How Do I Stop Rats or Mice from Getting into My Kitchen and Bathroom? - PEST UK

Providing pest control services in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Kent, London, Middlesex, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, Surrey, West Midlands, West Sussex, Wiltshire. Est. 1985.

How Do I Stop Rats or Mice from Getting into My Kitchen and Bathroom?

In Pests, Rats & Mice

In a lot of cases blocking & tracing the rodents entry into a building externally is not possible so proofing internally is the answer. This (proofing internally) is the only practical solution in most cases involving flats, terraced, semi detached houses or properties where the entry points may be undetected, sub terrenean or beyond control (ie in large terrace or building). Here proofing may have been carried out from the inside. This involves blocking holes, cracks and gaps in individual rooms to prevent rodents from entering that particular room or rooms.

Mice feeding in a kitchen

Mice feeding in a kitchen

A large proportion of our rat and Mouse jobs at PEST UK are associated with flats, terraced and semi detached houses. This means that in a lot of these types of dwellings control just by using rodenticides may be short lived and re infestation is likely to occur. How long before (or if) the dwelling is re infested depends on individual circumstances but unless the external access points are found and dealt with then re infestation is likely. In an ideal world the whole of the building (as well as sewers and utility pipes, cables & conduits) should be inspected for breaches and fixed. As in a lot of cases this is not possible then proofing individual rooms from the inside may be the only option. Rats and mice may travel some distance undetected through cavity walls, soffits and loft spaces before either coming to an area where they are seen, they are heard or evidence (droppings, smells or damage) is noted. They may be entering a row of terraced houses several properties away from where they are actually appearing. The route into a building may be sub terrain. In many cases blocking access points externally is not possible so proofing individual houses or rooms is the answer. If an area is boxed off (which is normal in modern bathrooms and
kitchens) then holes and gaps around pipes are often left open by builders as they are not seen but which allow access by rodents.
Rat
Kitchens, lofts and bathrooms are the rooms with the most utilities in (kitchens have food as well) so these are the rooms in a dwelling that rodents will have easiest access to once they are in the structure of the building.

Prices For Rat & Mouse Proofing
Mice can get through a 1cm gap. Proofing for rodents needs to be carried out by some one who understands rodents & their behaviour. To do this properly is time consuming and costly.
Typical prices for complete rodent proofing in a kitchen
Kitchen 3-5 Units £500.00 + VAT
Kitchen 5-10 Units £700.00 + VAT
House Mouse
Lofts
Prices range from £1000.00 + VAT to £1400.00 + VAT depending on size.
Proofing Air bricks for Rats & Mice
The older style air bricks allow mice to squeeze through the gaps while the newer plastic ones (see picture) can be gnawed through by rats. We can fit air brick covers to these to solve the mouse problem if this is the access point.

Sometimes there is more than one entry point and only by proofing many different areas will a solution be reached.
Plastic Air Brick Damaged by Rats
Prices For Grey Squirrel Proofing
Any proofing for Squirrels should be done AFTER the present family of squirrels have been eliminated. If done before then they will do damage trying to get back into their home. Unless there are existing holes squirrels coming across a roof will not try to access the loft as they don’t know its there. Squirrel infestations are usually dealt with using a combination of a special rodenticide poison and traps.

This is an air brick cover that will stop rats, mice & even slugs gaining access to the cavity wall of a building via the air bricks

This is an air brick cover that will stop rats, mice & even slugs gaining access to the cavity wall of a building via the air bricks

Prices for Grey Squirrel Proofing in Lofts
Prices for proofing lofts involving Grey Squirrels start from £65.00 + VAT. It depends how high the areas that need work on are. (Proofing for squirrels normally is done externally while rats & mice usually internally.) It also depends on what needs to be done. The PEST UK technician in all cases can supply quotes for any proofing work.
Grey Squirrel Feeding on spilt bird food
Its worth mentioning that in some cases proofing may not prevent rodents accessing a property as they could be getting in via a sewer breach or exposed pipe work. The access point is not always accessible or easily identified as well. We advice you to visit our ‘Rat Problems & Sewers’ page for more information on how to stop Rats and Mice getting into Kitchen & Bathroom.
Rats BPCA Advice
Mice BPCA

SaveSave

NEXT/PREVIOUS:

Proof of Donation to Operation Smile UK »
Removing Squirrels «