Mice chew foam plastic: what to do, how to treat it and how to protect the house?

Expanded polystyrene has a structure that arouses curiosity among small inhabitants. They taste it on the tooth, but do not put it into the stomach. Rodents have developed front teeth from birth. This makes them uncomfortable to chew food. Mice are constantly looking for material to sharpen their teeth on.

Mice do not eat polystyrene foam because this material has no beneficial or nutritional properties. But they can beautify and insulate the hole. Mice also want to live in comfort. Scientists conducted experiments with hungry mice. They placed water and food next to the foam partition. Hungry small animals destroyed foam structures just to get to food.

Interesting! Zoological experts believe that stress throws mice off balance. By sharpening their teeth, they calm down. Rodents get nervous from constant noise and lack of free space.

Conclusion

Some useful facts

In fact, representatives of the mouse order do not feed on insulating building materials at all, since they are inedible. The goal of these small animals is to create a cozy nest for their offspring, and they achieve this in an accessible way - they gnaw holes. To better convey the essence of the problem, we bring to your attention a number of facts obtained as a result of many years of practical observations:

1. The rodent invasion begins every year with the onset of cold weather. It is more convenient for a field mouse to get into a human home, where there is warmth and food, than to dig a hole in the ground.
2. It does not matter what technology was used to build a private house and what building materials were used during construction. There are always multiple routes used by pests to get inside.
3. Mice are able to climb vertical walls. This is how they get onto the roof and settle on the ceiling, where the maximum amount of heat accumulates.
4. Rats are very rare guests in residential buildings. They prefer food warehouses, granaries and other similar structures. If they appear in the house, it means that you are located too close to the pigsty and the feed barn, where these dangerous rodents came from.

Reference. It is believed that rats are much smarter than mice and therefore more difficult to breed. But if you comply with all the requirements for the placement of buildings on the site, then most likely you will never encounter rats. True, compliance with the standards must also be required from neighbors who can put a shed next to your house.

Protection against mice and rats entering the house.

What are mice and rats capable of?

Rats and mice can:

Climb into the house using plants, trees, vines, plants, electrical wires, ropes. Climb to any height along vertical walls made of wood, brick, concrete, plastic. Crawl through pipelines, cable ducts, ventilation pipes, underground communications inputs (through gaps ). Rats are capable of: crawling into cracks of at least 1.3 cm, climbing outside vertical pipes with a diameter of up to 7.6 cm, climbing inside pipes or gaps ranging from 3.8 to 10.2 cm, burrowing to a depth of 90 cm, swimming in water at a distance of up to 800 m, jump up or in length by 33 cm. Mice are capable of: crawling through holes with a diameter of up to 6 mm, jumping to a height of 46 cm, surviving and reproducing at temperatures down to – 4C.

Standard entry points for mice and rats into the house.

Inputs of water, gas, electricity lines into the house, ventilation openings not protected by mesh, cracks in walls, vents in foundations, gaps at the joints of structures, ventilation gaps in roofing systems, sewer pipes, chimneys and chimney penetrations through walls and roofs, open entrances doors and windows, ventilation gaps of ventilated facades,

The best method of protecting your home from rodents is to create physical barriers to prevent rodents from entering your home and its structures. The additional cost of designing and installing mouse protection will be less expensive than repairing the damage caused by mice.

Ill. No. 3. Methods of mechanical protection of the house from the penetration of mice and rats.

To protect openings and ventilation gaps (in the roof, under ventilated facades) from mice, it is necessary to use a steel mesh with a cell size of less than 6 mm.

Steel of at least 0.56 mm thickness can be used to create rat- and mouse-proof barriers. The minimum thickness of a brickwork or unreinforced concrete wall to resist mice and rats is 9.5 cm. The minimum thickness of steel mesh reinforced concrete is 5 cm.

To protect against undermining and the penetration of rats, the foundation must be buried more than 90 cm into the ground, or equipped with an underground curtain at least a meter deep made of galvanized steel mesh with a mesh size of no more than 6 mm. A monolithic reinforced concrete foundation in the form of a slab is the best way to protect a house from the penetration of rodents through the ground, as well as reinforced concrete floors of the first floor. To protect against gnawing, the bottom edge of wooden doors can be protected by wrapping it with sheet metal at least 0.56 mm thick.

To protect against rodents climbing the walls, continuous circular ebbs can be used along the perimeter of the foundation, protruding at least 36 cm from the foundation, or a continuous decorative strip of smooth metal along the perimeter of the house with a height of at least 35-45 cm [4].

Bibliography:

SE Hygnstrom Impacts of house mouse activity of five types of insulation. Proceedings of the Fifteenth Vertebrate Pest Conference 1992/University of Nebraska.

– Lincoln, 1992.SE Hygnstrom House Mouse Damage to Insulation. Nebraska Swine Reports/University of Nebraska. – Lincoln, 1996. M. Suss, B.

Mittrach. 1982. Mause zerstoren fast jeden Dammstoff/ Landtechnik 37, – 1982.

P.81-83.RO Baker, GRBodman, RM Timm Rodent-proof construction and exclusion methods. Prevention and control of wildlife damage / University of Nebraska. – Lincoln, 1994.

Do mice eat mineral wool? penoplex, polystyrene foam and other insulation materials? FIVE - yes, EIGHT - no

When choosing a thermal insulation material, many factors need to be taken into account. Among them are thermal conductivity, rigidity, moisture resistance, vapor permeability, and the most banal thing, price. And everything would be fine, but you need to take into account not only your capabilities, but also... rodents. Many home owners, having discovered mice in their insulation, realized that the cost of the mistake was very high. There was often a need to completely restore the insulating pie. We will discuss three possible situations:

1. What materials do rodents breed in?
2. How to protect thermal insulation during construction?
3. How to get rid of “guests” if they are already “here”?

Material properties

Penoplex is laid on a concrete screed after waterproofing with polyethylene or roofing felt.

