Unwanted intruders may be creeping into your building – Rodents. These persistent creatures are adept at exploiting vulnerabilities in structures, seeking shelter, food, and warmth. Expert infiltrators, they slip through cracks and crevices, determined to breach the barriers we believe secure. But how do these persistent pests gain entry, and more importantly, how can we stop them?
Why do rodents invade?
Rodents aren’t simply aimless wanderers. They’re driven by a relentless quest for food, shelter, and warmth. So, whether an older structure or a modern commercial facility, your premises offers a sanctuary from the elements. Their determination is admirable, but their presence can lead to significant property damage and health risks.
How do rodents get into buildings?
They don’t knock, they sneak. Rodents are notorious for their ability to squeeze through remarkably small openings. They can compress their chest cavity and narrow their body diameter, allowing them to fit through the tightest gap. Rats can squeeze through a gap of about 20mm, while mice only need a hole the width of a pencil (about 6mm). Picture them slipping through cracks in walls, darting under doors, or scampering up drainpipes like furry acrobats, their sharp claws scratching, unseen yet heard in the quiet. If the surface is rough, uneven or porous rodents can grip with their claws, balance with their tails, and their limbs are strong enough to propel their bodies upwards.
Rodents can access buildings through common entry points like:
- Cracks and crevices: These include gaps around pipes, expansion joints, cables, or doors and windows.
- Ventilation ducts: Unsecured vents can provide direct entry points.
- Foundation gaps: Holes or spaces in foundations can allow rodents to burrow inside.
- Openings around utility lines: Pipes and wiring can create unseen pathways for rodents.
- Dock levellers and loading bays: Where constant traffic and movement creates rodent-sized opportunities.
- Doors, pedestrian, insulated and roller loading: Especially doors with worn seals, can also become a favourite entry point for a clever rodent.
Each access point is like a highway to these pests, ushering them into the warmth and sanctuary of your building.
How to Stop Rodents
So, how do you stop rodents getting in? You’ve probably tried the basics, traps, poisons, and even a strategic cat placement. However, these methods only address the symptoms, not the root of the problem. Rodent infestations demand prevention, not just reaction. This is where pest-proofing enters the picture, ensuring rodents cannot even step foot inside in the first place.
A robust solution like Flexi Armour, with its rodent-proof mesh, creates an impenetrable fortress. It covers potential entry points with flexible yet durable materials, sealing off the hidden highways on which mice and rats rely. Dock levellers, weep vents and roller doors, once gateways for rodents, become fortified barriers, impossible for them to breach.
Do rodents only infest older buildings?
One of the great myths is that rodents only infest older, dilapidated buildings. They really don’t discriminate at all. Modern structures may have the latest security systems, but to a rat, it’s the tiny, unsealed vent that holds the allure. How to deter rats? Block their entry, regardless of your building’s age.
How to get rid of rats and rodents
The most effective way to get rid of rodents is to keep them out in the first place. By combining professional pest proofing with regular inspections to detect potential weak points, you turn your building into a fortress. Prevention is better than cure, and in this case, is more than just a strategy, it’s peace of mind.
How to repel rodents?
Think of Flexi Armour as your building’s shield against an invasion that never sleeps. The sound of skittering claws in the dead of night becomes a thing of the past, replaced by the quiet assurance that your premises are secure.
Rodents are persistent, but they aren’t unbeatable. By understanding how they access your building and using preventive options like Flexi Armour rodent-proof mesh, you can ensure that your premises remain rodent-free. The next time you hear that faint rustling, remember it’s not just the battle of the building; it’s the battle of the will. And with the right defences, you’ll win every time.
If you’re concerned about rodents or pests and need expert guidance, don’t hesitate to contact us for specialist advice and professional solutions.