What you need to know about pest proofing your business

How to pest-proof your business

Pest activity in buildings has always been a daily problem for businesses. Unwanted pests in your business can cause all types of damage and be a health risk to you, your employees, and your customers. The best way to get ahead of the problem is to prevent these pests from entering in the first place. 

Exclusion services are a key part of Rentokil’s integrated pest management (IPM) program because they prevent pests from entering your building and prohibit movement. Rentokil’s IPM services are designed to protect your business from unwanted pests by identifying the root of the problem and implementing practical solutions. Our Technicians will work with you to develop a customized plan tailored to your business’s needs.

Top pests in your business

Pests can be a major nuisance to any business and can do more than just cause damage or pose health risks – they can also create a wrong impression for your business. Pests can make your business seem dirty, unsanitary, and unprofessional. Here are a few of the most common pests to look out for: 

• Rodents, like mice and rats, can cause major damage by chewing through structures, equipment, electrical wires, etc. Mice can fit through openings as small as ¼”, while rats can squeeze through spaces as small as ½”. 

• Birds and bats can be noisy, messy, and unhygienic. Their droppings can carry diseases and pose a potential health risk. Feral pigeons can enter your property through just a two-inch opening, while the English House Sparrows only need a ¾” opening. Bats can squeeze through openings as small as ⅜”. 
• Nuisance wildlife, such as squirrels, opossums, and raccoons, can cause significant damage by chewing through wires and insulation and entering buildings through roof vents or open windows.
• Larger overwintering insects, such as large cockroaches, brown marmorated stink bugs, and Asian lady beetles, can easily damage your business’s reputation. Cockroaches can carry all kinds of bacteria and diseases and only need 1/16” openings to enter your business.

Pest solutions to prevent pest infestations for your business

Pest-proofing your business acts as a first line of defense and, when paired with a comprehensive pest management plan, can help exclude pests from your business. Rentokil uses a comprehensive suite of Flexi Armour™ products alongside other innovative pest-proofing solutions, including:

• Flexi Armour Seal is a hybrid material consisting of a polymer compound mixed with stainless steel to seal structural holes or gaps. It can bond against almost any surface and can even be painted after curing. 
• Flexi Armour Shield, a proofing tape built with durable stainless mesh, may be used to seal any smaller holes or gaps around your business. It leaves no residue after removal and can withstand most weather conditions. 
• Flexi Armour Dock is made of durable Kevlar and steel mesh with a softer, gap-filling material. It offers an advanced, movement-tolerant solution to keep rodents out of the gaps around dock levelers.
• Flexi Armour Doors is a selection of durable, extruded rubber products featuring a distinctive knitted mesh core. It is expertly engineered to block rodent entry from interior and exterior gaps between the door and floor.
• Flexi Armour Expansion combines a durable, flexible stainless steel mesh with a distinctive self-leveling compound to seal expansion joints from rodents chewing through and accessing openings.
• Flexi Armour Ground Mesh is a durable, anti-corrosion barrier for the ground. Its robust construction is ideal for safeguarding your business premises from underground pest invasions.
• Flexi Armour Weep is a flexible, cut-to-size, knitted mesh tube made from stainless steel. It is designed to block wall cavities and prevent rodents from entering buildings.
• Rentokil Dual Autogate is designed to detect rodents specifically. Dual Autogate is part of our PestConnect system – a network of connected devices that detect, capture, and humanely eliminate rodent pests with innovative and highly effective traps, bait stations, and monitors.
• Vent caps cover and protect vents from large pests while still allowing air to flow. 

The business benefits of pest control

Pest control services have numerous benefits for you and your business. Pest-proofing not only prevents pests from entering your building but can also prohibit interior pest movement. In addition to restricting movement, pest-proofing can also:

• Provide continuous control
• Reduce the need for pesticides
• Stop infestations from neighboring areas
• Save time and money dealing with a costly infestation

Why choose Rentokil for commercial pest control 

At Rentokil, we are global experts in pest management, with over 90 years of experience servicing commercial customers. Our experience means we’re best served to support your business with essential solutions that help protect against all pests. 

Rentokil Technicians live in the surrounding areas they serve and combine their local knowledge with their pest control expertise to create customized treatment plans tailored to your business needs. We offer the most advanced range of pest control solutions and services in the industry and have a network of dedicated experts who can respond to situations quickly and consistently. Contact us today to learn more.