The technical characteristics of penoplex make it attractive for use in the construction of low-rise structures and private and industrial construction:

• the most important thing is the reduced thermal conductivity index, its value of 0.03 W*m*0C can compete with any insulation and will remain a winner;
• increased resistance to transpiration (penetration) of moisture - only 2 cm of penoplex corresponds to roofing felt in terms of vapor permeability;
• Due to extrusion, the mass is homogeneous, so evenly distributed cells significantly increase its strength. Even under very high loads, its parameters are almost unchanged;
• high moisture resistance - liquid is absorbed only in places of cuts where the integrity of the cells is compromised;
• penoplex is not subject to rotting and decomposition, mold does not develop in it, which indicates the high biostability of this material.

Temperature conditions that allow the use of penoplex range from -50 to +75 degrees Celsius, but for each type of penoplex the temperature limits are indicated in the instructions.

You need to know: in order for the dimensions of the penoplex slabs to remain unchanged, the temperature specified in the product data sheet must be observed. If it is overheated, its characteristics may change.

Taste preferences of rodents

Mice are considered omnivores. They destroy food supplies along with packaging and containers. Sharp teeth easily gnaw through wood, fabric, plastic, parquet, and foam.

A mouse needs about 6 g of food per day. Rodents have difficulty withstanding hunger, so mice eat everything. Expanded polystyrene is one of the types of foam plastic. Has a denser texture. Gnawing through such material is not difficult for rodents. It gets interesting whether mice eat extruded polystyrene foam.

How rodents use foam plastic

Numerous studies of building materials have proven that mice chew foam or polystyrene with great pleasure and quite actively, but do not eat it.
They can settle in it, building nests, storerooms for food supplies, laying many-meter passages, feeling warm and comfortable. Reasons why mice breed and live in polystyrene foam:

• Rodents got their name precisely because they must chew something all the time, helping themselves to grind down their rapidly growing front incisors;
• insulation materials are suitable for the construction of nests and burrows;
• The polystyrene foam is easily chewed, and mice settle into it with pleasure and comfort.

Mice and foam

• damage from gnawing holes and damage to the insulation can amount to up to 80%, and it can no longer be restored and will have to be completely replaced;
• The thermal insulation of the building’s interior is reduced, which worsens people’s living conditions;
• Granulated polystyrene is the most susceptible to damage.

Is it worth using EPS?

Mice and polyesterol

The use of non-natural materials is beneficial from an economic point of view. On the health side, it creates a not entirely favorable atmosphere in the room. It has been noticed that pests are less likely to grow in a room with an excess of plastic and other synthetic materials.

The likelihood of mice and rats entering the building is reduced from a theoretical point of view. You can use polystyrene foam to insulate your home. However, pests can chew through the polystyrene layer, make passages in it, and ruin the entire insulating structure. The appropriateness of using the material is questionable.

Important!

Mice do not eat polystyrene, but they can easily chew through the entrances and exits in it. Just one through hole is enough for the room to lose heat and let in heat. All efforts were wasted, money was wasted.

According to some reports, polystyrene foam and its derivatives do not affect the health and well-being of mice. Rodents successfully build nests in polystyrene foam materials, live, and reproduce. Others argue that EPS and mice are incompatible concepts. They can ruin everything, they won’t live there. Another question arises: is it possible to protect the polystyrene insulation layer from mice?

Do mice live in polystyrene foam or polystyrene foam?

According to some studies, polystyrene foam and its derivatives do not have any harmful effects on the health or well-being of mice. Rodents successfully build nests in polystyrene foam and polystyrene foam.

Due to the presence of such materials, the pest population can increase significantly.

But at the same time, there is an alternative opinion that they gnaw through these materials only to pass through barriers, but the animals avoid living in them.

Protecting insulation from rodents

High-quality work on facade insulation should not contain gaps or flaws. In practice, it turns out that if there are omissions, mice are able to get to the extruded polystyrene foam.

Gnawing of insulation by mice To prevent rodent invasion, you need to take care of this during installation work. In the lower part of the wall, polystyrene foam should be protected by a base strip, reinforcing mesh. Ensuring the structural integrity of the lower part of the building is sufficient to prevent pests from entering. Another solution to the problem is to find out which insulation mice will not chew on and use it.

If the moment is missed and mice live in the wall, you must:

• get rid of them by any known methods;
• make sure there are no rodents;
• to be completely sure, tear off the bottom part of the polystyrene foam;
• restore the damaged part, restore the integrity of the structure.

On a note!

House mice penetrate into the smallest cracks and narrow gaps. When performing insulation work, you need to ensure that all parts of the structure fit tightly and adhere to each other. Pay special attention to the lower part of the building.

Mice are a nuisance with their presence in private houses and apartments. They live in basements, upper floors of buildings, and settle on the ceiling. Nothing is impossible for them. You should not assume that pests will not climb to the upper floors. The protection of polystyrene foam must be taken care of during its installation.

If the foam is already damaged

If rodents managed to cause damage to the cladding of the house, it is necessary to assess its scale. You will have to disassemble the casing, remove the top sheets and replace the damaged sheets with new ones. At the same time, care must be taken to ensure that all measures to prevent rodents from entering the house are taken. If you can do without dismantling the slabs, install a base profile. You can also install a reinforcing mesh that rodents cannot chew through. You can take a regular metal mesh with small holes, less than one centimeter, since rodents are very flexible and can fit into very small cracks. It is best to use aluminum mesh: it is easy to form. The mesh covers the entire part of the foam, which rises above the ground to a height of up to forty centimeters.

Do they eat or chew?

Mice, like all other creatures, eat organic foods. And most modern insulation materials are made from non-organic materials. Therefore, the taste of the little inhabitants is not very to their liking. But mice can easily get into many insulation materials. Like all of us, rodents also need a roof over their heads and they really want this roof to be cozy. The insulation material chosen by the owner is almost the best that can be found in nature. So, our first conclusion: rodents do not eat insulation, but they breed in it. But not in all materials.

We consider thermal insulation materials

To find out the “preferences” of rodents regarding various insulation materials, you need to know a simple rule: in search of a place for a nest, the mouse will follow the path of least resistance and begin to gnaw on softer material. First of all, let's make a list of insulators used to increase the energy efficiency of residential buildings:

• solid natural materials – expanded clay, vermiculite, foam glass;
• blocks made of foam and aerated concrete, wood concrete;
• artificial polymers - foam plastic, foamed polyethylene and polyurethane, extruded polystyrene foam (aka Penoplex);
• building materials based on glass and basalt fibers - mineral and glass wool;
• new cellulose insulation – ecowool.

