01
Inspection first
Roof void, walls and subfloor checked to find how rodents are getting in.
We seal every entry point, clear the nest, and prove it with a follow-up check
Rodent Proofing
Rodent Proofing in Melbourne means finding every gap a rat or mouse can squeeze through, sealing it with materials they cannot chew, and clearing the rodents already inside. We handle homes, cafes and warehouses across the inner and south-eastern suburbs. If you are hearing scratching in the ceiling at 2am, or finding droppings behind the fridge, we can be there today.
Prepared local crewClear options firstFinal testing and walkthrough
Request a service estimate
02
Clear scope, agreed first
You see what we found and the plan before any work starts.
03
Entry points sealed
Gaps proofed with steel mesh and sealant, not just bait.
04
Family and pet aware
Lockable, tamper-resistant stations placed with kids and pets in mind.
Service overview
What Rodent Proofing in Melbourne actually involves
Rodent Proofing in Melbourne is the physical work of closing a building against rats and mice, not just poisoning the ones inside. A rat needs a gap the width of a 20-cent coin; a mouse needs one the size of a pencil. We inspect the roof void, subfloor, wall cavities, eaves, weep holes, pipe penetrations and garage doors, then seal each opening with steel wool, copper mesh, wire mesh, cement mortar or expanding foam. Anything chewed through gets replaced with a material they cannot get their teeth into.
Melbourne's older housing stock is the main reason this work is in constant demand. Federation and Edwardian homes in Hawthorn, Kew and Malvern were built with wide eaves, timber subfloors and unsealed cavity walls, and rats use the same routes for decades. Add a wet winter pushing them indoors and a warm roof void in summer, and you get noise in the ceiling, gnawed wiring and rat droppings in the pantry. That is when most people start searching for rat proofing near me Melbourne and want it sorted the same week.
- Stops re-entry, not just the current rats — Bait kills what is inside. Sealed entry points stop the next colony moving in from the neighbour's roof or the laneway behind you. We close every gap over 10mm with copper mesh, steel wool and mortar, then re-inspect after 14 days to confirm nothing has pushed through.
- Protects your wiring and insulation — Rats gnaw constantly to wear down their teeth, and electrical cable is a favourite. Chewed wiring behind a wall is a genuine fire risk and an expensive repair. Sealing the roof void and wall cavities removes the access route, which is cheaper than rewiring a kitchen.
- Removes the smell and contamination — A dead rat in a wall cavity can smell for three to four weeks and draws flies. We locate it with thermal imaging cameras and inspection mirrors, remove it, and treat the area so the odour clears. Droppings get cleaned and sanitised rather than swept into a corner.
- Works for cafes and warehouses too — Rodent proofing for Melbourne cafes has to survive a council health inspection, so we seal loading docks, grease traps and store room voids, and fit lockable bait stations where food handling rules require them. Warehouses get roller door brush seals and pallet racking checks.
- Fixed price before we start — You get the price in writing before any work begins, based on the size of the property and the number of entry points. No hourly rate, no surprise call-out fee, no charge for the follow-up inspection.
- Same-day and 24/7 availability — We run same day rat proofing Melbourne bookings for urgent jobs, and a 24/7 rodent proofing service Melbourne number for cafes, restaurants and warehouses that cannot wait until morning. Book before 10am and we can usually be on site the same afternoon.
- Proofing materials that actually last — Steel wool alone rusts and pulls out. Expanding foam alone gets chewed through in a week. We combine copper mesh, wire mesh, cement mortar and steel wool so the repair holds for years, not months. Every seal is photographed and logged so you can see what was done.
- We clean up after ourselves — Droppings, nesting material and dead rodents are bagged and removed, and treated surfaces are sanitised. You are not left to deal with the mess. For cafes, we schedule work outside trading hours so you open on time with no disruption to service.
The service timeline
How our rodent proofing service runs
Book and inspect
We book a two-hour window and turn up inside it. The technician walks the property with you, checking the roof void, subfloor, eaves, meter box, garage and every pipe penetration. You get photos of each entry point and a clear explanation of what is getting in and where.
Clear the active rodents
Proofing a building with rats still inside just traps them in the walls. We set snap traps, live catch traps and bait stations in the roof void and subfloor first, using APVMA-approved rodenticide in tamper-resistant stations where pets or kids are around. Most active infestations clear in three to seven days.
