Green Building Forum - Passive house V rodents Fri, 04 Sep 2026 15:46:48 +0100 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/ Lussumo Vanilla 1.0.3 Passive house V rodents https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9824&Focus=161617#Comment_161617 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9824&Focus=161617#Comment_161617 Sun, 18 Nov 2012 07:52:18 +0000 Beau Passive house V rodents https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9824&Focus=161618#Comment_161618 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9824&Focus=161618#Comment_161618 Sun, 18 Nov 2012 08:00:13 +0000 SteamyTea Passive house V rodents https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9824&Focus=161620#Comment_161620 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9824&Focus=161620#Comment_161620 Sun, 18 Nov 2012 09:05:11 +0000 Peter_in_Hungary :bigsmile:]]> Passive house V rodents https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9824&Focus=161621#Comment_161621 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9824&Focus=161621#Comment_161621 Sun, 18 Nov 2012 09:05:38 +0000 tony Passive house V rodents https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9824&Focus=161628#Comment_161628 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9824&Focus=161628#Comment_161628 Sun, 18 Nov 2012 10:26:31 +0000 Beau Passive house V rodents https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9824&Focus=161634#Comment_161634 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9824&Focus=161634#Comment_161634 Sun, 18 Nov 2012 11:06:59 +0000 Nick Parsons
No food for the rodents then..... :)]]> Passive house V rodents https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9824&Focus=161635#Comment_161635 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9824&Focus=161635#Comment_161635 Sun, 18 Nov 2012 11:15:59 +0000 Cav8andrew And are you sure you have not installed your cats to a Passive Mouse standard.


Sorry, will beat a rapid retreat from the forum.]]> Passive house V rodents https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9824&Focus=161637#Comment_161637 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9824&Focus=161637#Comment_161637 Sun, 18 Nov 2012 11:23:08 +0000 WillInAberdeen
I posted before about how mice have an instinct to shred insulation to make nests, esp foam pipe insulation and squirty foam. Despite this I foolishly took off a run of skirting this summer and squirty foamed behind it air tight. Last weekend there were crunchy noises coming from behind there so the skirting had to come off again, rake out a huge pile of foam shreds, stuffed the gap with mortar this time.]]> Passive house V rodents https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9824&Focus=161645#Comment_161645 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9824&Focus=161645#Comment_161645 Sun, 18 Nov 2012 13:55:05 +0000 Cerisy
Has anyone experience of folding s/s insect mesh - is it relatively easy?? Thanks.]]> Passive house V rodents https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9824&Focus=161646#Comment_161646 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9824&Focus=161646#Comment_161646 Sun, 18 Nov 2012 14:12:55 +0000 bella
Wherever there is a significant recurring food source within stricking distance (cereal or fruit growing, livestock, rubbish disposal, public or domestic composting) rodents will thrive. And they do go for oil based materials in a big way, probably for nesting materials. They also wriggle their way at will through fibre-glass and mineral wool, chew corners off robust wooden door panels and ply and can out-breed an army of hungry feral cats never mind the domestic moggy.

I have also been asking myself how to keep them from chewing up insulation and boarding. A strategically placed layer of narrow guage wire mesh of the right strength probably would keep them out - but think air tight layer + mesh so a major undertaking - and even then one small entry point and they are away. I would be interested to know whether anyone has seen them chew through wire mesh.]]> Passive house V rodents https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9824&Focus=161647#Comment_161647 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9824&Focus=161647#Comment_161647 Sun, 18 Nov 2012 14:26:07 +0000 Beau Passive house V rodents https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9824&Focus=161648#Comment_161648 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9824&Focus=161648#Comment_161648 Sun, 18 Nov 2012 14:50:42 +0000 fostertom Posted By: WillInAberdeenall the local houses have mice this time of year including one less than 2 years oldthat's young for a mouse!]]> Passive house V rodents https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9824&Focus=161650#Comment_161650 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9824&Focus=161650#Comment_161650 Sun, 18 Nov 2012 14:56:25 +0000 fostertom Posted By: bellaI would be interested to know whether anyone has seen them chew through wire meshSo would I - they do go through copper wirng.

I wonder if there's any kind of super-strong plastic mesh - thinking of facing underground EPS EWI with such, quickly fixed on dabs of something. Cheaper than s steel - galv EML no gd u/g. Has to be fine mesh, to keep out tunneling insects as well.]]> Passive house V rodents https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9824&Focus=161651#Comment_161651 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9824&Focus=161651#Comment_161651 Sun, 18 Nov 2012 15:09:27 +0000 jamesingram I find this hard to believe though]]> Passive house V rodents https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9824&Focus=161655#Comment_161655 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9824&Focus=161655#Comment_161655 Sun, 18 Nov 2012 15:44:06 +0000 Peter_in_Hungary Posted By: fostertomI wonder if there's any kind of super-strong plastic mesh - thinking of facing underground EPS EWI with such, quickly fixed on dabs of something. Cheaper than s steel - galv EML no gd u/g. Has to be fine mesh, to keep out tunneling insects as well.

For underground EWI if the out side has a french drain filled with gravel this should stop the blighters as the loose nature of the gravel will mean that they can't burrow into it as they can't make a stable hole. If the f. drain is filled with larger stones then these will be equally impenetrable, being too heavy, if the stones are too big however they will find a way between them.