This is what ecowool thermal insulation looks like

Note. For obvious reasons, the list does not include rarely used perlite concrete products and any fiberboards.

The ability to resist pest attack is affected by 3 characteristics of a thermal insulation product: density, chemical composition and flowability. Based on these characteristics, we will consider all types of insulation.

Vermiculite and expanded clay

These two building materials, and even foam glass, are the best option for protection against rodents. Their main advantage is their high density and flowability, which does not allow them to make a hole. The main condition is that the insulating layer must be well compacted so that the gaps between the pebbles are minimal. Solid blocks of foam glass cannot be chewed through due to their hardness.

Covering with foam glass panels

The characteristics of insulation look like this:

1. The density of expanded clay gravel ranges from 200 to 800 kg/m³ depending on the size of the fraction, thermal conductivity is 0.11–0.21 W/(m•K).
2. Crushed vermiculite stone has a density of 250 kg/m³ with a thermal conductivity of 0.13 W/(m•K).
3. The foam glass indicators are respectively 160 kg/m³ and 0.06 W/(m•K).

A layer of expanded clay inside the wall leaves no chance for pests

Mice do not eat expanded clay with vermiculite and all products based on them, for example, expanded clay concrete. Another thing is that the thermal insulation properties of these materials are low, and their mass is large. To replace 100 mm of foam plastic with a thermal conductivity of 0.04 W/(m•K), you need to fill in a layer of expanded clay gravel of at least 30 cm, which increases the thickness and weight of the structures too much. Foam glass insulation is effective, but not cheap.

The following conclusion suggests itself. The listed materials provide almost 100% protection against mice, but are impractical or expensive to use. That's why they are inferior in popularity to the next category.

Lightweight concrete blocks

Theoretically, mice are able to chew through foam blocks and wood concrete, but they do this extremely rarely, since the materials are quite hard and dense:

• wood concrete products – 300–800 kg/m³;
• aerated concrete – from 400 to 500 kg/m³;
• foam block - 600-1000 kg/m³.

In terms of thermal insulation parameters, light blocks are comparable to expanded clay - the thermal conductivity coefficient lies in the range of 0.1-0.2 W/(m•K). At the same time, they have one big advantage: block products are structural building materials. That is, it is possible to build external walls from aerated concrete that can bear significant loads. Therefore, in recent years, the popularity of wood concrete and various foam blocks has been constantly growing.

Happy housewarming or where we will live

Although we found out that they are heavy, do not eat, insulation, they live in some materials. The table below shows a list of “favorites”.

Even mice chew foam. Its relatively soft structure allows them to easily create a nest for themselves in a warm place. Moreover, in the case of soft material, a thickness of even 200 mm does not become a big obstacle. In fact, rodents don’t even need to chew the foam, often just their paws are enough.

Here you will have to try, although with due effort, extruded, that is, compacted foam plastic will also not stand. Do mice eat penoplex? No, but they also chew. Thick polystyrene foam is especially suitable for them - 150 mm and above, although initially they gnaw on everything.

foamed polyethylene (PPE)

Typically, thin insulation is gnawed through with the goal not to live, but to pass “obliquely” to a goal that lies further and is felt by rodents.

The situation with this insulation is twofold. Well, firstly, with a strong desire, especially rats will get to anything and through anything. Mice, of course, are weaker, but still, their abilities are often sufficient. PUF is divided into closed-cell and open-cell. So, the first one, by default, is not touched by rodents. In 99% of cases. There are known situations in which rats gnawed through 25-30 cm of high-quality polyurethane foam, but this is rather an exception. This situation arises due to the animal’s self-preservation instinct, when, for example, a rat is isolated during installation. But, under normal circumstances with a good PPU, this does not happen. It fell into the “edible” group only because of the different species, some of which are susceptible to the attention of four-legged animals.

Mineral (stone or basalt) wool, glass wool

Contrary to manufacturers' statements, rodents also live in mineral wool. Even more: it is in this insulation that they start most often. Vata most of all reminds them of natural conditions. Therefore, despite all the enormous advantages of mineral wool, one more thing is that protection against rodents cannot be added.

So, the most popular insulation material, polystyrene foam, breeds mice. Do mice chew mineral wool? And how! But, all these are just opinions, let's give the floor to those who have already suffered from the “little neighbors.”

What not to choose

Thus, natural insulation and polystyrene provide the greatest pleasure to rodents. Insulation based on mineral and basalt wool will not stop them either. All these insulation materials are soft, so they are quite easy to “deal with.” Given the significant sound insulation, it will be difficult to immediately hear the presence of mice.

The only way to protect the space between the wall and the insulation is to use solid insulation. However, aerated concrete and the company have one significant drawback - they can only be used at the construction stage of a building. And on top of that, they conduct heat well, so they are rarely used.

Another solution to the problem is inflatable insulators led by penoizol. Mice don't eat them at all. However, due to the insignificant amount of work, the cost of insulation can increase several times compared to alternatives. But its advantage is that it can be insulated both during construction and during the operation stage of the building.

If you can't afford solid insulation, take steps to rodent-proof your insulation. When insulating with materials made from natural raw materials, give preference to balls, which are immediately concreted. Concrete will protect the foam or straw from mice's teeth.

Give preference to a strip foundation - it will be difficult for rodents to overcome. And under the floor of the first floor, place any loose insulation and broken glass

It is important to adhere to the technology of laying the heat insulator. Gross violations of work stages will lead to the appearance of gaps, which mice will certainly take advantage of

If problems arise during operation, additional measures will have to be taken. There are several main ways to control rodents:

• laying ecowool in the floors - it consists of 80% wood cellulose and 20% borax, becoming an antiseptic, mice do not eat it;
• spray the blocks with a solution of lime and borax;
• adding slag, tobacco dust, ash, mint, wormwood and pine branches to the insulation;
• the use of metal mesh in places where rodents can enter, for example, in the floor;
• using a monolithic reinforced concrete slab as a foundation.

When planning construction, it is worth wrapping the building with a metal grid (cells 5 by 5 mm). But sometimes rodents chew through a mesh with a wire thickness of 1.5 mm.

