How do you seal your roof from rats?

[CyberB0b]

Some rats got in our attic. These areas are the only places I have found evidence that they are getting in. You can see their chewed up food underneath the wood and some chew marks on the right side. I have some hardware cloth and some sheet metal. What is the best way to secure this area?

 

[DallasEast]

This video seems informative:

 

[Runwildboys]

I'd try using flashing, but at the same time, maybe put traps on the roof to get them before they even try to get in.

 

[CyberB0b]

This video seems informative:

Thanks. I saw that video already. Pretty straight forward on a hole like that. My spot has a weird angle. I think I will do the hardware cloth on the inside and then run some copper mesh underneath the leading edge where the nuts are.

 

[CouchCoach]

If I am in Philly, I don't grease the light poles.

 

[nightrain]

Are the openings too big to pack with steel wool? Rodents have trouble gnawing through that material.

 

[CyberB0b]

Turns out my wood siding is actually concrete backed, so the rats tried to chew it but couldn't. I sealed up the holes with copper mesh and hardware cloth. I ordered some black foam to seal it up, so should be good to go when it comes in.

 

[jnday]

To be honest, you might be able to discourage the rats, but they will still get in if they want to. I keep fresh poison in our attic year around.

 

[Blake]

Flex seal.

 

[Creeper]

I was told copper wool, like steel wool, should do the trick. I used steel wool to stop mice from sneaking in through tiny crevices and that seemed to work.