Seal every entry point
This is the core of the job. We pack gaps with steel wool and copper mesh, mortar around pipework, fit wire mesh over weep holes and vents, and seal gaps under doors with brush strips. Expanding foam goes into irregular voids, always behind mesh so rodents cannot chew straight through it.
Sanitise and deodorise
Droppings, urine trails and nesting material get removed and treated. If there is a dead rat in a cavity, we locate it with thermal imaging and take it out. This is the step that gets rid of the smell and the health risk, and it usually takes one to two hours on a standard home.
Follow-up and warranty
We return after 14 days to check the seals, refresh bait stations and confirm there is no fresh activity. If rodents get back in through a point we sealed, we come back and fix it at no charge under our 12-month workmanship warranty.
Tools and methods01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11
Tools and methods we use
Thermal imaging cameras
Used to find nesting sites, warm rodent bodies and dead rats inside wall cavities and roof voids without cutting exploratory holes. Cuts inspection time and avoids unnecessary damage to plaster and cornices.
Inspection mirrors
Let us see into subfloor spaces, behind appliances and along wall cavities where a torch alone will not reach. Essential for confirming entry points in older Melbourne homes with tight access.
Sealant guns and mortar tools
For applying expanding foam, cement mortar and sealant cleanly around pipe penetrations, weep holes and irregular gaps. Neat application means the repair lasts and looks like part of the building.
Snap traps and live catch traps
Used to clear active rodents before sealing, so we are not trapping them inside the walls. Live catch traps suit situations where pets or children are present and a kill method is not appropriate.
Tamper-resistant bait stations
Lockable stations that hold rodenticide bait blocks safely away from pets, children and food handling areas. Required for most commercial kitchens and recommended for any home with dogs or cats.
Copper mesh and steel wool
The core proofing materials. Copper mesh does not rust and cannot be chewed through, and steel wool packed tightly behind it blocks gaps around pipes, cables and irregular openings.
Wire mesh and expanding foam
Wire mesh covers weep holes, vents and larger openings, while expanding foam fills irregular voids. We always back foam with mesh so rodents cannot chew straight through the foam alone.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
We treat the cause rather than just the symptom: inspect, seal, monitor and follow up. Chemical use is limited to tamper-resistant bait stations where needed, and the focus stays on physical exclusion so results last longer than a single baiting round.
Entry point mapping
Every gap over 10mm is photographed, logged and sealed, and you receive the record. This gives you a documented baseline for the property and makes future inspections faster and cheaper.
APVMA-approved baiting
All rodenticide we use is approved by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority and applied by licensed technicians. Bait blocks are secured inside stations so they cannot be moved into living areas or eaten by pets.
14-day follow-up protocol
We return two weeks after the initial job to check every seal, refresh bait stations and confirm there is no fresh activity. If rodents have pushed through a point we sealed, we fix it at no charge under our 12-month workmanship warranty.
Where this service helps
When to book rodent proofing
You have just bought an older Melbourne home and want to know what you are dealing with before you move in.
We do a full inspection of the roof void, subfloor and wall cavities, seal any existing entry points, and give you a written report with photos. If there is active activity, we clear it before you move your furniture in. You move into a sealed house with no surprises, and a documented record of what was done and when.
A neighbouring property has been demolished or renovated and rats have started appearing in your yard and roof.
Disturbance pushes rodents into surrounding buildings. We inspect the boundary side of your property first, seal the entry points they are using, and set bait stations along the fence line and in the roof void. Activity stops within a week and the seals hold once the neighbouring construction finishes.
Your cafe or restaurant has a council health inspection coming up and you have seen signs of rodents.
We schedule the work outside trading hours, seal loading docks, store rooms and grease trap areas, install lockable bait stations, and provide documentation of the treatment for your records. You pass the inspection with paperwork to show what was done, and your staff work in a clean, sealed kitchen.
You have had baiting done before but the rats keep coming back every winter.
Recurring activity almost always means entry points were never sealed. We inspect the building itself rather than just setting more bait, then close the gaps with copper mesh, mortar and wire mesh. The cycle stops. You are not paying for another round of baiting every year.
Before and after
What a successful service visit changes.
Hawthorn terrace with rats in the roof
Before
The owner had been hearing scratching above the bedroom for six weeks and had already paid for one baiting round that did nothing. We found four entry points along the eaves and a gap around the hot water service pipe, plus fresh droppings through the roof void.
After
We removed two rats, sealed all four entry points with copper mesh and mortar, and treated the contaminated insulation. The 14-day follow-up showed zero fresh activity. Total job time was three hours on site plus the return visit.