When the mice are already infested

When the mice have already started, you can do the following. The first method is to use an “expanded clay” castle by firing low-melting clay. A 30 cm layer of expanded clay is laid on the ground, which is covered on top with plastic film and two layers of OSB-3. Laminate is laid on top of these layers. This method is very effective. Also, a 10 cm layer of expanded clay is placed between the main and subfloor.

Acoustic devices will also be effective, especially those imitating the sounds of animals and birds of prey that feed on mice. And if none of the above helps, get a cat and mouse trap.

Now you know which insulator mice cannot chew on - penoizol. All other materials have protective measures.

What are people saying?

Last fall (2015) I insulated the utility room with 50 mm polystyrene foam. Everything was great in winter. With the onset of spring, mice came and gnawed the wall (foam). To be honest, the mice themselves don’t really bother me, but I need it to be warm in the winter. The insulation needs to be changed, please tell me what materials rodents do not touch?

I left a roll of insulation in the utility room for the winter. After the season I noticed a nest, I think it was a weasel that spent the winter in a roll. I don’t know about mice, but for rats! Even Soviet glass wool is not a problem to build holes for yourself. We need to add poison. I cover it from above so that the birds do not touch the grains. If necessary, I can add more in winter.

A fact is a fact, and there is no arguing about it. It is clear that measures need to be taken not yet at the construction stage. Attention question: which ones exactly?

Why do mice chew foam?

Part of the answer to this question lies in the nature of rodents. In these animals, the growth of the incisors occurs constantly throughout their lives. Therefore, there is a need to grind them down. Polystyrene foam is ideal for this purpose, and they especially love granulated polystyrene. The material is pliable, moderately hard and plastic. Mineral wool can also be damaged. Interesting: according to zoologists, in stressful situations mice begin to chew more actively. Thus, a surge in insulation deterioration can provoke noise produced by construction work. In addition, the physical properties of the material make it suitable for constructing and insulating rodent homes. Even if it is difficult for them to make nests there, it is quite possible to gnaw through multiple passages that are convenient for quick movement. This leads to the complete unsuitability of this material and the need to replace the thermal insulation.

How to protect insulation?

Essentially, there are two ways to protect thermal insulation from pests:

Moreover, it’s worth mentioning right away that the first method is as reliable as a tank. The second is more of a temporary measure in case of storing unused material, although it is also used in finished structures.

If you build a concrete structure around the insulation, for example, polystyrene foam, which will protect it, neither mice nor rats will most likely try to gnaw through it. For example, mice do not gnaw on such types of finishes as “bark beetle” very often.

Rodents are becoming a big problem for owners of frame houses. The frame essentially consists of insulation, and it can be protected with reinforced mesh with a very fine cross-section.

Among the chemical remedies, folk remedies can be noted, such as:

There are cases when, before insulation, foam plastic is treated with lime or even pepper. But in fact, only insecticidal products specifically designed to control pests can help.

By choosing the second method (chemical agents) to protect the insulation, you agree with all the disadvantages and side effects of the poison. And here it’s up to someone to decide: if someone doesn’t even use polystyrene foam because of its harm to health, most likely only the first of two methods will suit you.

How to avoid trouble and protect your home

The following rules must be adhered to:

1. Get a cat or cat. You can adopt a kitten from the street or a hunting breed, such as an Abyssinian. The desired color of the animal is striped or motley. The smell of a cat will repel rodents.
2. It is necessary to keep food out of reach, do not leave leftover food on the table, and regularly thoroughly clean the rooms.
3. Foam plastic must be installed according to all rules. Mice and rats enter the house through cracks, so it is important to use foam to seal them. Also carefully putty the polystyrene. And then sheath it using special building materials.
4. To guarantee, all walls should be covered with fine mesh. Rodents certainly cannot damage metal. Dense types of insulation and durable cladding material are also difficult for mice.
5. At the time of construction of the house, it is worth laying a strip foundation. It forms a contour of reinforced concrete beams. Place broken glass around the perimeter.
6. The poison for gray pests is boric acid. It is scattered near burrows and around the perimeter of housing. However, if there are animals or children in the house, acid is prohibited from use.
7. Folk remedies include the use of the following plants in dry form: wormwood, chamomile, wild rosemary and elderberry. They are put in bags and placed in the corners of the house and places close to the habitat of mice.
8. It is worth installing an ultrasonic repeller. The sound produced by this device has a negative effect on rodents. The number of devices directed against mice depends on their range and the area of ​​the house.

If they already live?

In this case, you should not hope that the rodents will go away on their own. You need to get rid of mice and other rodents in two stages. First of all, you need to eliminate the source of their appearance. Perhaps it's a trash can that may be causing mice to live near the house, or unopened edible supplies in the house. In general, everything that pests can drink.

When the source is eliminated:

• Disassemble the insulating pie;
• Remove damaged parts;
• Restore the insulation layer;
• Make sure you're protected for the future.

Although, it is clear that there cannot be any miracle solution to the problem. Therefore, many decide either at the replacement or construction stage to choose one of the options that is not interesting to pests.

Buy Rockwool insulation and mice will stop bothering you!

The TeploDom company website presents a large selection of insulation materials with soundproofing properties that effectively protect the house from heat loss and noise pollution, the role of which is steadily increasing with the growth of cities. The material also prevents the spread of rodents, is easy to install and meets all modern requirements for increasing the energy efficiency of buildings.

Hurry up to purchase certified Rockwool Acoustic Butts insulation slabs at dealer prices and order insulation installation by number, or by filling out the form below!

Useful video

Installation of soundproofing boards Acoustic Butts

“If you please, another time” - insulation materials that don’t bite

For one reason or another, the insulating materials listed below are not interesting to rodents:

Concrete-based materials benefit from strength. Ecowool contains orthoboric acid, which is added to the composition so that the organic insulation does not rot. This is what protects the material from pests.

So, at the beginning of the article we were faced with three tasks: to find out what can be used to insulate a house so that mice and other rodents cannot grow in the insulation, how to process the material so that it is not interesting to mice, and how to remove pests if they are already visiting. We noted that:

• Mineral wool and polystyrene foam are attacked;
• A fencing structure needs to be built around the insulated area - for example, polystyrene foam can be plastered without leaving even a small gap;
• Material treated with insecticides or orthoboric acid repels pests;

No matter what the material is treated with, mice will definitely not appear in the insulation only if it is covered with a protective layer. The material thus protected will properly serve its intended purpose.

