Ventilation Holes in Eaves Are Entry Point

It's said that rodents can fit through a hole the size of a nickel. Obviously, they'll be able to fit through unprotected ventilation holes in your eaves.

Many homeowners are not even aware that such holes exist in their eaves. These holes are essential, so you can't just slap wood over the top of them. In fact, even wood would hardly repel rats, mice, and birds--many of which can easily chew through wood.

Materials

Buy Direct - Ace Hardware Cloth, 1/8" x 1/8" weave
Buy Direct - Ace Hardware Cloth, 1/4" x 1/4" weave

To prevent rats, mice, and birds from entering through unprotected ventilation holes in the eaves, many homeowners think they are doing right by tacking up chicken wire or another type of wire mesh.

But chicken wire is much too flimsy, and a determined rodent can work its way through the wire. Not only that, but the weave in chicken wire is too wide: most rodents and even birds can get through. Other types of mesh screen still may have a too-wide weave.

You need to buy a product called "hardware cloth," available at even the most basic hardware store. I've been using the stuff for years and had never paid attention to its official name. Buy hardware cloth with either a quarter-inch or eighth-inch weave. Anything wider will not work.

 

The hardest part of this project is finding a ladder tall enough to reach the eaves--provided you have a second story house. If you're lucky enough to have a sturdy extension ladder, you'll have no problem. Otherwise, rent, borrow, or buy one.

Cut a rectangle of hardware cloth about one inch wider than the entire array of ventilation holes (usually 3 or 4 holes). Nail in the hardware cloth with at least 6 galvanized roofing nails per section.

You need roofing nails because they have wider head that won't pull through the holes in the screen.