In Tasmania, sealing the roof is not just the follow-up to possum removal. It is the main method. NRE Tas recommends excluding brushtail possums by closing their entry points rather than trapping them, so the quality of the proofing decides whether the problem is solved. This page covers what Hobart roofs typically need and how to compare proofing quotes.
Hobart Possum Removal is a referral service, not a builder, roofer or pest controller. With your consent, we pass your enquiry to one independent Greater Hobart business that inspects and quotes. The work and any warranty are between you and that business.
The principle: the possum stays, the roof closes
Brushtail possums are strongly attached to their home range. When one is shut out of a roof, it moves to another shelter nearby, ideally a tree or a nest box. It will test the repairs for weeks. NRE Tas warns that possums are strong and will work hard to get back to a den, so temporary fixes must hold for the first nights, and permanent repairs must be solid.
Where Hobart possums get in
A brushtail needs a gap of only about 9 centimetres. Inspections across Greater Hobart typically turn up:
- Eaves and soffits where old timber or fibre-cement sheets have shrunk, cracked or come away.
- Corrugated iron roofs with gaps at the gutter line, missing end caps, or sheets lifted by wind.
- Tiled roofs with slipped tiles or perished ridge-cap mortar.
- Chimneys. Many older homes in Battery Point, North Hobart, New Town and Lindisfarne have disused sandstone or brick chimneys.
- Subfloor routes. NRE Tas notes possums can climb from under a house up through the wall cavities into the roof. That is common on sloping sites where one side of the house sits high off the ground.
- Additions and decks, where a newer roof meets an older one.
Access routes matter as much as holes. Eucalypts, wattles and fruit trees overhanging the roof, timber fences, pergolas and downpipes all give a possum a ladder.
What good proofing includes
- Inspection with a written list of every entry point, ideally with photos.
- Timing the exclusion. Gaps are closed at night after the possum has gone out to feed, and only once the operator is satisfied no young are left behind.
- Durable materials. Metal mesh, folded flashing, new timber where the old has rotted, and re-bedded or replaced capping. NRE Tas stresses that repairs must be sound.
- Scent removal at old entries using disinfectant or bleach.
- Access control. Trimming branches back from the roof, and fitting metal collars or bands around trees, posts and pipes.
- Follow-up. A check after a few weeks, and a clear warranty.
Other options NRE Tas mentions
For gardens, NRE Tas describes possum-resistant fencing, including a "floppy-top" mesh fence and fences with outrigger electric wires. These are about protecting vegetable gardens and orchards rather than roofs, but on semi-rural blocks around Kingston, Huonville, Sorell or the Channel they can be part of a wider plan. Ask the proofing business whether it handles fencing or refers it on.
Costs
We do not quote. As orientation only, one Hobart pest business publishes live possum removal from $399, while mainland specialists publish around $495 to $550 for a standard removal-plus-proofing job, and around $600 to $1,000 in Adelaide. These are published figures, not Hobart quotes. Cost depends on:
- how many entry points there are, and their height and pitch;
- whether timber, capping or flashing must be replaced;
- steep hillside access, double storeys and scaffolding;
- older roofs with chimneys, gables and several junctions;
- whether a return visit is needed.
Comparing quotes
Ask for an itemised list of entry points and how each will be sealed. Ask how the business times the exclusion, how it checks for young, and how its method fits NRE Tas guidance, including whether any trapping is proposed and under what permit. Read the warranty for exclusions such as storm damage, new rot and work by other trades. If major roofing is needed, a licensed roof plumber may be the right trade.
Hillside and coastal conditions
Greater Hobart's terrain adds complications. Homes on the steep streets of West Hobart, Mount Stuart and Rose Bay often have one side of the roof within easy reach of the slope behind, which gives possums a short jump onto the roof. Coastal suburbs such as Howrah, Tranmere and Blackmans Bay see more wind-lifted iron and corroded fixings. Older roofs also suffer when strong westerlies loosen capping. A proofing quote should account for these conditions, not just count holes.
Frequently asked questions
How much does possum proofing cost in Hobart?
It varies with the number and height of entry points and with repairs. One Hobart business publishes removal from $399. Mainland specialists publish around $495 to $550 for a standard job. Get an itemised quote.
When is the right time to seal the possum out?
At night, about an hour after sunset, once the possum has gone out to feed. Use temporary repairs first, then permanent ones in daylight after several quiet nights.
Can I proof my own roof in Tasmania?
NRE Tas guidance is written for householders and describes exactly that process. Work at heights is the main risk. Many people hire help for steep or two-storey roofs.
How small a gap can a possum get through?
NRE Tas says about 9 centimetres. That is roughly the width of a mobile phone.
Will trimming my trees stop possums getting on the roof?
It helps a lot. Cut back branches that reach or overhang the roof, and use metal bands on trunks or posts the possum climbs. Check council rules before removing significant trees.
Does possum proofing also stop rats?
Not fully. Rats and mice need far smaller gaps, so rodent proofing is finer work. See rats and mice in the roof.
Next step
Tell us your suburb, roof type and any entry points you have noticed. With your consent, we pass your details to one independent Greater Hobart business. See how it works or make an enquiry.