Had mice treated, only to hear them back in the walls the following winter? That usually means the gaps were never closed. Our rodent proofing service finds every entry point mice and rats are using and seals it with materials they can’t chew through, for homes and businesses across Bexley and South London. In over 12 years of pest control, I’ve found it’s the part of the job that makes the biggest difference. Call me for a price over the phone.
Rodent proofing means physically blocking the routes mice and rats use to get into a building. Pest control treatment deals with the rodents already inside, but it doesn’t stop new ones following the same path. If the gap under the kitchen units or the broken air brick is still there, the problem will almost always come back.
That is why proofing is worth doing. A one-off proofing job costs far less over time than repeated treatments every autumn, and it protects your home from the damage and contamination that come with each new infestation.
A mouse can squeeze through a gap of around 6mm, and a rat through one not much bigger than a thumb. Most homes have several of these, and many are hidden. These are the places we check first.
Wherever a pipe or cable passes through a wall or floor, there is usually a gap around it. Behind the cooker, under the sink, around the boiler and behind the washing machine are the most common, and they often lead straight into the wall cavity or the space under the floor.
The space behind the kickboards under your kitchen units is one of the most common mouse highways in any home. It is dark, warm, close to food and usually connects to gaps in the wall and floor that nobody sees.
Older homes rely on air bricks to ventilate the space under suspended timber floors. When they are cracked, missing or have large openings, mice and rats walk straight in. Proofing them properly keeps rodents out without blocking the airflow the floor needs.
Gaps under external doors and garage doors, worn seals and damaged door frames let rodents in at ground level. Integral garages are a common route into the main house.
Rats and squirrels climb pipes, ivy and rough brickwork to reach gaps at the eaves and under roof tiles. From the loft, they move down through cavity walls. If you are hearing noise overhead early in the morning, have a look at our squirrel control page.
Many rat problems start below ground. A cracked pipe, a disused drain left uncapped after building work or a damaged inspection chamber can let rats in from the sewer. Where the drains are the cause, the defect needs repairing, and a one-way rat blocker can be fitted to stop rats coming back up the pipe.
The wrong material is one of the main reasons DIY proofing fails. Standard expanding foam on its own is easy for mice and rats to chew through, and gaps filled with it are often reopened within weeks.
Proper rodent proofing uses materials matched to the gap and its location. That can include wire wool packed with filler for gaps around pipes, galvanised mesh over vents and openings, metal plates and kick strips at the base of doors, brush strips for garage doors, and cement or mortar for larger holes in brickwork. The aim is always the same: close the route completely, without affecting ventilation or access you need.
It starts with a survey. We check the property inside and out, including kitchens, under floors, lofts, air bricks, doors, the roofline and the drainage points, and look for the droppings, gnaw marks and grease marks that show where rodents are travelling. We then walk you through every entry point we find and explain what needs doing and why.
If you still have mice or rats, proofing is carried out alongside our mice control or rat control treatment. Timing matters: sealing the gaps too early can trap rodents inside, so we plan the work so they are dealt with first and the routes are closed once the activity has stopped. If your home is already clear, proofing can be done on its own to stop a problem before it starts.
Much of South London’s housing was built long before rodent proofing was a consideration. The Victorian and Edwardian terraces around Catford, Streatham and Tooting have suspended timber floors, old air bricks and shared wall cavities, so mice can move freely between neighbouring homes. The 1930s semis across Bexleyheath, Welling and Sidcup often have similar weak points, especially where extensions and kitchen refits have left gaps around new pipework.
Newer homes aren’t immune either. Gaps around service pipes and cables are common in modern builds, and we regularly find them in homes that are only a few years old. In flats, we can proof your own property and advise on shared areas, but the best results come when the managing agent treats the building as a whole.
For restaurants, cafes, shops and food production sites, proofing is a key part of keeping rodents out and showing environmental health inspectors that you are taking pest prevention seriously. It works best alongside regular visits under a commercial pest control contract.
For landlords, proofing stops the cycle of repeat complaints and call-outs that comes from treating the same property every year. If you are buying a home, a new property pest inspection can identify weak points before you move in.
A few simple habits help: keep food and pet food in sealed containers, fix dripping taps and outside leaks, keep bins closed, clear clutter from the base of walls outside, and trim back ivy and shrubs growing against the house. These reduce what attracts rodents, but they won’t close the hidden gaps under floors and behind units. For an overview of how we deal with mice, rats and squirrels, see our rodent control page.
It depends on the size of the property, how many entry points there are and what materials each one needs. Call us with a few details and we will give you an estimate over the phone, then confirm the price once we have surveyed the property.
If you have had mice or rats more than once, almost certainly. Proofing deals with the cause rather than the symptom, so it saves the cost and disruption of repeat treatments.
Not on its own. Mice and rats can chew through standard expanding foam. It needs to be combined with materials such as wire wool, mesh or metal, depending on the gap.
Usually alongside or straight after. If the gaps are sealed while rodents are still inside, they can become trapped or chew new holes. We plan the timing so the problem is cleared first.
Yes. We can proof the gaps inside your flat, such as around pipes and under kitchen units, and advise on shared areas that need attention from the building’s managing agent.
Done with the right materials, proofing lasts for years. New gaps can appear after building work, new pipework or damage, so it is worth having the property checked if the signs return.
Rentokil-trained and Level 2 certified, so you know you’re in safe hands.
We don’t just show up, treat, and leave. We walk you through exactly what we found, why it happened, and what we’re doing to fix it.
Pests don’t work 9 to 5, and neither do we. We’re available when you need us most.
We are Level 2 certified technicians, fully insured, and members of BPCA, BASIS Prompt and RSPH. You’re in safe, qualified hands.
Hundreds of satisfied clients across South London have trusted us to get the job done right, and we back every job with a satisfaction guarantee.
We’re not a faceless national company. We’re local, we care about our community, and we treat every property as if it were our own.
Call us or fill out the contact form. We’ll assess your situation and give you a straight, honest estimate over the phone.
Our technician visits your property, carries out a thorough on-site inspection, and begins treatment right away.
We carry out a 3-visit treatment programme to make sure the problem is fully resolved, not just temporarily patched.
Job done. Your property is protected, and you’ll know exactly what was done and why every step of the way.
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Rodent proofing specialists
