Job Overview
Location: Oshawa, Ontario Structure: Two-story, detached house Problem: Reported rat activity inside and outside the house, with an entry point beneath the deck Service: Rat removal, rodent control, deck exclusion, and entry-point sealing Visits: 3
Summary
Our team completed a three-visit rat control and exclusion service at a detached residential property in Oshawa, Ontario. The homeowner reported rat activity both inside the house and around the exterior. During the initial inspection, rat activity was confirmed on the property, although no active rat presence was observed inside the home at that time.
The service combined exterior rodenticide bait stations, interior snap traps, and structural exclusion. Approximately 16 linear feet of deck perimeter were secured with galvanized steel mesh, and a one-way door was installed at the identified entry point.
At the final visit, the homeowner reported no further rat activity. Our team inspected the exclusion, confirmed it remained functional, removed the one-way door, and permanently sealed the remaining entry point.
Background / Property Context
The property was a two-story detached house with an exterior wooden deck and an accessible area beneath the structure. The deck perimeter included gaps near the ground that required inspection for potential rodent entry.
The work area contained gravel, exposed soil, wooden framing, and sections of the foundation. These features were relevant to the inspection because rats can travel along foundations and enter sheltered spaces through openings beneath exterior structures.
The photographs documented disturbed soil and gravel beneath the deck, along with the subsequent installation of galvanized steel screening around vulnerable sections.
Customer Concern
The homeowner contacted our team after reporting rat activity around the exterior of the house and suspected activity inside the living space.
The primary concern was that rats were accessing sheltered areas beneath the deck and potentially entering the home through openings along the structure.
The homeowner required treatment of the existing rat activity and exclusion work to prevent continued access through the identified entry points.
Inspection & Findings
Visit 1 – Initial Inspection and Rat Treatment
Our technician, Richard, inspected the property to assess the reported activity and identify possible entry points.
Rat activity was confirmed on the property. However, no active rat presence was found inside the house during the inspection. Interior treatment locations were nevertheless selected based on the homeowner’s reported activity.
The inspection identified an accessible opening beneath the deck that required structural exclusion.
Photographs of the under-deck area showed exposed soil, displaced gravel, wooden supports, and accessible spaces along the lower perimeter. These conditions were consistent with areas requiring further investigation for rodent access.
Following the inspection, our team prepared an exclusion recommendation addressing the main entry points.
Cause Analysis
The deck perimeter contained accessible gaps near ground level that provided potential routes into the sheltered space beneath the structure. Rats can use openings along foundations and exterior framing to move between outdoor areas and protected structural spaces. The identified under-deck opening required exclusion to interrupt this access route and reduce the possibility of continued entry.
Treatment / Removal
Visit 1 – Exterior Baiting and Interior Trapping
Our team established a rodent control program targeting both exterior activity and the reported interior activity.
Large, weighted, tamper-resistant bait stations containing commercial-grade rodenticide were installed at selected exterior locations.
Inside the house, commercial-grade baited snap traps were placed in areas associated with the homeowner’s reported activity.
The rodenticide treatment was performed by a licensed exterminator in accordance with Ontario Ministry of the Environment guidelines and applicable pesticide requirements.
Visit 2 – Additional Rodent Control
During the second visit, our team installed two additional exterior bait stations containing commercial-grade rodenticide.
These stations supplemented the initial treatment and provided additional rodent control coverage around the property while the structural exclusion work was completed.
Exclusion & Repairs
Visit 2 – Deck Screening and One-Way Door Installation
Our team completed approximately 16 linear feet of exclusion along the deck perimeter using galvanized steel mesh.
The mesh was secured to the wooden framing to close accessible gaps beneath the deck. Mechanical fasteners and washers were used to hold the screening against the structure.
A rat one-way door was installed at the identified entry point beneath the deck. This temporarily maintained an outward exit route while restricting re-entry through that opening.
The installation photographs documented several completed areas:
- Galvanized steel mesh secured along the lower deck framing.
- Screening extending across openings near the foundation.
- A temporary wire-mesh one-way door at the designated exit point.
- Mesh panels installed across larger openings in the under-deck structure.
The exclusion work addressed the accessible perimeter gaps while the rodent control program continued.
Visit 3 – Final Entry-Point Closure
Our team returned for the final service visit after the homeowner reported that rat activity was no longer being heard or observed.
The galvanized steel mesh exclusion was inspected and found to be effective and functional.
The temporary one-way door was removed, and the remaining entry point was permanently sealed.
Outcome & Confirmation
The three-visit service concluded with the reported rat activity resolved at the property.
During the final visit, the homeowner confirmed that no further rat activity had been heard or seen. Our team verified that the installed deck exclusion remained secure and functional.
The one-way door was removed, and the final opening was sealed, completing the structural exclusion work.
The homeowner expressed satisfaction with the completed service. No additional rat activity was reported at the time of the final inspection.
Technician Notes
Richard’s inspection identified an under-deck entry point requiring exclusion, while the interior inspection did not reveal active rat presence at the time of the initial visit.
The treatment combined exterior tamper-resistant rodenticide stations with interior baited snap traps. Two additional exterior bait stations were installed during the second visit.
The principal structural repair consisted of approximately 16 linear feet of galvanized steel mesh secured along the deck perimeter. A temporary one-way door was incorporated into the exclusion and subsequently removed.
Final inspection confirmed that the exclusion remained functional, the entry point was sealed, and the homeowner was no longer reporting rat activity.