Lowtech Graph lists low-tech options for every need of a home. Here you can compare them, find tutorials to build them, and link them together into a circular system. Why low-tech?

Rodent-proof foundation detailing

Passive

Note: Cost, carbon and footprint are broad judgements against comparable building approaches, not measured figures.

Metal mesh fixed over vents, gaps and openings at the base of the house. Mice and rats can no longer get in through the holes they actually use. It keeps them out of the walls, floors and insulation.

Cost

Low

Upkeep

Occasional

Skill to build

Basic

Lifespan

Matches foundation lifespan (mesh screening at vents, not a separately wearing product). Corrosion-resistant mesh should match the building's design life

Embodied carbon

Low

Space / material use

Low

Output timing

None

Skill to repair

Basic

Inputs

none

Outputs

• Reduced fabric deterioration

How does this solution compare to others for the same need?

The only option catalogued for this need so far, so there is nothing to compare it against.

Sources

• Building America Solution Center, "Screens and Other Deterrents for Birds, Rodents, and Other Pests" (PNNL / US DOE)

Limitations of this page

We don’t list sizing or quantities, as the yield of each technique depends on the quality of its build. The catalogue compares options but doesn’t dimension them. Regulatory notes are indicative, with a French example, and need to be confirmed locally.