Sustainable insulation

A characteristic feature of mice is the ability to penetrate very narrow defects in foundations and walls that form during construction. Once inside the house, they begin to multiply en masse. As a result, it will be extremely difficult to smoke them out of there. Therefore, for thermal insulation of floors and walls, you need to choose a type of material that will not become a habitat for small pests.

Expanded clay

This type of protective coating has long become very popular as insulation, as it has several advantages. In addition to thermal insulation properties, it absorbs noise. And besides, rodents cannot live in it.

Expanded clay is made from clay, which is cleaned of impurities during the production process, then thoroughly ground and mixed until a homogeneous consistency is obtained. Small granules are formed from the solution, which are subsequently hardened under the influence of temperature and pressure. In this case, the maximum permissible technical and operational characteristics are achieved. The mass swells, significantly increasing in volume. The strength of expanded clay is great, so it can withstand strong impacts.

Rodents and insects cannot live in such insulation, since they will simply drown in small particles. In addition, there is a lack of oxygen in the insulation cake made from this material. Mice will also not be able to gnaw through it, since it is too durable. Therefore, the colonization of houses thermally insulated in this way by rodents is unlikely.

Expanded clay is most often used for insulating basements and floors. If necessary, it can be used for walls.

Foam glass

This type of thermal insulation coating is protected from biological factors. The coating is made in the form of slabs, as well as scattered. The latter has similar properties to expanded clay and is used in the same way for insulating basements and floors.

The slabs are mounted on walls from the outside or inside; in addition, they can be laid on floors by attaching them to a concrete base, bitumen, mastic or other types of construction binders.

Foam glass is a special material that is made by melting and foaming glass. Due to the ability of the raw material to soften at high temperatures, a reliable, lightweight insulation is obtained. When the mass begins to solidify during the production process, it acquires high strength. Due to such operational and technical characteristics, rodents will not be able to penetrate the cake layer.

Ecowool

To prevent rodents from moving into your home, many experts advise using this material. Ecological wool was invented relatively recently, but has already become one of the most popular types of thermal insulation coatings.

It is mounted using special devices. Then you need to level the layers with a roller.

Why don’t mice and rats eat such insulation? Rodents prefer to avoid settling in it due to its chemical composition. During manufacturing, orthoboric acid is used, which is dangerous for animals. When ingested, suffocation and dehydration occur. Even if an individual settles inside such insulation, they will not be able to stay inside for a long time.

In addition, thanks to the use of organic substances in ecowool, insects do not appear and fungus does not multiply. It resists open flame well.

Ecowool is made from natural ingredients that do not harm the body. Therefore, it can be used externally and internally. In addition, the coating insulates from sounds.

Foam concrete

This type of material is not suitable for mice, rats, or ants. It is produced in several forms: blocks and mortar. The first ones are used for the construction of buildings or secondary lining. The second is for filling the formwork.

Foam concrete consists of cement, liquid, sand and foaming agent. When hardened, it reaches high levels of rigidity and porosity. Foam concrete becomes an insulation material that does not harbor mice and ants due to its high strength.

It is mainly used for external thermal insulation of buildings. The solution can also be poured between two layers of brickwork. Among all the advantages, there is a disadvantage: there is low resistance to moisture and mold formation.

Foam concrete is excellent for thermal insulation of floors. Once the material hardens, it will have increased strength and is suitable for surface cladding. In addition, the floors will be protected from sound penetration.

Penoizol

Available in liquid form. It is sprayed onto the walls. And although rodents are unable to live in it for a long time, mice, however, eat it. Therefore, they can quickly ruin it.

Styrofoam and mice

Polystyrene foam and polystyrene foam are derivatives of the same synthetic substance. Therefore, there is no doubt whether mice chew polystyrene foam. They do this no less willingly than in the case of other insulation materials.

Is extruded polystyrene foam eaten?

If everything is clear with polystyrene foam, then whether mice eat extruded polystyrene foam (EPS) remains to be seen. XPS is a densified foam plastic material. But the extruded material also cannot resist rodents.

Extruded polystyrene foam and mice coexist quite well. Although this insulation is not used by pests as food, rodents live in it, making tunnels for themselves.

Rodents and penoplex

Do mice eat this material? These rodents, like any living beings, eat only what is needed for the body, i.e. various nutrients, vitamins, minerals, etc. Penoplex does not contain these beneficial substances, so mice do not eat it.

Why do mice chew penoplex?

But this does not mean that your garden houses are protected. Yes, mice do not eat penoplex as food, but they still chew it to build tunnels. They need access to a living space where there is warmth and food. If mice plan to get inside, they will not use the door to do this, but will gnaw tunnels in the walls, including the insulation. This material is easily crushed by their sharp teeth.

Mice love to gnaw passages in soft insulation

Methods of protection

How to protect your home from rodents, how to prevent damage to insulation? If this is a country house, then try to make it unattractive to rodents. Mice run to where there is a lot of food. Therefore, remove all the crumbs, all the supplies, take them with you or hide them in jars where they will not fit. But there are other ways to protect yourself:

1. Buy hard boards that mice cannot chew through.
2. Don’t be too lazy to place a metal mesh or sheet of tin outside that mice cannot overcome.
3. Conduct a constant fight against rodents, get a cat that will drive them out of the house.
4. Another method of protection is painting the insulation.

Or give up penoplex and use a material that mice do not chew. There are now many thermal insulation materials that meet these requirements. Rodents do not live in expanded clay, but they will drown in sand or gravel insulation. Mice will not be able to chew through expanded clay, so they can be used to insulate basements, walls, floors, etc. Or buy foam glass, which mice also don’t like.

Before you start building a house, think through all the details. Where there are mice, and the fight against them does not bring results (the neighbors have all the conditions for the reproduction of rodents), it is worth building houses with insulation that will not be chewed by mice. In other cases, it is necessary to use protective methods and constantly fight rodents.

