Pole barn insulation help!!!! rodents/moisture

[jinjimbob]

For a rodent problem, get a couple of barn cats (spayed/neautered) from the local shelter, usually given free, and put in a cat flap. That is what people do in in WA.

 

[anojones]

I just finished the inside of our pole barn- with two heated/cooled areas using PTAC units. Probably the best option to avoid rodents is to install some Z-Channel (from a box store) or Rat Guard trim (from a metal siding supply) that will block the gaps at the sill plate. I actually filled my gaps in with foam closure strips covered with caulk. I'm also baiting to keep the population down to begin with. My insulation was fiberglass batts with a 6 mil vapor barrier. The problem as you noted is that the metal is a vapor barrier as well so any moisture that gets into the walls via leaks/condensation has no way to get out. My way of dealing with that was to limit moisture with a well sealed moisture barrier. The spray foam is probably the best option- no problems with moisture, would seal the sill plate and adds some element of rigidness to the barn- only downsides I can see our cost and it's not a real do-it-yourself project.

 

[Skerby]

anojones, z-channel is a great idea!!!! thanks for that one! i was focused on filling the profile of the siding vs blocking off the level bottom! thanks again!

 

[Jimmyp5]

lol., have three barn cats.... they were all kittens when buliding the barn... now they earn their keep... they love getting into the storage area above the finished off area... nice and warm... anyway no problem with mice... glad all the cats are fixed... did have to warm them off the king snake the other day...it was heading for a mole hole! yea for the snake!

 

[4720 OWNER]

Not sure if it is cool enough there but when it starts getting cold put in some uncooked frozen bread dough. Rats and mice have no regurgitation so bread does what bread does when it gets warm and rises. Non toxic for the other critters, breaded from the inside out.

Last study i saw said that cats that are fed actually catch more mice than unfed.

 

[anojones]

I wish I'd thought of the Z-Channel before I sealed mine with the caulk and closure strips, on the positive side, I could still add it at a later date but I'll see how this works for the time being.

 

[Jimmyp5]

Not sure if it is cool enough there but when it starts getting cold put in some uncooked frozen bread dough. Rats and mice have no regurgitation so bread does what bread does when it gets warm and rises. Non toxic for the other critters, breaded from the inside out.

Last study i saw said that cats that are fed actually catch more mice than unfed.

A note on the non-toxic forms of critter control. I use "self rising" flower in the garden and around base boards etc... takes care of all the swarm of crickets, beetles, it does the same thing, they eat then blow up! Works OK in the barn, but the cat seem give me the evil look when I mess around with their toys!!

 

[4720 OWNER]

Makes sense for the flour. Have to try that. Not adverse to some well used poisons but if i can avoid them i do. The free range chickens seem to take care of any beetles or ticks long before i see them. That is how they earn their 'keep'.

Now just have to catch the breaded crickets and put toothpicks in them and sell them as fancy treats for pets or roasted for humans!!

 

[manuje]

haha breaded crickets... gotta be tasty??!? :laughing:

cats are always a good idea when you have too many mice. Otherwise, if you have the money to spend, spray foam insulation will do the trick.