How rats and mice get in
The CDC notes that a mouse can fit through a hole the width of a pencil, about 1/4 inch. So we look for the small gaps as well as the big ones:
- vents, eaves and roof gaps,
- gaps around pipes, AC lines and cables where they enter the walls,
- the corners of the garage door,
- crawl space vents and openings along the foundation,
- the ways between the attic, the walls and the crawl space inside.
Rodents travel between the attic and the crawl space through the walls, so we check the whole home, not just one spot.
Sealed with steel mesh, putty and concrete
Every entry opening we find is closed with galvanized steel mesh, putty and concrete, inside the attic, crawl space and garage and outside on the house. You get photos of every opening we find. More in how we seal entry points.
Traps, then a follow-up visit
Sealing stops new rodents from coming in. Traps catch the ones already inside: for rats and mice we set traps where the signs show they travel, and for larger animals like raccoons and squirrels we seal the openings so they can’t get back in. We come back at least two weeks after the job to check the traps. Rodent proofing comes with a warranty.
What Fremont homeowners book with it
Based on our finished jobs in Fremont, rodent proofing is the second most booked service here, after attic cleanup and sanitizing, followed by sealing the openings outside. On a finished Fremont job we sealed the home inside and out, cleaned the attic and crawl space, replaced the old insulation with new batts and put in new ducts. See attic cleaning in Fremont.
Sealing and an attic cleanup are often booked together. The free inspection in Fremont covers the attic, the crawl space, the garage and the openings outside, and the written quote is usually ready 30–60 minutes after the inspection, the same day at the latest. Booking two or more services takes 10% off; jobs over $2,000 take $300 off (one discount per job).
How long it takes
Rodent proofing on its own is usually up to a half-day job. With insulation replacement it is a one-day job.