Insulation that mice don't chew

To prevent mice from making moves in the walls, it is useful to use the following materials:

1. Foam concrete. It is a rigid, but light and porous insulating material. It is not suitable for pests gnawing holes. At the same time, buildings built using such material are warm, durable, and also environmentally friendly.
2. Expanded clay. This insulation has proven itself well and has been popular for many years. Its basis is a special type of clay. It consists of granules, the size of which varies from 1 to 40 mm. Expanded clay is used to insulate walls and floors. This material is not suitable for mice or other rodents. It is difficult to move around, you feel a lack of air, and small particles clog the organs of the respiratory system.
3. Ecowool. This is a lightweight fibrous building insulation material based on orthoboric acid. It can cause lung damage and dehydration, which leads to the death of mice. This material is not dangerous for humans and pets. It is suitable for insulating both external surfaces and walls inside a living space.
4. Foam glass. This material is a foamed carbon mixture of waste glass. During production, glass cells are formed that fit tightly together. This fiberglass has good thermal insulation properties and is not afraid of moisture. In addition, it is convenient to use and is also rodent resistant. When a mouse tries to bite through such insulation, it immediately injures its oral cavity, so it quickly abandons this idea.

If a rodent population begins to develop in the thermal insulation layer, then urgent measures must be taken.

Mice will have no incentive to live in a particular insulation if there is no available food source.

At the same time, heat insulators must be reliable and resistant to pests. The same cannot be said about polystyrene foam, penoplex or extruded polystyrene foam.

What mice won't chew

What mice don't chew

Solid insulation does not harbor mice. They simply cannot make a hole for themselves in these materials.

Foam glass

It has sufficient strength, thanks to which it protects the house from the invasion of rodents and insects. There are two types:

The first type is used when it is necessary to insulate floors, ceilings and ceilings. Plates are used to insulate walls.

Foam glass has the following advantages:

1. It does not emit harmful fumes into the environment and is safe for human health.
2. Allows you to use a jigsaw or hacksaw, so it's easy to work with.
3. The insulation is not affected by sunlight or moisture. It is durable and easy to operate.
4. Rodents are not able to gnaw a hole in it.
5. Prevents the appearance of fungus.

Although mice do not like this insulation, they can enter the room through the seams between the slabs. To prevent this from happening, you should use a sealant and lay the material on a solution whose quality has been confirmed by positive reviews.

It is made from special clay, which is cleaned and then formed into granules with a diameter of 10 to 25 mm. The granules are hardened at high temperatures, increasing their strength and reducing weight.

More often, expanded clay is used to insulate attic floors and basements, but the material can also be used for walls.

Mice will not be able to move in walls covered with expanded clay. They will simply drown in small fractions. The dust contained in the insulation will not allow rodents to breathe normally and will clog their noses, and the teeth of mice and rats will break on durable balls. Animals cannot survive in such conditions.

The material has the following advantages:

1. It insulates walls well.
2. Has zero fire hazard.
3. Does not allow extraneous sounds to pass through.
4. Inexpensive and durable.
5. Provides reliable waterproofing.

Expanded clay is not used to insulate the walls of a wooden house. Brick walls are insulated during the construction stage.

Clay balls are also used to insulate the underground. To do this, small granules are selected and laid using the “dry screed” technology. In this case, expanded clay can be poured onto the ground or onto concrete.

It is produced in the form of blocks and in the form of a solution. The latter type is good because it does not have seams through which mice and rats can enter a person’s home.

Insulation is applied to brick walls on the street side or poured into the masonry during construction work.

Foam concrete is made from sand, water, foaming agent and cement. Once it dries it becomes very hard.

And if builders are concerned about the question of which insulation does not harbor mice, it is worth paying attention to this material. Rodents will avoid it. Blocks are used to insulate walls

The floor is insulated with a solution. The material has many advantages:

Blocks are used to insulate walls. The floor is insulated with a solution. The material has many advantages:

1. Houses made of foam blocks are warm, quiet and durable.
2. The insulation does not absorb moisture and does not crack.
3. Rodents, ants and cockroaches cannot live in it.
4. Laying the blocks is easy because they are light in weight.
5. The material is easy to process. It is sawed, cut and drilled if necessary.

Insulation is not used indoors, because condensation may form at its joints, which will cause the development of mold fungi.

Insulation is a new material in construction, but it is becoming increasingly popular, despite its high cost. The fiber can only be applied with special equipment. After it hardens, it is leveled using a roller.

Thermal insulation material is produced from cellulose. It can be located inside and outside the building; it has no disadvantages in use.

The list of advantages of ecowool is as follows:

1. It is safe for humans and animals living indoors.
2. It muffles any noise that the street makes and keeps the house warm.
3. Does not rot or decompose.
4. It has a low fire hazard because it actively releases moisture when heated.

The material is light and soft, so some people don't understand why mice and rats can't chew on it. The fact is that ecowool contains orthoboric acid. It causes suffocation and dehydration in animals. If a pest wants to make a nest in the material, it will not be able to live there for long.

The acid is also endowed with antiseptic properties, and it is this that prevents the cotton wool from catching fire when heated.

What types of insulation do mice not eat?

The building materials market offers consumers a wide range of insulation materials.

And what’s important is that there are materials that mice won’t chew on. But if gray rodents already live in the insulation, then it will be very difficult to drive them out.

Foam concrete

It is a rigid, but at the same time lightweight and porous thermal insulator. Rodents will not be able to chew holes in it.

Buildings made from foam concrete are very warm, durable and environmentally friendly for residents.

Expanded clay

Expanded clay is a very reliable, non-flammable and time-tested material. It is made from special types of clay. Granule sizes vary from 1 mm to 40 mm.

This insulation is used to insulate walls and floors. It is difficult for rodents to live in expanded clay. It is difficult to move there, there is not enough air, small parts can clog the respiratory system.

Ecowool

In the production of this insulation, orthoboric acid is used. The acid can cause lung damage, dehydration and even kill rodents. Ecowool is not a dangerous material for humans. Therefore, it can be used to insulate both external and internal surfaces.

The insulation has excellent functions of heat and sound conductivity, fire safety. The service life is at least 50 years . Ecowool is not subject to decomposition and rotting processes.

Foam glass

One of the materials that rodents do not like and therefore do not grow indoors is foam glass. It is produced by foaming glass and soot.