Maintenance: An annual roof void check before winter keeps the seals sound. The owner now books a quick inspection each April, which takes under an hour.
South Yarra cafe passing health inspection
Before
A cafe owner had seen a rat near the loading dock twice in a fortnight and had a council inspection booked in ten days. The store room had a gap under the roller door and an unsealed grease trap penetration.
After
We sealed the roller door with a brush strip, mortared the grease trap penetration, and installed four lockable bait stations. The inspection passed with no findings, and no rodents were seen in the following three months.
Maintenance: Bait stations are checked every eight weeks as part of the maintenance plan, and the roller door seal is inspected quarterly.
Brighton East subfloor infestation cleared
Before
A 1920s home had rats in the subfloor for months. Droppings were visible near the laundry, and there was a persistent smell under the house. The owner had tried supermarket bait with no result.
After
We located the nest with thermal imaging, removed three rats and the nesting material, sealed six entry points around pipework and the subfloor vents, and sanitised the area. The smell cleared in two days and there has been no activity since.
Maintenance: Subfloor vents are checked each spring, and garden beds are kept clear of the brickwork so rats lose their cover.
Proof behind the promise
Licensed, insured and accountable
Technical expertise
Local experience with Melbourne rodent behaviour
Our technicians hold licensed pest control technician registration, public health licensing, chemical handling certificates and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) certification, and we work to Work Health and Safety (WHS) compliance on every site. We have proofed weatherboard cottages, brick Edwardians, 1970s brick veneers, apartment basements and commercial kitchens across Melbourne's inner and south-eastern suburbs. That local experience matters, because a rat in a Hawthorn roof void behaves differently to one in a Brighton beach house with a suspended concrete slab. We know which materials last in Melbourne conditions and which ones fail within a season.
- Licensed pest control technicians with public health licensing and chemical handling certification
- Integrated Pest Management (IPM) certification, so we proof and monitor rather than spray and leave
- All rodenticide is Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) approved
- Thermal imaging cameras and inspection mirrors used to find dead rats and hidden nests
- Work Health and Safety (WHS) compliance on residential, retail and warehouse sites
How much does rodent proofing cost in Melbourne?
The price depends on the number of entry points, roof access difficulty and whether baiting or dead rat removal is needed. You get a fixed quote before we start, and the 14-day follow-up inspection is included.
What is included in rodent proofing in Melbourne?
A full inspection of the roof void, subfloor, eaves, wall cavities and pipe penetrations, sealing of every entry point over 10mm, bait stations or traps where rodents are still active, removal of droppings and nesting material, and a 14-day follow-up. You also get photos of each sealed point and a written summary of the work.
How long does rat proofing last in Melbourne?
Our seals are warrantied for 12 months, and in practice most last five to ten years before normal building movement opens a new gap. Copper mesh and mortar outlast expanding foam by a wide margin. We recommend a quick annual inspection, especially after storms or renovations that disturb the roof line.
Is rodent proofing safe for my home in Melbourne?
Yes. We use physical sealing as the primary method, so most of the work involves no chemicals at all. Where bait is needed, it goes into tamper-resistant bait stations placed away from pets and children, and all rodenticide is APVMA approved. We tell you exactly where every station is before we leave.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Not seeing your question? Our local team can help you understand urgency, scheduling and what to expect.
Ask the local teamRelated services
Related Services
Rat Removal
Proofing works best once the active rats are gone. We trap and remove rats from roof voids, subfloors and wall cavities first, then seal the entry points so the next colony cannot move in behind them.
View service
Mice Control
Mice squeeze through gaps the size of a pencil, so proofing a Melbourne home for mice means sealing smaller openings than a rat job. We combine bait stations and traps with fine wire mesh and steel wool on every weep hole and pipe entry.
View service
Rats in Roof Removal
Scratching in the ceiling is the most common call we get. We locate the nest with thermal imaging, remove the rats and nesting material, then seal the roof void entry points that let them in from the eaves and power lines.
View service
Rats in Walls Removal
Rats in wall cavities are harder to reach and often die in place, causing a smell that lasts weeks. We use inspection mirrors and thermal cameras to find them, remove the carcass, and seal the cavity entry points at the top and bottom of the wall.
View service
Contact the local team
Get in touch with us
Send us the form and we will book you in, usually the same day for urgent rodent work.
Tell us what you are hearing or seeing and we will give you a straight answer on what the job involves and what it will cost. No obligation, no pressure.