Mice might be cute (depending on who you ask), but these furry critters can wreak havoc on your home, nibbling at your insulation, chewing through wires, and leaving droppings in their wake.
When determining how to get rid of mice and other pests in your basement—or from your home in general—sturdy materials are crucial. Though these small rodents can be tricky to expel, a metal wire mesh barrier is a relatively easy, humane, and affordable solution.
How Do Mice Enter Houses?
Mice can enter homes in a few ways. They might access your basement through your foundation vents, especially if they're not properly closed off with metal mesh or another type of cover.
They can enter through soffits, which give them access to your attic, or by scurrying through your gutters, then down through your chimney. Mice might also get in through any cracks, holes, or exposed pipes around your home's exterior. Bear in mind that entry points often only need to be about a half-inch big for them to get through.
In addition to covering your foundation vents, you can seal off these entry points with wire mesh. Cleaning out your gutters and trimming back shrubs around the perimeter of your home can help as well.
Will Wire Mesh Keep Mice Out of My Home?
Wire mesh is an effective solution for keeping mice out of your home. Mesh products are also versatile, durable, weather-resistant, non-toxic, humane, and DIY-friendly.
Benefits of Galvanized Wire Mesh for Mouse Control
Galvanized steel wire mesh is a highly effective yet simple solution for keeping mice and other rodents out of your home. You can use the material to cover foundation vents, soffits, air vents, floor drains, gutters, and exposed pipes.
Durable and Weather-Resistant
The National Park Service's Rodent Exclusion Manual states that galvanized mesh is the best material for mouse control. The protective zinc coating makes it incredibly sturdy, durable, and long-lasting, with a lifespan of up to 20 years.
It won't warp or break when mice try to weasel or gnaw their way through the material. Not only that, but it stands up to extreme outdoor environments, resisting corrosion and rust year-round in wet, snowy, or blazing-hot weather conditions.
Non-Toxic and Humane
Wire mesh is non-toxic, meaning it won't harm you or the environment. It's also a humane alternative to using poison, traps, or other approaches that kill mice.
DIY-Friendly
Wire mesh is easy to work with too. It can be cut to size with tin snips or heavy-duty scissors and attached with industrial-grade staples—or foam blocks, in the case of foundation vents.
If you need a particular size, TWP Inc. can laser-cut the material to your exact specifications.
Can Mice Chew Through Galvanized Steel Mesh?
As long as the wire diameter is thick enough, pests won't be able to chew through material. When being used to exclude mice, the wire diameter should be between 0.025 to 0.032 inches.
As noted, they can get through openings as small as a half-inch. With this in mind, make sure the mesh opening size is no bigger than a quarter-inch to be safe.
Read our blog to learn more about why Galvanized Wire Mesh is the Top Choice for Rat & Mouse Control.
Wire Mesh for Mouse Control, Rodent Exclusion & More
TWP Inc. has the durable and affordable products you need for your pest-control project. Founded in 1969, our woman-owned company has been an industry-leading supplier for over 50 years.
When you browse our selection, you'll find a wide array of products in stock and ready to ship. If you need a specific size or quantity, we're happy to accommodate custom orders. Browse our mouse-control meshes today, or contact us about a custom order.
We'd love to see pictures of your DIY project! Uploaded them to Instagram using the hashtag #TWPWireMesh to have them featured in our online gallery.