We also have mice problems this time of year and we find that with 3 farm cats (all live outside) then there is only the occasional mouse inside. The problem exponentially gets worse if the cat numbers decline.]]> Passive house V rodents https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9824&Focus=161679#Comment_161679 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9824&Focus=161679#Comment_161679 Sun, 18 Nov 2012 20:51:29 +0000 Jonti
Jonti]]> Passive house V rodents https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9824&Focus=161681#Comment_161681 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9824&Focus=161681#Comment_161681 Sun, 18 Nov 2012 22:27:59 +0000 Viking House Passive house V rodents https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9824&Focus=161714#Comment_161714 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9824&Focus=161714#Comment_161714 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 10:43:33 +0000 dickster Passive house V rodents https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9824&Focus=161715#Comment_161715 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9824&Focus=161715#Comment_161715 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 10:46:16 +0000 Seret Posted By: jamesingramI was told a mouse can fit through a hole the thickness of a pencil .
I find this hard to believe though

Probably not far off, they're amazing. Would have to be quite a wee mouse to have a skull that would fit through a pencil hole, but I've known them to find through some absolutely tiny cracks.

I think what we have to take away from this is: don't kid yourself that man has ever built anything a rodent can't get into.]]> Passive house V rodents https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9824&Focus=161717#Comment_161717 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9824&Focus=161717#Comment_161717 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 11:02:02 +0000 bella Passive house V rodents https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9824&Focus=161719#Comment_161719 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9824&Focus=161719#Comment_161719 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 11:23:47 +0000 MikeRumney The existing damp course (1930's brick cavity wall) did not bridge the cavity,
so airbricks temporarily removed to fit 5 sided mesh boxes that block access between cavity, crawl space and outside.
In case there's any tiny access for burrowing into the cavity from below the damp course
(which they will definitely find) there's also mesh across the top of the cavity ....

Easy enough to fold but unless the roll edge is already folded over you can get some nasty slices off the edge
as it's like a serrated knife.

Broken glass and ceramic sounds like a good idea ... have been wondering how well the wing insulation will stand up to persistent onslaught.
Kind of wish I'd thought about rodents before wrapping the footings in EPS.
Anyone know how deep they go?!
Apparently they can collapse their ribs, and also skulls to a certain extent ... and don't be fooled by the fur!]]> Passive house V rodents https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9824&Focus=161730#Comment_161730 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9824&Focus=161730#Comment_161730 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 13:21:31 +0000 djh Posted By: Peter_in_Hungarywe find that with 3 farm cats (all live outside) then there is only the occasional mouse inside. The problem exponentially gets worse if the cat numbers decline.
The only mice we used to see in our house were those that the cats brought inside! The new one will be much closer to fields though, so I'm very interested in this thread. :cry:]]> Passive house V rodents https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9824&Focus=161739#Comment_161739 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9824&Focus=161739#Comment_161739 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 14:52:40 +0000 atomicbisf Passive house V rodents https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9824&Focus=161743#Comment_161743 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9824&Focus=161743#Comment_161743 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 15:06:31 +0000 borpin Passive house V rodents https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9824&Focus=161745#Comment_161745 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9824&Focus=161745#Comment_161745 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 15:23:46 +0000 borpin Passive house V rodents https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9824&Focus=161783#Comment_161783 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9824&Focus=161783#Comment_161783 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 22:24:42 +0000 WillInAberdeen
Mice do make a contribution to the eco system, without them we wouldnt have buzzards kestrels stoats visiting the garden, I tell myself I dont mind them if they stay in the loft and out of the kitchen. But I still trap them.
Rabbits on the other hand are a right royal pain...]]> Passive house V rodents https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9824&Focus=161785#Comment_161785 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9824&Focus=161785#Comment_161785 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 23:36:28 +0000 Peter_in_Hungary Posted By: WillInAberdeenRabbits on the other hand are a right royal pain...
And very nice in a pie:bigsmile:]]> Passive house V rodents https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9824&Focus=161798#Comment_161798 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9824&Focus=161798#Comment_161798 Tue, 20 Nov 2012 10:39:23 +0000 bella Posted By: WillInAberdeenI think the solution starts by accepting that we're not going to keep mice out of the fabric for the whole lifetime of the building. (or water either).

Agreed but

Posted By: WillInAberdeenrodent tolerant materials


Mice love wool as bedding. When you say "rodent tolerant" do you mean the wool carried off for bedding sort of expands to fill the space?]]> Passive house V rodents https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9824&Focus=161799#Comment_161799 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9824&Focus=161799#Comment_161799 Tue, 20 Nov 2012 11:19:56 +0000 Jonti
is right. At some point in a houses history it will get mice. BUT people are often guilty of encouraging them in. Many mice will fit through the smallest of gaps including the standard air brick. It cannot be stressed enough the importance of keeping a clean perimeter that is void of holes above and below ground. Make sure you do not pile anything up against the house such as firewood or plant pots. Mice are capable of burrowing through very hard material if given time but by removing all cover you prevent mice having the time to do so (they do not like been exposed)

WillInAberdeen is also right that rabbits are much, much worse especially if you have them in the loft:wink:

Jonti]]> Passive house V rodents https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9824&Focus=161802#Comment_161802 https://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=9824&Focus=161802#Comment_161802 Tue, 20 Nov 2012 11:50:47 +0000 fostertom