The thermal properties of the insulation do not deteriorate throughout its entire service life.

Which insulation materials are susceptible to rodent teeth?

During the construction and insulation of premises, materials with excellent thermal insulation properties are used. However, there are reviews from builders and home owners confirming that insulation materials have disadvantages.

Penoplex and extruded polystyrene foam are high-tech materials. They are used in industrial and civil construction, when laying railway tracks, highways and runways. These materials have high density. Therefore, rodents will not make their homes in it, but they can chew through it.

Basalt, mineral wool and glass wool are also unstable materials for damage by mice. In search of food, rodents will make holes and passages in mineral wool. This soft material will not stop small pests.

Watch the video in which a specialist explains which insulation is best to choose to prevent mice from getting in:

What kind of insulation is there?

There are two large groups of insulation materials: organic and inorganic. Mice gnaw more on materials belonging to the first group, but the second group also contains insulation that will be tough for pests.

Organic insulation

For their production, waste from woodworking and agricultural production is used. Some types contain cement and plastic.

Such insulation materials include:

1. Ecowool. Made from paper production waste.
2. Fibrolite. Consists of wood chips.
3. Sotoplast. It is made in the form of a honeycomb, filled with special fabric or paper.
4. Foamed polyethylene. Made from polyethylene and a foaming agent.
5. Expanded polystyrene. Better known as polystyrene foam.
6. Polyurethane foam. Used to treat ceilings and walls.
7. Chipboard and fibreboard. Contains wood waste.
8. Arbolit. It is made from shavings, sawdust, reeds and straw.

The mice can easily gnaw through any of these materials and arrange them inside the shelter. In a wooden house, straw is often used for insulation, in which pests feel comfortable.

Insulation and rodents

Inorganic insulation

Mice cannot chew through these materials. They are solid, and it is impossible to stay inside due to the small amount of oxygen.

Insulation is made from slag, glass, asbestos and rocks. It can be hard and free-flowing and can be produced in the form of slabs, mats, and rolls.

This group includes:

1. Mineral wool. It can be stone or slag. Stone wool is made from rocks. The second type is made from slag, which is obtained during metal casting. Mice will not breed in mineral wool, but they can chew through it.
2. Glass wool. It is made from the same materials as glass or from glass production waste. This includes the following types of insulation: basalt wool (fiberglass) and slag wool. Her most famous.
3. Perlite and vermiculite. Loose and hard. This insulation is not eaten by mice because it is very hard on their teeth.
4. Foam concrete and aerated concrete. Used when working with ceilings, walls and floors.
5. Penoizol. Expensive insulation that can be used in a built house.

Rodents do not breed in inorganic insulation materials. But in mineral wool it is easy for them to make moves. Mice in glass wool are also capable of gnawing their way to a food source.

Waterproofing films are often laid on top of the insulation. They help protect the structure from excess moisture and extend the life of the insulating material.

To protect and insulate pipes, fiberglass is usually used, which rodents do not favor.

How to protect foam from mice?

Some researchers argue that foam boards can be protected from being chewed by mice due to the properties of the material itself. To do this, it is enough to increase the smoothness and density of the surfaces - roughness along the edges significantly facilitates the possibility of damage. But in practice it turns out that not everything is so simple. Therefore, the following methods are recognized as the most effective:

• — installation of reinforcing mesh;
• — use of ultrasonic repellers;
• - use of poisoned baits.

The secret to successfully using metal mesh lies in the way it is installed. Firstly, it should be fine-mesh no more than 8 by 8 mm.

Secondly, in order to isolate the polymer slabs from the penetration of mice, they must be fenced with a mesh to a height of at least 0.3 meters. At the same time, do not forget about eliminating all holes and cracks that could serve as loopholes for rodents. If they do not have the opportunity to get to the material, then they simply cannot spoil it. This method of protection is effective, but is only suitable for use during the construction stage. What to do if the house has already been built and problems with rodents begin?

Uz repellers

Another, no less effective way to protect polystyrene foam from mouse teeth is to install ultrasonic repellers in your home. These devices do not physically destroy rodents, but make their existence in the room simply unbearable.

The main part of any ultrasonic repeller is a high-frequency oscillation emitter - ultrasound. The frequency is selected in such a way that the human ear practically does not perceive it, just like the ears of domestic animals. But rodents hear even too well. For them, such radiation is like the roar of a jackhammer, which works non-stop around the clock. They are not able to endure it for long and, sooner or later, leave their habitable premises.

One of the most popular models of repellers is Tornado 400 (price from 2100 rubles)

For a private home or cottage, we can recommend the popular Tornado 400 repeller model, capable of covering an area of ​​up to 400 m². The frequency it generates changes all the time. This prevents rodents from adapting to annoying noise. Ultrasound affects them constantly, no matter what corner the animals are in.

The GRAD A 1000 PRO repeller also gives good results. Apart from mice that live in foam, it can easily cope with almost all household pests because it has four operating modes. Features of this model:

• — six bright LEDs for increased efficiency at close range;
• — the presence of a completely silent mode;
• — an effect that eliminates “fading of oscillations”;
• — ability to adjust signal strength.
• the most important advantage is that the effective impact area is up to 1000 m2

Read reviews about the repeller and buy GRAD A1000 PRO

The compact RIDDEX device is very convenient. Its main difference is the combination of acoustic and electromagnetic effects. When turned on, the device additionally creates a force field that extends along the entire electrical wiring of the house.

• The cost of such a device is from 1400 rubles

Read reviews and order RIDDEX repeller with delivery throughout the CIS

Poisonous baits

From sellers of building materials you can hear about special types of foam and polystyrene treated with rodenticides. Maybe at first, while these materials are still new, mice will refuse to chew on polymer panels. But gradually the chemicals begin to break down or simply evaporate. Sooner or later the material will become completely harmless to animals. Maybe try to treat it with something yourself? Selecting the appropriate chemicals and then spreading them on a poorly absorbent surface will be very problematic.

It is much easier to use ready-made poisonous baits. The only condition is that they must have a mummifying effect, for example, like Storm or Goliath. Otherwise, the unpleasant cadaverous smell from rodents that have died in their nests will not be avoided.

