What exclusion means
Exclusion means closing every opening a rodent can use, so new ones can’t get in. It’s the step quick fixes skip, and the reason some homes get rats every year.
LA County Public Health recommends sealing gaps larger than a quarter inch with quarter-inch hardware cloth or sheet metal. Foam and caulk on their own get chewed through.
Common entry points in Los Angeles homes
- Gaps at the eaves and where roof lines meet
- Roof, gable and attic vents with torn or missing screens
- Openings around plumbing, AC lines and cables
- Foundation and crawlspace vents on raised-foundation homes
- Worn garage door seals and missing door sweeps
- Branches, palm fronds and vines touching the roof
What a proper exclusion job includes
- Every opening mapped and photographed first
- Quarter-inch steel hardware cloth and sheet metal, not foam alone
- Vent screens repaired or replaced
- Garage door seals and door sweeps
- Before-and-after photos of the sealed points
- 1-year written warranty on the exclusion work
