What materials are the most resilient against wildlife trying to get into your home?

We often talk about fixing up your home so that it doesn’t invite pests, but how exactly are you going to do that? A good home pest prevention rule is to regularly check for holes and cracks in your fence, roof, walls, and so on so that pests can’t squeeze through.

To be honest, that’s easily the best way to protect yourself from squirrel damage and other unpleasant pest-related incidents, simply because you’re cutting off their entry points before they have time to do any actual damage.

But how are you supposed to fix these crawl-holes? Well, with these materials below!

1.    Steel Wool

One of the best materials you can use to fix gaps and cracks in your home is coarse steel wool. While originally intended for cleaning cookware, polishing and sanding various surfaces, steel wool proved to be a great pest-prevention method.

Why?

Because steel wool is sturdy and easy to use as filler material. But also because it’s impossible to chew or claw through. Some pests are apt to force their way in, especially if they’ve had a good time on your property before, but with steel wool, they won’t be able to. Steel wool is a great deterrent for many different types of pests. You can learn about different pests here.

2.    Concrete

Another excellent sealing material is concrete, particularly well-suited for larger gaps, foundation holes, and the like. Much like with steel wool, concrete is a big favorite because pests aren’t able to chew or claw through it. By coating a problem area with concrete, you’re reinforcing it and making sure that common pests, like rodents, won’t just find another way through in that same area.

3.    Caulk

Caulk is another excellent sealing material, often used to fix window frame cracks and to prevent leakage. Caulk is easy to apply, using a special applicator, and so is often a seal material of choice for homeowners who aren’t big on the DIY.

Still, while caulk is an effective seal material, it’s only recommended for superficial cracks. So our advice would be to fill larger holes with concrete or steel wool and then coat the edge of the crack with caulk, to give a uniform look. Since rodents and other pests can’t make their way through caulk either, it is a natural ally to either of the above materials.

4.    Aluminum Wire Mesh

Well, any wire mesh works well and acts pretty much the same way as steel wool. It’s a sturdy material impossible to chew or claw through and has the major benefit of being easy to squeeze into a variety of cracks and gaps.

5.    Hardware Cloth

Lastly, hardware cloth makes an excellent addition to the list. It’s a highly versatile product and one that shouldn’t be missing from your home. Hardware cloth also makes a great snake fence material, provided it’s got small gauges. By wrapping tight hardware cloth around your fence, you’re keeping snakes (as well as other pests) at bay.

So once you’ve had your home inspected and have identified any potential pest entry points, we highly recommend using any of the above materials to fix it!