Rodent Exclusion and Entry Point Sealing in Great Neck, NY

Trapping removes what is already inside a house, but it does nothing about the gap that let the first animal in. Exclusion work closes that gap with materials mice and rats physically cannot chew through, which is the difference between a problem that stays solved and one that returns every few months.

Older homes tend to have more of this work to do, since decades of settling creates foundation cracks and aging roof vents that newer construction does not have yet.

Steel wool, galvanized hardware cloth and mortar patching are used depending on the gap. Mice can chew through plastic, soft foam and standard caulk, so none of those are used as a permanent fix, only as a short-term measure if a gap needs temporary attention before the right material is on hand.

• Steel wool packed into small gaps around pipes and cables.
• Galvanized hardware cloth fitted over vents and larger openings.
• Mortar patching for cracked masonry foundations.

Garage door gaps, foundation vents, dryer vent openings and plumbing penetrations under exterior hose bibs account for most of what we find. On waterfront properties, we also check where decking or a seawall meets the structure, since that transition point is easy to overlook.

A follow-up visit confirms the sealed points are intact and checks for any new gap that might have opened since the first visit, which sometimes happens after a hard winter or storm.