Expanding foam all day long
Better yet, anti-rodent expanding foam
Is that an actual thing? I diy’d some of that by shoving a bunch of steel-wool into the foam while it was wet. Seems to have worked.
That should work actually, we already know they don’t like steel wool so you’ve likely achieved the same effect
@SirNuke All of the comments saying spray foam are technically correct - that is the easiest way but it will look like orange crap. Some people mentioned steel wool - avoid that because it rusts and will end up looking like orange crap. Find some “excluder mesh”, which an inexpensive product sold to the pest control industry - it is a nylon mesh with reinforcing fibers…think Brillo pad stiffness. Stuff the gap to fill it then use silicone sealant to finish it off.
I would say the expanding foam would still be preferred. Just don’t go crazy with it. Then before it’s fully cured, cut it back flush. Wait for it to dry then caulk to cover/seal.
That’s a good suggestion, I was looking at stainless steel wool and wasn’t finding a lot of great options.
@SirNuke Another option if you don’t want to source excluder mesh is to get some “backer rod” - a painter’s product sold as “caulk saver” at the home improvement palace. You use it to fill large gaps which you then seal over with caulk or silicone.