As insulation should be the first step to reduce bills and make the living space more comfortable an new product popped up on my news feed.
Now there are several eco alternatives out there from hemp waste product to wood fibre waste product and now grass. My biggest issue is the cost of these products is often so much higher than the not so eco versions like foam or XPS etc. I did not build a non supporting wall from hemp blocks as it worked out to be 5x the cost of concrete blocks which were also load bearing which in the circumstance was preferable in the end. I thought I would post the link to the new grass product just in case anyone was interested
That is the part I may have issue with as the little criters can and do nest in most materials so using stainless steel mesh is probably the best measure you can take.
Although I dont like glass wool as I have had to remove lots of it over the years as you buy it at 100mm and a few years later its about half of that. If it gets damp it collapses even faster, at least rockwool doesnt have either of those problems and can stop the spread of fire. Years ago I used “eco” friendly, made from plastic bottles and bags insultaion, I checked this a while ago when running a cable and its just dust now, like an old plastic bag after a few years it just fractures to dust, lesson learnt.
I have metres and metres of rodent mesh around the eaves etc. Just missed I spot and a loire got in! No more though. I have some more to do at the back bedroom when I re chaux the wall. The snake keeps guard over that part for now.