According to the United States Census Bureau, 14.8 million American housing units had rodents in them over a 12-month period. To prevent rodents from taking up residence in your house, you’ll need to take some precautionary measures.

Rodent infestations are all too common in attics, and insulation is one big reason why that’s the case. As part of your attic rodent proofing strategy, it’s wise to read up on insulation types rodents can’t easily use as nesting material.

Insulation Materials Rodents Don’t Like

With their strong teeth, mice and other rodents can chew through all sorts of materials – and that means no form of attic insulation is completely resistant to these pests. Still, rodents find these two insulation types less appealing than others:

1. Foil-Faced Insulation

Technically, rodents can chew through the thin aluminum sheets used in foil-faced insulation. But they certainly don’t enjoy doing this – after all, these sheets are sharp enough to hurt their mouths. What this means for you is that foil-faced insulation can deter rodents from taking up residence in your attic.

2. Loose-Fill Cellulose Insulation

At first glance, loose-fill cellulose insulation might seem like a perfect nesting choice for rodents. But even though this insulation type mostly consists of recycled paper and fabric fibers, it’s a much worse choice for nests than you’d expect. Because these loose fibers are simply blown into attic drywall cavities, they collapse as soon as rodents try to create tunnels.

Other Ways to Prevent Rodent Infestations

As you can see, investing in rodent-resistant insulation materials can make your attic less attractive to pests. However, that step alone won’t be enough to protect your attic from infestations. While working on attic rodent proofing, you’ll also need to:

  • Seal cracks in your attic. Rodents can get into your attic through small gaps. Because of that, checking your home for open holes on the roof and ground level is a must.
  • Block vents and pipes. Pipes and vents are easy entrance points for rodents. Though you can’t block these openings entirely, steel mesh will act as an effective temporary barrier.
  • Safely store your food. Improperly-stored food anywhere in your home can make your attic more appealing to rodents. Properly storing food (and cleaning up crumbs right away) will help you avoid this issue.
  • Trim nearby trees. Rodents are great at climbing and jumping, and they use these skills to get into attics like yours. Trimming overgrown trees next to your house can make it much harder for pests to access your attic.

Rodent Proof Your Attic the Right Way

Attic rodent proofing isn’t an easy job, so it’s best to leave it to the professionals. The team members at Attic Projects have the experience and knowledge they need to keep rodents out of your attic and humanely remove any pests that are already living there. Get a one-time rodent-proofing solution with a 10-year warranty by contacting us today!