Once upon a time there was a mouse. This mouse was cold and hungry and afraid of being eaten so he looked for shelter. This mouse found a home. That home was meant for humans but it had a poorly sealed garage door so the mouse snuck in. Mister mouse found food and water inside the house, and warmth, and no one was trying to eat him. The mouse decided to stay. That mouse found love and made many many babies. One day the owner of this house encountered one of these babies, or their baby’s babies with a shock and called us. This is a true story, and it has happened more than once. Sometimes the mouse sneaks in through a crack in the foundation, sometimes it’s through an open door and sometimes the entry point is even stranger. But there is always an entry point. So this week we’ll be focusing on answering the very common question involved when leaning how to mouse-proof your house.
What is Mouse-Proofing?
You may be thinking “mouse-proof? Isn’t a home already mouse-proof?”. Well yes, and no. Homes are pretty mouse-proof but even a brand new home may not be 100% mouse-proof. Deciding to mouse-proof your home just means ensuring that there are no possible mice entry points anywhere in your home.
Mouse-Proofing Your Home: How Long Does It Take?
This is a tricky question to answer. Depending on how many possible entry points you have it could take a little as a few minutes or as long as a few weeks. Typically you can expect to spend about 1-2 hours per year mouse-proofing your house.
Per Year?
Yes, per year. Taking the time to mouse-proof your house is not a one-and-done thing. Mouse-proofing is part of your whole home maintenance routine and should be planned for accordingly. Some years you may just have to walk around and check. Other years you may need a few hours to repair problem areas.
How much does mouse-proofing your home cost?
Mouse-proofing is not expensive. All the supplies you need can be found at any hardware store and can be bought for less than a night out. (You know, like in the old days!)
Where to Mouse-Proof My House?
When preparing to mouse-proof your home, the goal is to close all possible mice entry points. Mice can squeeze into pretty small spaces and even the smallest crack can give mice enough space to chew through even the thickest materials. So focus on closing holes, repairing any exterior flaws and thinking like a mouse.
Some common problem areas are:
- Roofs, rafter, eaves or seams
- Around windows and doors
- Garage doors
- Foundation cracks
- Crawlspaces
- Holes around utility lines, or exterior pipes
- Dryer venting
What Materials Do I Need?
The answer to this will depend on what needs mouse-proofing. For areas like garage doors, windows, chimneys, dryer vents and doors there are plenty of kits and supplies made specifically for sealing these areas. Purchase any of those and install according to the directions. Just be sure to purchase materials or kits that are heavy duty. Mice like to chew, as previously mentioned.
If you are sealing cracks in exterior walls you can use steel wool or metal meshing with or without foam insulation. Be careful when installing steel wool or metal meshing that you put a piece in larger than the hole. Many times mice can pull out the wool and sneak in anyway.
A Quick Note About Foam Sealants: Foam is cheap and super easy to use, which is why most homeowners opt to use it. Foam is great for sealing cracks, however, it is not great at keeping mice out. Mice chew. Mice will chew through drywall and other real thick and nasty material. They can easily chew through foam. If you are using foam be sure to pair with steel wool. Just stuff the crack with steel wool and then fill with foam. That way if the mice are able to chew through the foam the steel wool will be enough to discourage further chewing.
For projects like cracks in foundations or roof openings it may be best to differ to a professional contractor to ensure you don’t cause damage to those parts of your home.
Does Kapture Mouse-Proof Homes?
Of course! We mouse-proof your house as a part of all maintenance plans or mouse-proofing can be purchased separately. When treating for mice, Kapture can fill exterior cracks with heavy duty metal meshing and frequently treat your home/yard for continued prevention.
Have a mouse story of your own? Call today for a free phone consultation and tell us all about it!
Contact Kapture for a No-Obligation Phone Consultation and Quote:
Call 1-888-811-5813 or schedule online now to start protecting your home and family today!
