SEAL Rodents Out!… Insects too!

Making your home less porous is clearly the best way, the natural way, and the RIGHT way to control any/all pests, and it’s simple to understand… For rodents and insects, just provide entry points smaller than those you want to keep out to effectively seal them. (Keeping out air contaminants is also very important to preserve the safety of your home, but will be discussed at a later time.)   

Sadly, most homes are not being built today to keep insects or even large rodents out.  If you are having a home built, however, you can make it happen by insisting on just a few (inexpensive) practices, and by staying involved to see that they are done correctly.  Tips to keep insects and rodents out for homes being built, and homes where siding is being replaced are below:

Insist that… 

• The top of the concrete foundation is level…  that shims will not be used between concrete and sill plate… and no gaps larger than 1/8” exist between sill plate or rim joist lumber (which will help prevent mice entry)

• Sealing the sill plate/rim joist joint with elastomeric caulk (which will help to keep insects out) 

• A flexible foam insect/wind barrier is installed between the concrete foundation and sill plate (insect control).

• 50-year elastomeric caulk is used, seamlessly, to adhere the exterior wind/water barrier (insect control). 

• The sidings ‘J-strip’ attached directly to lumber (i.e. no soft materials such as foam or fiber exists beneath the J-strip); the J-strip has no gaps larger than 1/8” between pieces; the J-strip touches the corner-posts (mice control). 

• The corner-posts are closed at the bottom with no gaps larger than 1/8”. 

• No gaps greater than 1/8” exist in any part of garage drywall, as mice easily gain access into most garages.

• Garage doors are installed to resist mice entry at both the bottom and sides of the door seal.

• Holes drilled for service entries (electric, sump, A/C, gas, vents, et al) must be only 1/8” larger than piping.

• The seam where brick meets the eave facia is caulked. 

Make no mistake… Mice can make your new home smell old in just a few years, and do tens-of-thousands of dollars in damage to insulation/home value.  And, Insect invasions/infestations are too common, and can make life miserable.  So… 

Give a copy of the above requirements to your builder, and get a written agreement. 

NOTE:  The tips above reduce fresh air entry.  Ensure 15 cubic feet of fresh air per minute/person in your home’s design.  

Can existing homes be modified to resist rodents and insects? 

YES!  Make your home less porous, with the addition of sealing materials.  Most attempts to seal, however, (even by professionals) FAIL!  TIPS: for retrofit materials commonly used include: 

• Steel wool or other ‘pieces’ of materials (install tightly, to prevent mice from bypassing the materials), 

• 90 degree Sheet metal pieces (Install under siding, seamlessly else mice may use the shielding’s top as a ‘run’), 

• Expanding foam doesn’t work (mice chew through foam, and may nest if foam is applied several inches thick), 

• Thick 1/4” hardware cloth ( attach the screen with screws/washers, without gaps at the top, bottom, and sides). 

• Lumber ( Use Treated lumber to prevent damage from weather) 

Without help, expect no more than a 10% chance of meeting your desired level of satisfaction.  Even with professional help, please understand that mice and insects will continually attempt to gain entry, so expect a need to be diligent.  

WE CAN HELP! 

For information on how FVEPC’s SEAMLESS Rodent-Rope (A.I.C.R.) can help with the daunting tasks of sealing to exclude mice and averting insect, click here. Or…  Call… (630)513-8120 for an on-site Inspection & consultation.  (The Inspection fee of $275 is free, if done during a treatment to bait mice, or control other pests)