Mice, squirrels and other small animals may find your garage door an easy entry point in their ongoing search for food and shelter. To keep this from happening, here are a few ways you can quickly and safely make your garage door unattractive to pests looking for a way inside.
Mind the Gap
Mice and similarly small animals can squeeze through gaps as little as 1/4-inch in diameter. That means even the smallest gap in your garage door can serve as an open invitation to rodents and other creatures. Fortunately, you can take steps to literally close the gap between the ground and your garage door:
- Check the travel limit. You'll want the garage door to close flush with the ground. Adjust the travel limit to prevent the garage door from stopping short of the ground.
- Check your door seals. Make sure they're in good condition and replace them as needed. Larger custom seals may be needed to compensate for slanted driveways.
- Install a threshold. A rubber threshold provides a reliable seal not just against critters, but also water intrusion from storms and melting ice.
Don't forget to make sure your garage door opener's photo eye sensor is properly set, as this can also leave behind a gap in your garage door.
Plug All Holes
A hole in your garage door can also serve as a convenient portal for rodents and other small animals. Carefully inspect the door for any signs of holes. If you happen to spot one, you'll need to block it off or plug it up temporarily to keep critters from coming through.
Temporarily cover the opening with a wire mesh or stuff the hole in question with plenty of steel wool. When you're done plugging up the holes, you can take as much time as needed to fill in and patch up the damage properly.
Add Metal Flashing
Finding a small gap or hole to squeeze through isn't the only option for mice and other small animals in search of shelter. Desperate critters may also try to claw and chew their way into your home, leaving damaged door seals in their wake. Determined rodents can even chew through wooden garage doors, if given the opportunity.
Metal flashing installed along the bottom and sides of the garage door can help curb an enthusiastic rodent's appetite for wood and rubber. The flashing prevents small animals from chewing completely through the wood and door seals. Make sure the flashing is installed on the interior of the garage door for the best aesthetic results.
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Do you remember the last time you really evaluated the structural integrity and security of your home? Although many people assume that their home is plenty safe, the fact of the matter is that creating a safe environment is about more than security systems and guard dogs. Since your garage door is a main entrance point into your home, it is important to think carefully about what you can do to make things right. On my blog, I discuss all of the different aspects of garage door maintenance and replacement, so that you can explore different ways to make your home even more beautiful.