Prevent and Protect Against Mouse Entry
The only way to ensure your home remains free of mice is to prevent their entry. No matter what’s done today to remove the mice on the interior, the exterior scent trails behind by mice lead directly to the openings allowing the cycle to repeat itself. The current population is only replaced by a new generation unless the pathways into the home are permanently sealed.
It’s estimated that mice have been living alongside humans for over 15,000 years, so you’re never going to get rid of all the mice living in your neighbourhood. The mice around your home are always on the lookout for places to nest and store food for winter. It’s critical to identify and block all of your home’s mouse entry points. Depending on the house, this process is easier said than done.
Common Mouse Entry Points
Preventing mice from entering your home starts with a thorough, top to bottom, inspection of your home’s exterior. Mice are able to squeeze themselves into gaps as small as the size of a dime and they’re excellent climbers so their entry points could easily be found beyond the roofline. Locating mouse entry points can often feel like searching for a needle in a haystack and it’s critical to understand not only where to look but what to look for.
Each home has its own set of unique risk factors when it comes to mouse entry. The design, building materials used, size and condition of the house will all determine the opportunities for mice to gain access.
Below are some of the most common openings that need to be sealed or blocked to prevent mouse entry:
Weep Holes in Brick
Weep holes, or weep vents are gaps left behind by masons in brick walls. They may look like missing mortar but these openings are intended to allow any water that gets behind the brick to escape. Unfortunately they also allow mice to access your walls. Skedaddle technicians install galvanized steel screens into each weep hole to prevent mouse entry while still allowing water to run out.
Brick-Soffit Gaps
Mice are excellent climbers and the rough texture of brick makes it easy for them to scale. In many cases, at the top of a brick wall there is a small gap, usually less than half an inch wide, where the brick and the soffit meet. Builders often overlook this gap as it is not at risk for water infiltration or drafts but it does provide easy access to the attic for mice.
Roof – Soffit Gaps
On homes where the roof has different angles or levels there is a good chance you will find places where the soffit meets the roof. Building materials rarely meet perfectly flush and there is usually a gap between the roof’s shingles and the wood or aluminum soffit wide enough for mice to scurry into. These entry points are given away by the discovery of mouse droppings, staining or stored food nearby.
Siding – Foundation Gaps
Closer to ground level, a gap can often be found where the siding and home’s foundation meet. Again, this gap is rarely a concern for water and so they are almost never closed off during construction. The opening can be hard to observe when walking around the house, you almost have to lay on the ground to see it. In homes where mouse activity is concentrated in the basement the culprit is often found where the siding and foundation come together.
Vent Openings
Modern homes have a number of vent openings on the roof and exterior walls to allow for attic airflow or to exhaust appliances like kitchen fans or dryers. These openings are designed to let air escape the home and are usually installed with plastic or aluminum covers of various designs. The warm air pouring out of these vents attract a lot of mouse activity and are seldom mouse proof.
Mousing Proofing Your Home
While the areas listed above are some of the most commonly found mouse entry points, on any given home there can be dozens of additional openings that require attention. Our technicians perform a thorough inspection of your home, climbing ladders and getting under decks, in search of the nooks and crannies mice love.
Once we’ve identified all the current and potential points of entry we get to work sealing things up. We go along inch by inch to expertly apply our exclusive wildlife sealant to fill smaller gaps and openings. We work directly with the manufacturer to ensure that our sealant is designed to keep mice out and hold up in extreme temperatures. For vents and larger openings we install ¼ galvanized steel screening that mice cannot chew through.
Lifetime Warranty
Keeping mice out of houses is no easy task. It takes professional experience, skill and eye for detail. With over 30 years of experience excluding mice you can trust Skedaddle to get the job done. We back all of our workmanship and materials with a lifetime warranty. Connect with us today to keep our house free of mice for good.
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