How to stop rats sneaking below tiles

[jacoscar]

I am checking for rats entry point in my roof as they get in during the winter

I’ve found a large gap to the adjacent house which I plan to fill with wire wool and expanding foam

I also noticed there are gaps below the tiles (see second picture), I can fit my finger in there; is it worth closing them? If so, how?

 

[opps]

I have seen people fold over wire mesh and push that that in to the gaps. The mesh will allow airflow.

 

[jacoscar]

After having had a look I found they are more likely to be getting through the front of the dry verge and then from the side where each tile overlaps the next one

Picture without plastic dry verge taken during reroof

 

[diy_fun_uk]

Something else to remember is, depending on how 'sealed' the roof space is between you and the adjoining property, rats could also get in from next doors loft if they still have spaces on the outside of their roof.

 

[jacoscar]

Something else to remember is, depending on how 'sealed' the roof space is between you and the adjoining property, rats could also get in from next doors loft if they still have spaces on the outside of their roof.

How can they go from one loft to the next one? Also in my case both adjoining houses are staggered (see picture in my previous post)

Anyway I also found the bathroom extractor flexible duct was broken and the outside gravity flaps were missing; maybe they could have gotten into the loft via the extractor vent and then through the wall cavity

 

[diy_fun_uk]

How can they go from one loft to the next one? Also in my case both adjoining houses are staggered (see picture in my previous post)

Anyway I also found the bathroom extractor flexible duct was broken and the outside gravity flaps were missing; maybe they could have gotten into the loft via the extractor vent and then through the wall cavity

It's not completely unheard of for people to venture up into their loft to discover maybe a loose brick or two in the party wall. In some cases, they can see right through into next doors loft. Can't recall the forum but I remember reading about a guy who discovered some of the bricks were coming loose around the chimney breast (in the loft space) and he could comfortably see through to next doors loft.

Not saying it's common, but it can happen.

 

[Coopa]

Hi are you sure they not squirrels ...?

 

[RandomGrinch]

and he could comfortably see through to next doors loft.

Not saying it's common, but it can happen.

It is very common in my area!
A lot of the terraces have open lofts.
Not the best photo, but this is my loft fully open to next doors, and if the light was better, you could see past the chimney and right down the terrace!

I have now got a firewall up, but am still trying to block every orifice that a rat can get through!

 

[jacoscar]

Hi are you sure they not squirrels ...?

Pretty sure

 

[diy_fun_uk]

It is very common in my area!
A lot of the terraces have open lofts.
Not the best photo, but this is my loft fully open to next doors, and if the light was better, you could see past the chimney and right down the terrace!
View attachment 276791
I have now got a firewall up, but am still trying to block every orifice that a rat can get through!

Yeah this was my point. If the OP needs to stop rats getting into their loft (via gaps in the roof) then they need to ensure the adjoining property doesn't also have gaps in the roof, otherwise the pesky rats might find a way through unless party wall is 100% intact with zero gaps. Mind you, they wouldn't have any issues at your place

 

[jacoscar]

The party wall looks 100% intact; I am a bit more worried by the fact that the external wall cavity provides a route for rats from one property to the other one; I obviously can't see it but is the top of the cavity of an external wall supposed to be open or closed where it meets the roof tiles next to gutters?

 

[Coopa]

Blimey that sure ain’t a squirrel .. ! Have you rang pest control yet ?

 

[jacoscar]

Blimey that sure ain’t a squirrel .. ! Have you rang pest control yet ?

Yes and they made me laugh; they said I first had to find out how they get in.

 

[Keithmac]

We had a problem with rats climbing up next doors cavity wall and eventually getting into our loft.

The party wall was not "rat tight" between the properties.

They can also climb up fall pipes and enter throught the roof via guttering.

Best bet is bait stations and poison the fxxkers, that's ultimately what worked for us.

Bird feeders etc attract them then they go looking for harbourage.

One got in our ceiling, electrcians had been knocking bricks out to run wiring and just left the brick sized holes (I had bedroom floorboards up and bricked all the holes back up).

 

[jacoscar]

We had a problem with rats climbing up next doors cavity wall and eventually getting into our loft.

The party wall was not "rat tight" between the properties.

They can also climb up fall pipes and enter throught the roof via guttering.

Best bet is bait stations and poison the fxxkers, that's ultimately what worked for us.

Bird feeders etc attract them then they go looking for harbourage.

One got in our ceiling, electrcians had been knocking bricks out to run wiring and just left the brick sized holes (I had bedroom floorboards up and bricked all the holes back up).

Is that baiting stations outside the house so they die before having the chance of getting into the roof?