Rodent Exclusion and Entry Point Sealing in Woodinville, WA

Trapping removes the animals that are inside today. Sealing decides whether more arrive next month. Every home has openings, and rodents find them by feel, following scent trails and air currents. Close the gaps, and the problem stays solved. Leave them open, and the next generation takes the same route.

Exclusion work is quieter and slower than trapping, and it matters more. We do it after catches stop, so no animal is locked inside, and we confirm the work on a return visit.

Wet Pacific Northwest weather is hard on building edges. Moss and moisture soften trim, siding swells and shrinks, and flashing loosens over the years. Those small failures create the gaps rodents need. A half-inch hole is plenty for a rat, and a quarter inch is plenty for a mouse.

• Torn or missing screens on crawl space vents.
• Gaps where pipes, wires and cables enter the exterior wall.
• Soffit boards and fascia softened by moisture.
• Worn garage door seals and gaps under side doors.
• Roof-to-wall joints, chimney flashing and attic vents.
• Gaps at foundation edges and slab cracks.

We choose materials for the opening and the climate. Stainless mesh and hardware cloth cover vents, because they resist rust and chewing. Sheet metal flashing closes gaps in trim and roof edges. Masonry-grade sealant fills small cracks in concrete and mortar. Copper mesh works in tight spots where a sealant bonds to it.

Steel wool and expanding foam are not enough on their own. Steel wool rusts in wet air, and rodents chew through foam in a night. They can be a layer inside a proper repair, but never the whole fix.

We start with the inspection, since sealing without finding every gap just leaves another one open. The plan lists the openings, the materials and the order of work. Small jobs can be done in a single visit, and larger houses with many openings take longer or need more than one trip.

After the work, a follow-up visit checks that traps are staying clear and the seals hold. If a fresh gap appears, we deal with it then. For rodents already in the attic, see attic and crawl space cleanup after the entry points are closed.

Roof rats and squirrels use branches as bridges. Trimming limbs back from the roof, usually by a few feet, takes away the bridge. We tell you what we see, and you decide whether to hire a tree service or do the trimming. We do not remove trees ourselves. For related yard work, see backyard and outdoor rodent control.