Table of Contents
Job Overview
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Structure: Attached two-story Victorian century home
Problem: Scratching noises in basement walls, urine odour, and feces indicating rat activity
Service: Rats exterior and interior treatment and exclusion
Visits: 2
Summary
The customer reported rat activity inside their home. The Technician addressed the issue and confirmed rat activity affecting both the interior and exterior of a century home. The work involved an initial inspection and treatment phase followed by approved structural exclusion, including foundation gap sealing, trenching, and installation of one-way doors to allow rats to exit without re-entry.
Background / Property Context
The property is an attached Victorian-era home with an aging foundation and multiple concealed gaps along the lower exterior walls. Older construction, combined with soil contact at the foundation line, created conditions conducive to rodent entry and burrowing.
Customer Concern
The homeowner reported scratching sounds within basement walls and other areas of the house, along with persistent urine odours and visible feces. Concerns included ongoing interior activity and the risk of rats dying inside wall cavities.
Inspection & Findings
During the initial inspection, multiple foundation gaps were identified as potential entry points. Activity indicators were present along the exterior foundation line and inside the basement. The condition of the foundation and surrounding soil suggested repeated rodent access over time.
Cause Analysis
Rats were able to access the structure through gaps at the foundation where building materials met soil. The age of the home and exposed foundation transitions allowed burrowing beneath the structure and entry through concealed openings. Once inside, wall voids provided protected travel and nesting areas.
Treatment / Removal
On the first visit, a licensed exterminator carried out interior and exterior rat treatment in accordance with Ontario Ministry of the Environment guidelines. Large, weighted tamper-resistant bait stations were placed on the exterior in areas of high activity. Inside the home, commercial-grade baited snap traps were installed as a preventative measure to reduce the risk of rats dying inside wall cavities and causing odour issues.
Exclusion & Repairs
Following approval, exclusion work was completed on the second visit. Approximately ten feet of foundation gaps were addressed, which required removal of boards and other obstructions. Galvanized steel mesh was installed over the gaps and extended into a newly dug trench measuring approximately one foot deep and six inches outward from the foundation to prevent future burrowing.
Two rat one-way doors were installed at primary foundation entry points, allowing rats to exit the structure while preventing re-entry. Photos show galvanized mesh securely fastened to foundation surfaces, mesh buried below grade, and one-way doors positioned at former access openings.
Outcome & Confirmation
After exclusion and treatment were completed, entry points were secured and monitored. The one-way doors allowed remaining rats to vacate the structure, and no further interior activity was reported. The foundation exclusion was inspected to confirm mesh placement and coverage were intact.
Technician Notes
The work was completed over two visits by our technician, Richard. No site limitations were encountered. All treatment and exclusion measures were completed as planned, with attention to preventing future burrowing and access at the foundation line.
Contact us at 647-496-2211 if you have any rodent or pest issues on your property.