I've been dealing with mice burrowing against my home's front foundation and the concrete steps, and now they're even getting into the basement ceiling above my bathroom, which is a whole mess since it's drywalled and hard to reach. Before I tackle that bathroom renovation, I want to fix the outside issues first.
I think there's a void under the front steps that complicates things. I have a roll of 1/4 hardware cloth, and I'm planning to dig around the foundation where the mice are getting in, replace the soil, and patch the holes they've created. I might use concrete or dense aggregate to fill the gaps, but I'm considering mudjacking to fix the void under the steps and raise the sagging concrete path, even though I'm worried it might not be rodent-proof and it's expensive. Has anyone faced something like this? Any tips or ideas to make sure I keep these pesky mice out?
3 Answers
To really seal up those gaps, you should consider doing some tuck-pointing on your foundation. Dig down to see how deep the cracks go, then clean them out thoroughly. You can mix your own mortar or buy a pre-blended one. If you're looking for a good mix, try 1 part portland cement, 1 part lime, and 6 parts masonry sand. It's usually a solid choice and not too hard to work with. And if you're unsure about the process, Mike Haduck has great videos on YouTube that could help you out!
Have you thought about getting a cat? They are natural mouse deterrents. I just adopted a little one myself, but I wouldn’t want her roaming around outside or in the ceiling where the mice are. I've even tried spreading her litter near the entry spots, but it hasn't done much. Might need to look for other solutions alongside that.
Yeah, I got a cat not long ago, but she's not really fazing the mice like I hoped. The litter trick seems worth a shot though!
You really only need to be worried about gaps the size of a dime or larger—mice can’t squeeze through anything smaller! So focus on sealing those big openings. Just a heads up though, there's no such thing as a 'doony' coin in Canada; you guys are stuck with dimes!
Thanks for the advice! I'm in central Canada with a concrete foundation, so I'll grab some mortar mix and patch up any visible cracks. Planning to backfill with crushed limestone too!