subject: Preventing Rodents From Accessing Your Home [print this page] Rodent proofing your home is essential to prevent a potential infestation. The most obvious thing that you can do is to block all access points that make it possible for rodents to enter. Rodents can access a structure from the most unexpected points, so it is important to understand how you can prevent this. Mice can be harder to expel from a building, so extra care is needed.
Walls and foundations
The first place to start is by trimming any grass, shrubbery and vegetation surrounding a building to allow greater exposure and eliminate any potential areas homing rodents. Inspect the foundations around the entire perimeter of a home. The easiest access point for a rodent is often with uncovered vents. All vents must be covered and secured tightly with a rust resistant metal grill or screen.
Repair any gap and crack that is 65mm or larger and any deep holes. Standard filler material is suitable, however with larger entry holes you may need to use sheet metal or a durable wire mesh. Rats can gnaw through soft substances like wood and even concrete so it is essential to use a durable shield. In addition to checking foundations, also check external walls, and basements and lofts spaces and treated if the any potential entry points are found.
Doors and windows
All doors and windows must be checked. Seals around all exterior lines of windows and doors must be tight and any that have suffered from weathering must be replaced. Fill any gaps or cracks in window or door frames that are more than 65mm. For some windows, especially those that open onto a roof terrace or flat roof it may be necessary to install a metal mesh screen to keep closed if you wish to open the window for ventilation. Exterior doors may need to be equipped with a fine mesh screen to prevent unwanted access. For more serious cases of rat infestation, some wooden doors may need to be fitted with metal kick-plates to prevent rodents from gnawing their way through.
Roof area
The roof is a prime point of entry for rodents, as places like cluttered lofts can be an attractive home for mice and rats. All roof tiles and shingles must be inspected and replaced if needed. Fascia boards can be installed to prevent rodent access to exterior piping.
Chimneys must also be capped. Often rodents such as mice and rats can access higher spots in a structure by climbing pipelines that run vertically besides a house. Rodent guards can be places around the base of pipes, to prevent rodents from getting a purchase on it to climb.
Rodents are opportunistic so it is important to consider all their potential access points. Trees and shrubbery surrounding a home can be used as a pathway for rodents. All trees and hedges should be trimmed, especially those close to windows, rooftops and external piping.
The first steps to take when rodent proofing a home is always to prevent them from getting in. Rodents must not be underestimated; therefore close inspection of potential access points is required. Rodent proofing does not need to be expensive, and most of the steps outlined can successfully completed for free.
Pest Control Solution
If you are experiencing an infestation then you will require pest control products. It is essential to remove any pests because of the potential spread of disease and parasites. Mice and rats carry harmful parasites such as fleas and ticks. When a rodent dies, these parasites look for a new host such as another mouse, your pets or even you.
Traditional mouse traps do not contain any potentially harmful parasite once the mouse has been trapped. The cleanest and most hygienic method of removing rodents is by deploying hygienic traps, which contain parasites and bodily fluids for more hygienic disposal.
