Question
I have a problem with animals attempting to dig under my house and up against my foundation. Several have managed to gain access via a vent into the crawl ).  I thought that if I put a barrier of rock  small 1 to 1 1/2  about 2 inches deep around the house about a 1' to 2' wide it might prevent the digging and help eliminate some of the rodents that chewed on wires and cause a major house fire.
I've had people say its not good for the foundation?  Don't need any more issues so I wondered how I might do it correctly.  Prevent the nesters and not due damage to the foundation.  I also have a drainage problem with water now coming into the crawl.  Will the rock cause further drainage issues?

Answer
Hey, Teresa.

Generally, putting rocks around the foundation shouldn't cause a problem and will prevent many of the diggers from digging. I would put some landscape cloth under the rock to help with drainage and provide some extra deterrence for the diggers.

Also make sure that all of your vent screens are secured to the foundation, but I use the term "screens" very loosely. Don't try the stuff that screen windows are made out of; they'll get right through that. They make metal louvers that you can attach to the foundation that look better than the old-style screens and do a better job of keeping unwanted wildlife out.

Also make sure that you have at least two inches -- and preferably about four inches -- between the bottom of your exterior siding and your rock or soil.

Hope that helps.

Russel