๐ก Key Takeaways
- 23 rat entry points identified and permanently sealed in a 2-storey shophouse
- Steel mesh, cement, and expanding foam used for durable rat-proof sealing
- Trapping programme eliminated remaining rats within 2 weeks
- Shophouse owner reported zero rat sightings for 3 months post-treatment
- Rat-proofing is the only long-term solution โ poison alone does not stop new rats entering
Project Overview
A 2-storey shophouse in Seksyen 13, Shah Alam contacted us after months of persistent rat problems. The ground floor operated as a retail business while the upper floor served as storage. Despite using rat poison for over a year, new rats kept appearing โ droppings on shelves, gnawed packaging, and noises in the ceiling every night.
The owner had tried three different pest control companies before contacting Mr Pest Control Shah Alam. Previous treatments focused on baiting and poison โ which killed some rats but never stopped the cycle because new rats kept entering through unsealed gaps.
The Problem: Why Poison Alone Fails
Rat poison kills individual rats, but it does nothing to prevent new ones from entering. Shophouses in Seksyen 13 โ many built in the 1980s and 1990s โ have numerous structural gaps that rats exploit: pipe penetrations, damaged drain covers, gaps under roller shutters, and openings where utilities enter the building.
A rat only needs a gap the size of a 20-sen coin (about 2cm) to squeeze through. Without sealing these entry points, poison becomes an expensive recurring cost that never solves the root problem.
Our Approach: Inspect, Seal, Trap
Step 1: Comprehensive Inspection
Our team conducted a thorough inspection of the entire shophouse โ ground floor, upper floor, ceiling void, external perimeter, and drainage system. We used UV tracking powder and inspection cameras to identify active rat pathways.
Key findings:
- 12 pipe penetrations with gaps around plumbing โ including kitchen sink, toilet, and air-conditioning drainage
- 4 gaps under the roller shutter โ the rubber seal had deteriorated, leaving 3-4cm gaps
- 3 damaged drain covers โ broken grating allowed sewer rats direct access
- 2 openings where electrical cables entered โ never sealed after installation
- 2 gaps in the ceiling void โ where the roof met the party wall with the adjacent unit
Step 2: Permanent Sealing
We sealed all 23 identified entry points using professional-grade materials designed to resist rat gnawing:
- Galvanised steel mesh (1.2mm gauge) โ fitted and cemented around pipe penetrations. Rats cannot gnaw through steel mesh.
- Quick-set cement โ used to fill larger structural gaps and anchor steel mesh in place
- Stainless steel wool โ packed into irregular gaps before cementing. The steel fibres irritate rats' mouths, preventing gnawing attempts.
- Brush strip seals โ installed under the roller shutter to create a rat-proof barrier while allowing the shutter to operate normally
- Heavy-duty drain covers โ replaced all 3 damaged grates with rat-proof stainless steel versions
Step 3: Internal Trapping Programme
With all entry points sealed, we deployed snap traps and live-catch traps at strategic locations inside the shophouse to eliminate any rats still trapped inside. Over 14 days, we caught 7 rats โ confirming the scale of the existing problem.
After day 10, no further rats were caught, and the tracking powder showed zero new activity โ confirming the sealing was effective and no new rats could enter.
Results
- Day 1โ3: All 23 entry points sealed
- Day 3โ14: Internal trapping programme โ 7 rats caught
- Day 14: Zero rat activity confirmed via tracking powder
- Month 1โ3: Follow-up inspections confirmed the shophouse remained completely rat-free
The shophouse owner reported that for the first time in over two years, there were no droppings, no gnawed products, and no ceiling noises. The business passed its next health inspection with no rodent findings.
Why Rat-Proofing Works Long-Term
Sealing is the only permanent solution for rat problems in commercial properties. The materials we use โ steel mesh, cement, and stainless steel wool โ are gnaw-proof and weather-resistant. Combined with proper drain covers and door seals, the building becomes physically inaccessible to rats. This is especially critical for businesses in Seksyen 13 where health inspections are mandatory for food-adjacent businesses.
Recommended for Shophouse Owners
If your shophouse has recurring rat problems despite baiting, the entry points are likely unsealed. We recommend a professional rat-proofing inspection to identify and permanently close all access points. It is a one-time investment that eliminates the need for ongoing poison purchases.
๐ Sources & References
- Malaysian Pest Management Association (MPMA) โ Rodent Control Guidelines
- CIDB Malaysia โ Building Maintenance Standards for Commercial Properties
- World Health Organization โ Rodent-Borne Disease Prevention
- Mr Pest Control Shah Alam โ 8 Years of Field Experience (Est. 2018)
Mr Pest Control Shah Alam