Yes, and brick is one of the easiest surfaces for them to climb. It has a rough face and a lot of recessed joints that allow them to easily grip so they can get to the roofline and climb in through vents and seams.
Mice are better climbers than most people expect. That beautiful brick masonry on your home does you no favors in that regard. It may as well be a rock climbing wall, and a fairly easy one at that.
Brick has a rough surface and standard mortar joints are recessed by about a quarter inch. Mice weigh less than an ounce and they have claws built for gripping, so a brick wall is functionally a ladder. The same is true of stone and stucco. Smooth vinyl and metal tend to be trickier, but even then, they can climb corner posts and J-channels.
Buildings made from brick also tend to have weep holes, which are small openings left in the bottom course of the brick veneer to let moisture escape. These are often open directly into the cavity between brick and sheathing. Mice can use weep holes to get inside the veneer and then travel upward completely hidden, which is why some homeowners hear scratching in a wall with no visible entry anywhere.
Once at the roof, it’s not too hard to get in. Many roofs have torn screens on gable and roof vents. Others have seams around soffits and gutters as well as gaps around plumbing vents and cable lines. The chimney is another easy way in. Full-grown mice can fit through holes the size of dimes, and even when a gap isn’t quite big enough, they can chew until it is.
You can still discourage rodents from breaking into your home, though. Cut vines and shrubs away from walls. Block rodents from entering brick walls by installing weep hole covers or stainless mesh inserts that preserve necessary drainage. Secure your vents with hardware cloth and firmly pack exterior utility penetrations with chew-resistant materials instead of easily breached foam.
If mice are getting into your walls or attic, Mosquito Squad of Northwest Indiana can help. Mosquito Squad finds how mice are getting in, clears them with traps and bait stations, and seals the entry points with chew-resistant materials. Annual inspections will help you protect your home over time.
