When rats or mice infest a residential or commercial building for any significant period of time, serious damage to the building is almost inevitable. Chewed electrical wires, soiled insulation, etc. The list of harm they can cause is practically endless.
But can these rodents be responsible for concrete foundation deterioration?
Foundation collapse caused by rodents
Rodents will do anything to find a new food source, even going as far as digging tunnels under a concrete foundation. Scouring the terrain beneath the building for an opening that will help them gain entry, they can move around large amounts of soil. This creates gaps that threaten the concrete structure’s stability by removing the soil that forms the stable base of the foundations.
An unstable foundation can cause problems such as doors and windows that are difficult to close and the appearance of cracks in the floor, walls and foundations in certain strategic locations. In more serious cases, the floor can even become unbalanced, since the ground on which the building is built is no longer able to support the structure’s weight.
A solution to prevent rodents from digging under foundations
In some parts of the world, foundation collapse caused by rodents is so common that strategies have been developed to reduce the chances of becoming a victim, such as the installation of an “anti-rat” concrete slab. This consists of a thin layer of non-structural concrete on the ground floor of a basement or crawl space. As its name indicates, it is primarily intended to prevent the intrusion of pests in the area under a building.
Foundations gnawed by rodents?
Most animal species in the rodentia family have frontal incisors that continuously grow. For this reason, rodents must constantly chew and gnaw so their teeth don’t become too long. Without this, their teeth would grow to the point where they could no longer eat, which would of course cause their death.
So, to the question “Can rodents eat concrete foundations?”, the answer is yes, but only if the concrete is not properly treated. In truth, if the concrete foundations are in good condition and the surface is not weak or rough, rats or mice have very little chance of doing damage.
However, if the concrete has already begun to crumble, the rodents may well cut their teeth. They can even go as far as making holes in the concrete if its texture is porous enough.
Repair the damage caused by rodents
In conclusion, it can be said that rodents can cause serious damage to concrete foundations in various ways. That’s why it’s best to ward them off before they can start doing damage.
On the other hand, if they have already taken action, you will have to repair the damaged foundations, either by rebuilding them after a collapse or by sealing cracks and holes.
Foundation Crack Expert is the ideal company to carry out these foundation repairs. With extensive expertise, our team confidently offers a 10-year guarantee on crack repairs.
