this post was submitted on 18 Jul 2023
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[–] Shepy@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Expanding foam all day long

[–] Draupnir@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Better yet, anti-rodent expanding foam

[–] p_diablo@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Is that an actual thing? I diy'd some of that by shoving a bunch of steel-wool into the foam while it was wet. Seems to have worked.

[–] Draupnir@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

That should work actually, we already know they don’t like steel wool so you’ve likely achieved the same effect

[–] rouxdoo@kbin.social 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

@SirNuke All of the comments saying spray foam are technically correct - that is the easiest way but it will look like orange crap. Some people mentioned steel wool - avoid that because it rusts and will end up looking like orange crap. Find some "excluder mesh", which an inexpensive product sold to the pest control industry - it is a nylon mesh with reinforcing fibers...think Brillo pad stiffness. Stuff the gap to fill it then use silicone sealant to finish it off.

[–] parrot-party@kbin.social 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I would say the expanding foam would still be preferred. Just don't go crazy with it. Then before it's fully cured, cut it back flush. Wait for it to dry then caulk to cover/seal.

[–] rouxdoo@kbin.social 1 points 1 year ago

@parrot@kbin.social

@SirNuke

My actual job is to inspect homes. It is an industry joke that Joe-diy-guy grabs a can of great-stuff expando foam and “fixes” it…leaving a jacked up mess that rats just chew through to get in again. There are better ways of securing entry points.

[–] SirNuke@kbin.social 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

That's a good suggestion, I was looking at stainless steel wool and wasn't finding a lot of great options.

[–] rouxdoo@kbin.social 1 points 1 year ago

@SirNuke Another option if you don’t want to source excluder mesh is to get some “backer rod” - a painter’s product sold as “caulk saver” at the home improvement palace. You use it to fill large gaps which you then seal over with caulk or silicone.