Since I moved into my current house about a year ago, I’ve seen slugs occasionally. Some smaller, some bigger. Some flatter after I step on them barefoot at night. Eww! Been taping gaps as I find them between floor and skirting board or similar, but they still find a way in. Tonight I saw the first one of this year. Hadn’t seen any for a while over winter but I guess it is warming up a little now.
House has had vent bricks installed around the base at some point. I’m guessing they’re getting in that way. Possible solution: cover them with a fine mesh. Couldn’t see anything suitable in local DIY store last time I was there, not that I had any idea exactly how I would mount it if they did.
Tonight I came across this product: Air Brick Covers by MouseMesh® | Stop Pests Entering Through Air Bricks
At around a tenner each they’re not cheap as I’d need a handful to cover all low level vents, but if it means no more slugs I’m up for it. Before I go there, anyone think of better solutions?
They list two installation methods. Glue or drill. Given my extremely bad record with drilling into brick, I’m leaning strongly towards glue, or “construction adhesive” as they call it. Is this basically like silicone sealant turned up to 11?
Edit: same sort of thing but bit cheaper https://fortproducts.co.uk/product/roshield-pest-proofing-air-brick-mesh-vent-cover-mouse-insect-rodent-control-prevention-x-2-white-standard/
Copper tape gives them the arse but if you wanted something to cover the airbricks
Fibreglass scrim mesh, slightly adhesive at best.
£4.99 at Screwfix
Diall Fibreglass Mesh Tape White 90m x 50mm
I have most of a roll here somewhere after a field experiment.
A skinflint bodging test, alternate layers of amalgamating tape and GRP on a split top hose.
Four layers of each… Still leaked* once it got hot
*errrr, do not open the angry bonnet until the steam lance has stopped
Backup plans
Box of Dishwasher salt, secure the perimeter
Electric weed burner, Active defence , FLAME ON Melon Farmers!
I have new coffee beans, they are marked as level 7, They are very good.
I have to remember to blink after cup number three.
Are YOU Cornholio ?
I need TP
In the end I went for Mouse Mesh. Roshield was a lot more expensive in the size I needed, since the air bricks were double height, not single which were cheaper.
I needed 6 total, and split it into 3 colours as I couldn’t decide what might go best. House is red brick, but the brown is a better match now I have them. Now to decide the best way to fit them without destroying my house. I got the glue but I kinda want to screw the front ones on since they will be exposed to the masses.
Installation phase 1 done. There probably needs to be a phase 2.
I knew something wouldn’t go exactly right, and that thing turned out to be the covers aren’t exactly flat, and neither are the surfaces they’re going against. Will let this 1st application of glue/sealant set first, then do another run around it.
A possible problem with most of these is that the seal at the bottom isn’t really reachable. The one pictured here is at the back of my house. I’m thinking I could get some sand from the local beach and use that to block off any possible access from below. That wont work at the side or front of house. Wondering if I could/should try putty as I think I could poke that in place. I’ve used milliput or similar in past for aquarium use so could that be an option?
For now I need a rest after that, then I’ll check occasionally today in case they fall off. The adhesive fully cures at a rate of 3mm per 24h in summer. This could take a while. I like they give RH conditions yet say it can be used under water!
I wouldn’t seal the bottoms anyway as that just gives water somewhere to pool. You can’t trust the top and side seals remain watertight, so you have to give the water somewhere to go, or it pools and gives you a whole new issue.
DT.
I’m debating running more sealant on top and sides as I’m not convinced there’s enough holding it to the wall.
Sealing the bottom is more for preventing slug ingress. A gap there would negate the point of the mesh. Basically, if there is a gap bigger than the mesh size, I might as well not have any mesh at all. I did wonder if rain getting through the mesh could cause problems.
Edit: just had another look. There’s definitely some gaps on the top so I will at the least have to do another layer on that.
Sun is back so I got out and sealed the top and side edges to give it more support. I was rubbish at applying sealant, and that hasn’t changed. Not helped in that this adhesive is much thicker than typical bathroom sealant.
I haven’t been to the beach yet, and just as well, as looking it up removing sand is technically illegal. Might have to ask a neighbour who’s a builder by trade if they have some spare.
