How do you finish off around a chimney that is exposed or showing in the room and maintain the two inches clearance for fire protection.The concern is the gap behind the chimney that goes to the floor being a great place for mice to take up residence. Any help would be gladly apprecieated. Thanks
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A local pest control guy recommends using the same metal mesh type lath used on commercial plaster jobs. Check with a commercial plaster contractor to see if he can hook you up with some. He rolls it into rough tubes, adjusted for the space, about the size of a paper towel roll and cut to length with tin snips. These are resilient enough to be stuffed into the space and stay put. The mice evidently don't like chewing on steel and the mesh provides enough ventilation to allow proper air flow.
I have seen this completed and it does look like it might stop the critters. Hope this helps.
Will your code allow you to stuff the gap with rock wool? Mice hate that stuff.
Eric