Another tool that our readers recommend is the “Down with Uninvited Guests” set (set No. 3). The kit includes:

• 5 poisonous formulations of 100 g each with various attractive aromas;
• bait house;
• rubber gloves.
• The cost of the set is from 390 rudders

According to user reviews, such a set is enough to kill rodents in the house and surrounding area with a total area of ​​up to 250-300 m2.

And for those who have tried all the methods and did not get the desired result, or simply do not want to deal with unfamiliar equipment or toxic substances, we can recommend contacting a pest control service. Experienced specialists will tell you what to do to prevent mice from chewing the foam, and will carry out all the necessary treatments using the most modern drugs.

Mice and foam

Foam plastic is often used in construction and everyday life. This is a popular foamed synthetic polymer.

For a mouse or any other rodent it has nutritional value. And yet, how mice get along with foam is of interest to many.

Eat or chew

Owners of residential buildings could verify from personal experience whether mice chew foam plastic. And rodentologists also explain whether mice eat foam.

Obviously, the taste characteristics of this building material are unattractive to rodents, but it is still of interest to them. Most often this happens while searching for food and trying to get into living quarters.

Mice also chew polystyrene foam because they have a special teeth structure. After 3 weeks from the moment of birth, the pests have a pair of incisors on both jaws (upper and lower). They continue to grow continuously until the end of the animal's life.

Every 24 hours they add 1 mm. If you leave this to chance, then after a while the mouse will not be able to close its mouth.

This anatomical feature forces them to grind their incisors down on hard objects, including building materials, every day.

For this reason, they often have to chew on things that are not suitable for food. They don’t have to go through much. They can grind cutters on plastic, wooden materials, fabric, concrete.

They can also chew foam for other reasons:

1. Being in a stressful state. If the room where the pest lives is too noisy or it constantly has to fight for survival, then it calms its nervous system by gnawing out new tunnels. Or in this way the rodent marks its territory.
2. Acquaintance with new objects and materials. Mice prefer to taste everything new and unknown. They will not consume synthetic materials internally, but will adapt them for other purposes.
3. Construction of nests for breeding offspring. Rodents like foam plastic just as much as people do. The strengths of this insulation: non-toxic, high level of thermal insulation, easily divided into parts. The mice view it as a mink. They gnaw through numerous tunnels inside the foam and create a cozy nest there. Or they bite off pieces and take them to where they plan to set up their home.

The walls that separate the outside of the building from the inside are insulated with polystyrene foam. To get inside, pests have to do a lot of work.

They chew on everything, but when they come across material that lends itself especially well to this, they give preference to it.

If builders do not think everything through well, then they facilitate the entry of uninvited guests.

How to treat it to prevent chewing

How to protect polystyrene foam from mice needs to be thought out during construction. It is recommended to protect the outer layer with galvanized iron to a height of 30 cm.

Trying to get inside, mice gnaw only the lower part of the building. They lack the ability to climb walls. Another option for protecting polystyrene foam is to use fine chain-link (a metal mesh with small cells).

To prevent mice from eating polystyrene foam and damaging property or thermal insulation, it is recommended to give preference to dense material.

If the fibers have a different arrangement, then it is much more difficult for rodents’ teeth to damage it. Mice often inhabit houses with thin, poor-quality walls. It is important that this point is thought through during construction work.

The ways in which pests enter a living space are always unpredictable. Tracking them can be very difficult. Once inside, the mouse begins to look for a secluded place to nest.

They often prefer the space under the floor, between walls, above the ceiling, provided that everything necessary for their nests is there.

You can protect walls not only from the street, but also indoors. To do this, use a fine mesh or any other dense material. Experts also recommend treating polystyrene foam with denatonium benzoate (Bitrex). This substance is the most bitter substance on earth.

This chemical is not harmful to people or pets. It contains no toxins, but is very bitter. Pests will not be able to chew on material saturated with such bitterness.

Moreover, denatonium benzoate is able to protect walls from other rodents or harmful insects.

Video

Do mice chew foam?

Reviews

Last fall (2015) I insulated the utility room with 50 mm polystyrene foam. Everything was great in winter. With the onset of spring, mice came and gnawed the wall (foam). To be honest, they don’t bother me much in themselves, but I need it to be warm in winter. The insulation needs to be changed, please tell me what materials rodents do not touch?

Valentine

I left a roll of insulation in the utility room for the winter. After the season I noticed a nest, I think it was a weasel that spent the winter in a roll. I don’t know about mice, but for rats! Even Soviet glass wool is not a problem to build holes for yourself. We need to add poison. I cover it from above so that the birds do not touch the grains. If necessary, I can add more in winter.

Egor

A fact is a fact, and there is no arguing about it. It is clear that measures need to be taken not yet at the construction stage. Attention question: which ones exactly?

Unsustainable materials

All these materials are artificial and inedible, but this does not stop mice from gnawing them, turning them into dust, and building nests in the empty voids.

• Basalt wool, glass wool and other mineral wools.
• Any foam plastic (expanded polystyrene, foamed and extruded).
• Fibreboard, chipboard, MDF boards.

The main criterion by which pests choose housing for themselves is that the material must be low density, warm and dry. For example, polystyrene foam - they especially liked it.

There is an opinion that animals avoid penoizol, polyurethane foam and extruded polystyrene foam, this is not entirely true. They are denser than ordinary polystyrene foam, so mice will not settle in them, but they still chew and damage them very well. Only foam balls in concrete are too tough for pests.

What attracts mice to your home?

To understand why mice chew foam plastic, it is necessary to understand what attracts them so strongly to a human home?

The most important goal of both mice and rats is to find food. They won't chew anything out of nothing to do. To get food, mice will gnaw not only foam plastic, but also mineral wool or other insulating material. Mice always move in groups. Therefore, if they have chosen some kind of dwelling, their invasion is quite possible. Rats work differently. First they send a "scout". If he did not see the danger, then the rest of the individuals are already on their way.

It is important to take into account the mouse instinct - the desire to stock up. Therefore, in insulated walls, rodents can make their own food storage

They don't eat everything at once. After some time, the food rots. There is a bad smell in the house. The most unpleasant thing is the dead individuals. This will happen if a piece of thermal insulation material gets into the mouse's stomach.

Rodents chew huge holes in polystyrene foam