then a lawyer help?
I don’t have the funds at hand to quickly erect scaffolding and hire tradespeople to repair everything and secure the house against re-entry and/or collect evidence.
I have already spoken with building experts, but they are not familiar with these kinds of problems and refer me to pest control or the forestry office. However, martens are protected by conservation laws, and if one is removed, another will come. Also, pest control services are costly, especially since the animal is not regularly present, and this is a building with five units and many access points to the roof for the marten, which certainly increases the expense. Setting traps, inspections, questioning neighbors—who knows?
Help, what should I do, how should I proceed? Something needs to be done!!
Best regards,
Klaus
D
Doc.Schnaggls27 Jan 2016 08:32arubau36 schrieb:
Hello,
regarding this aspect, "Klaus" did not write anything at all. I don’t think it’s fair to attack him like that. I wouldn’t agree with that.
To me, the term "money shark," as used and in context with the other statements by the user "Klaus," is definitely an insult aimed at a bank employee and does not reflect mutual respect.
Best regards,
Dirk
Doc.Schnaggls schrieb:
"Money shark" in the way it was used and in connection with the other comments from user "Klaus" can definitely be considered an insult to a bank employee Isn’t the official job title “bank clerk” or “bank officer”? After all, they are supposed to “sell” something to their customers, right? Well, whether it’s an insult really depends on the person receiving it... there are worse things. If this discussion no longer focuses on the main topic, I tend to think this thread belongs more under “cyberbullying in the forum”... that’s just my opinion.
EveundGerd27 Jan 2016 10:13Okay, so back to the marten problem:
We have lived at the edge of a forest for more than 20 years. Martens are not only protected but also difficult to catch. If released elsewhere, they often return.
Apart from that, it could also have been a dormouse or a edible dormouse.
Since the exact type of animal has not been clearly identified, it is difficult to suggest a specific approach.
Basically, you should first talk to the forest ranger. But before that, you should check where the new occupant has entered. The insulation used today can easily be gnawed through by such an animal. By the way, these animals can easily climb up house walls. In that case, you have to be consistent and install cladding. Even then, entry is not impossible. The animals can practically squeeze through very tight spaces.
Therefore, you need to invest money. Immediately assuming a construction defect is the wrong approach!
It’s like a woodpecker in the wall: annoying and frustrating, but it’s nature, not a building defect!
We have lived at the edge of a forest for more than 20 years. Martens are not only protected but also difficult to catch. If released elsewhere, they often return.
Apart from that, it could also have been a dormouse or a edible dormouse.
Since the exact type of animal has not been clearly identified, it is difficult to suggest a specific approach.
Basically, you should first talk to the forest ranger. But before that, you should check where the new occupant has entered. The insulation used today can easily be gnawed through by such an animal. By the way, these animals can easily climb up house walls. In that case, you have to be consistent and install cladding. Even then, entry is not impossible. The animals can practically squeeze through very tight spaces.
Therefore, you need to invest money. Immediately assuming a construction defect is the wrong approach!
It’s like a woodpecker in the wall: annoying and frustrating, but it’s nature, not a building defect!