With cooler weather approaching, rodents will be actively searching for warm, dry places to shelter. As one of London’s most trusted pest control specialists, Obsidian Environmental Services brings over 65 years of combined experience. We understand that thorough rodent proofing is the essential first step to safeguarding your home or business. Our team, highly skilled and BPCA qualified, is here to share our knowledge on how to secure your property against these unwelcome pests effectively.
What Attracts Rodents to Your Property?
Rodents are primarily driven by three things: food, shelter, and a safe place to nest. Your property, whether it’s a home or a commercial building, can be an ideal location. Food waste left in unsealed bins, crumbs in kitchens, or even pet food can be a strong attractant for pests. They are also seeking warmth and a secure location to establish nests and breed, which often leads them to basements, attics, and voids within walls.
How Rodents Gain Access to Your Property
It’s a common misconception that buildings are impenetrable. Rodents are incredibly flexible and resourceful. A rat can squeeze through a gap as small as 20mm, while a mouse only needs 6mm (the width of a pencil). This means even the smallest crevices could be an entry point. Cracks often appear as a result of building works or general wear and tear in both new and historic buildings, with construction often contributing to increased rodent activity, especially throughout London.
For commercial locations, doorways and alleyways used for loading/unloading, as well as side and fire exits, can give rodents easy access when left unsealed. Additionally, pipework and drains can lead directly from the outside into your property, creating additional access ways. We also cater for detailed drain camera surveys to identify and seal these hidden entry points.
Our Approach to Effective Rodent Proofing
While baits and poisons can be an effective strategy, our approach is always to deter first. Once all potential access points have been identified, we implement a comprehensive proofing plan to stop rodents from entering in the first place.
Our strategies include the careful installation of meshing around entry points. This powerful deterrent can be manipulated to fit into even the smallest cracks, defending against rodents’ sharp teeth and claws. It protects the property itself without the need for heavy drilling or complex installation methods.
We also use specialist tools to effectively seal cracks and crevices, working with ethical suppliers to minimise our environmental impact. For doorways, bristle strips function exceptionally well, both internally and externally. The bristles physically obstruct the rodents’ path, interfering with their sensitive whiskers and making navigation difficult. They are also unable to effectively chew through them.
How We Consult, Identify, Proof, and Maintain for Optimum Rodent Proofing Results
Our comprehensive service goes far beyond simple baiting, focusing on long-term prevention strategies while sourcing specialist materials designed for rodent proofing. Here is a breakdown of our effective three-step process for rodent proofing:
- Consultation & Identification: A BPCA-qualified technician will conduct a detailed on-site survey to identify existing and potential rodent entry points. We meticulously inspect your premises, from the ground floor to the roof, including drains, pipework, and structural vulnerabilities.
- Bespoke Proofing Plan: Following the initial assessment, our team will design a custom plan to stop rodents from entering in the first place. We use a combination of meshing, bristle strips, and other specialist sealing tools to create a robust, non-invasive barrier.
- Ongoing Maintenance: We offer a maintenance program to ensure your premises remain rodent-free. Regular follow-up visits allow us to check the integrity of our proofing work and proactively address any new vulnerabilities that may arise.
To correctly rodent-proof your premises, get in touch with our expert team today to safeguard your premises against unwanted pests.
