There is nothing worse than finding pests inside your home, more so spotting disgusting mice running around. They can destroy your house's foundation, and they can spread diseases too. So, how do you secure your home from them? How do you seal your siding to make sure no other pests can enter? We have researched answers to find out.
If you've spotted mice and other pests inside your home, your siding probably has a crack or a hole through which they enter. Here is how you fix it:
- Check the entire exterior of your house. That includes the spigot, dryer vents, or anything that provides a potential entryway inside the house.
- Check the siding for holes and gaps.
- Seal the small spots using caulk or sealant and paint over them.
- Secure larger gaps using polyurethane caulk.
- Spray the smallest gaps with expanding foam.
- Use copper scrubbings pads to block larger holes. Use copper mesh screens on other openings. Rats will not be able to chew them away and infiltrate your home.
Securing your home against pests and rodents is essential to keeping your home healthy. Finding the cracks and gaps can be tiring, but it will be worth it since you won't have to worry about mice possibly spreading their filth inside your house. Keep reading below to learn more about keeping your house free of mice.
How Do Mice Enter Your House?
Your home needs to be sealed and secured so rats won't have a chance to infiltrate your home. This depends fully on the structure of your house and whether you have a system in place to make possible entryways impenetrable.
Here are possible entry points for mice that require intervention.
Ridge Vents
Mice can climb up the ridge vents and enter your home. Make sure to patch holes in your ductwork, and seal the gaps with wire mesh to keep the rodents out.
Drainage System
Mice can enter through the pipes and drains around your house. To prevent their entry, you should first avoid throwing food down the drain so as to not attract rats.
Then, use a rat blocker to prevent the rats from entering the drains. The rat blockers use a single flap mechanism that stops them from going back up.
Cellar Doors
Cellar doors typically have a slanted structure. However, the gaps can make it easier for rats to enter, so you will need to seal the tiniest cracks with heavy-duty weatherstripping so rats won't be able to penetrate them.
How To Prevent Mice From Entering Your Home
As always in the case of pests, prevention is better than cure. Setting up an impenetrable system is key to keeping your home safe from rodents and other pests, which will give you better peace of mind.
Here are ways to prevent mice from entering anywhere in your home.
Install A Door Sweep
Door Sweeps will not only improve your home's indoor climate but also block out the entry of mice and other pests.
Door sweeps should always be installed on exterior doors since that's considered a vulnerable point in your home. As such, they should be secured immediately.
See this door sweep on Amazon.
Put Up Screens On Every Opening
Chimneys, vents, pipes, and other protruding openings should have a barrier to prevent pests and rats from entering. A copper mesh screen cannot be chewed by rats, so that's your best option to keep them away from your house.
Keep Less-Frequented Areas Dry
Basements, attics, and even crawl spaces should always be kept dry. Repair any leaks, and set up a reliable ventilation system to keep these spaces free of moisture since mice are attracted to humid spaces.
Trim Your Shrubs
Rodents will always look for shelter, and they sometimes settle into shrubs and bushes if they can't get inside your house. However, this is still dangerous since they can ruin your garden.
Keep your shrubs trimmed so the rats will feel less secure in the area and finally leave the perimeter.
When Are Mice Most Active?
Mice are most active during nighttime, specifically dusk and dawn which is why they can be difficult to spot unless you're up around 3:00 am. They are nocturnal creatures, and they can detect motion even in low light.
They are more active at night since that's when humans are asleep, and mice associate movement with danger. If you turn on a light during the night, the mice will usually scurry off and hide.
Mice also have a peak season, which is anywhere between August to late October.
During the transition to fall, mice will start to look for shelter where they can keep warm, and this is when they'll try to infiltrate an unsecured home. Rodents will stop infiltrating houses when the temperatures start to be favorable again.
They will typically find food sources in gardens and scraps of trash, but if the food in your home isn't properly sealed, they may detect it and start going after it.
What Sidings Are Most Durable?
Having durable and strong siding is one of the best ways to block out mice.
Pests usually enter holes and cracks that form on your siding over time. For instance, wood sidings are susceptible to water damage, so carpenter ants can easily penetrate your home and make you face an ant infestation.
Woodpeckers are also attracted to wood, and they can damage your siding which in turn will make your house vulnerable to other pests.
Having a siding that wouldn't attract potential pests and be easily weathered is essential to keeping your home healthy and secure.
Read: Should You Paint Or Replace Siding? [By Type Of Siding]
Fiber Cement Siding
Fiber cement siding is one of the most durable and pest-resisting sidings that can protect your home. Rodents and other pests won't be able to bite through the material easily, discouraging them from infiltrating.
Fiber cement mimics the appearance of cedar wood, so your house will still look aesthetically pleasing even with the added functionality.
This siding also has a longer lifespan, so it will be able to secure your home for years.
Modern Vinyl
Modern vinyl has become more resistant to pests, rodents included. They no longer warp and crack, which means rodents won't have any space to crawl through to enter your house.
Steel Siding
If your main priority is security and not much with aesthetic appeal, go with steel siding. It is highly impenetrable to pests, and it is an ideal material for sustainability.
However, it is best to avoid steel siding if you live near the beach since the salt in the air can get the steel to rust.
Best Caulks And Sealants For Your Siding
Figuring out the best sealants will help you protect your home better. Generally, you should find a sealant that is compatible with the space you are trying to secure. For example, sealants should be used for spaces that contract and expand depending on the weather.
Sealants are more elastic while caulk is more rigid, which is what makes them compatible with drywall and masonry.
Silicone Sealant
Silicone sealants are compatible with every siding. They are highly durable and weatherproof, making them the best option for outdoor sealing.
Silicone sealants can last up to 20 years, so you have extreme protection for little effort.
See this silicone sealant on Amazon.
Butyl-Rubber Caulk
This caulk is also one that is ideal to be used outdoors, especially with sidings. They stick to all materials, making them a reliable material to caulk your siding with.
This material is a specialty caulk, so you can use it on roofs, sidings, and anywhere else that can be vulnerable to weather patterns.
See the butyl rubber caulk on Amazon.
Latex Caulk
Latex caulk is more effective when used indoors. Use this caulk on bathrooms, loose tiles, sinks, and toilets. They typically last up to 15 years, but they won't hold up well with extreme humidity.
See this latex caulk on Amazon.
Read: Should You Caulk Vinyl Siding?
Can Mice Infiltrate Clean Spaces?
Mice will typically get discouraged from entering a home where they can't detect any food sources. Mice love to munch on crumbs of grain and cereal as well as get into the trash to look for food.
Of course, a clean home is less likely to be invaded by mice. However, if your house isn't fully secure and there are holes and gaps that need to be dealt with, you'll still be occasionally spotting mice running around your house.
Final Thoughts
Mice or any pests infiltrating your home is possibly everyone's worst nightmare. Securing your home with the right materials will give you peace of mind, and it will keep your home safe and healthy all the time.