Customer Report

Pest Shield attended a residential property in Gateshead NE10 following reports of ongoing rat activity within the building.

Despite previous investigations, the source of the infestation remained unknown. The customer was concerned that rodents were continuing to gain access despite no obvious defects being identified at ground level.

A comprehensive inspection of the property was carried out to identify the point of ingress before recommending any proofing works.

Inspection Findings

A detailed external inspection of the building identified several poorly sealed service pipe penetrations positioned high on the external wall.

Large gaps had been left around waste pipework where it entered the building, providing direct access into the wall cavity. Although these defects were several metres above ground level, they represented an ideal entry point for rats.

Many people associate rodent ingress with drains or damaged air bricks; however, rats are excellent climbers and will readily scale brickwork, drainpipes and other external structures to exploit construction defects at height.

Once inside the cavity wall, rodents are able to travel throughout the structure before eventually entering loft spaces, floor voids or internal living areas.

The location and size of the defects strongly indicated that the pipe penetrations were the primary point of ingress responsible for the infestation.

Treatment Carried Out

A structured rodent riddance programme was completed to eliminate the active infestation before permanent proofing measures were undertaken.

By carrying out a thorough inspection before recommending repairs, the customer was able to concentrate proofing works on the confirmed areas of vulnerability rather than sealing defects based on assumption.

Once the infestation had been assessed as functionally over, the defective pipe penetrations were permanently sealed to prevent future rodent access into the cavity wall.

Outcome

Following completion of the treatment programme and permanent proofing works, rodent activity ceased.

No further evidence of rat activity was identified during subsequent inspections, and the infestation was assessed as functionally over.

Why This Investigation Was Different

This investigation demonstrates why a comprehensive inspection should extend beyond ground level.

Many rodent ingress investigations focus on drains, air bricks and low-level structural defects. In this case, the source of the infestation was identified several metres above ground around poorly sealed service penetrations.

Without inspecting the full external envelope of the building, these defects could easily have been overlooked, allowing rats to continue accessing the cavity wall despite repeated treatments.

By identifying the true point of ingress before recommending proofing, the customer was able to eliminate the cause of the infestation rather than simply treating its symptoms.

Lessons From This Investigation

Rats are capable of climbing brickwork, drainpipes and external pipework to access buildings at height.
Poorly sealed service penetrations can provide direct access into cavity walls.
Effective rodent investigations should include the entire external structure, not just ground-level defects.
Permanent proofing should be completed only after the active infestation has been successfully eliminated.
Inspection-led pest control helps identify the root cause of infestations, reducing the likelihood of recurring rodent activity.

Property Type: Residential Property

Location: Gateshead, Tyne and Wear NE10

Services Provided: Rat Control, Rodent Investigation, Rodent Proofing, Building Defect Inspection, Permanent Proofing Measures