If rats keep getting back into your attic after traps or a previous service visit, you need attic rodent proofing: finding the openings they reuse and sealing them shut. AtticareUSA does this work across Greater Los Angeles, from Sherman Oaks to Santa Clarita, out of its Burbank office. Start with a free inspection to find out how the rodents are getting in.
At a glance
- Find the way in first: traps remove rats, but the entry points stay open until someone seals them.
- Remove live rodents before sealing: if rats are still active, PestCare removes them first, then our crew cleans, seals and restores the attic.
- Seal with chew-resistant materials: we close entry points pesticide-free with wire mesh, polyurethane foam and cement as needed.
- Clean before you insulate: contaminated insulation comes out, the attic is cleaned and air sealed, and new insulation goes in last.
- Read the warranty terms: our rodent proofing has a written 1-year limited warranty on the treated areas that transfers if you sell.
When rats keep getting back into a Los Angeles or Santa Clarita attic, traps alone leave the way in open. You need rodent exclusion: an inspection that finds the entry points, then sealing with chew-resistant materials. AtticareUSA seals entry points pesticide-free with wire mesh, polyurethane foam and cement. We coordinate attic cleanup and new insulation in the same project and back the rodent proofing with a written 1-year limited warranty that transfers to the next owner. It is a one-time, subscription-free job, unlike an exterminator's recurring contract. If rats are still active, PestCare removes them first.
Why do rats keep getting back into the attic?
The way in is still open. A trap removes the rat that walked into it, but the gap, vent or opening it used stays where it was, so the next rodent follows the same route. Sealing entry points helps reduce the chance of future rodent entry, and repeat trapping skips that step. A clean attic can become contaminated again if the entry points are left open.
Two things make this worse in a Los Angeles or Santa Clarita attic:
- There is no off-season. Whether your home is in Studio City, Glendale, Valencia or Newhall, summers are hot and attics reach 140-160 degrees F. Winters stay warm enough that rodents remain active all year, so a quiet month does not mean the problem is over.
- Old nests leave a trail. Droppings, nesting material and soiled insulation hold scent. We vacuum droppings and nests out with the old insulation, and we can then sanitize the attic to cut the leftover scent trails that draw new rodents back.
The EPA's guidance on identifying and preventing rodent infestations also directs homeowners to seal the openings rodents use, not only to remove the animals.
Who seals the entry points rats use in a Los Angeles attic?
A rodent exclusion company seals them. AtticareUSA specializes in rodent exclusion (sealing entry points), attic cleanup, sanitation and restoration. We inspect the attic for rodent activity and possible entry points, report what we find, and seal the openings pesticide-free with wire mesh, polyurethane foam and cement as needed.
Exclusion is structural work, not spraying or baiting. The job is not complete until the path back in has been addressed.
Where the entry points usually are
Rodents rarely use one obvious hole. Our inspection checks the places where a house has gaps by design or by age:
- Roofline gaps and openings along the eaves
- Vents, including gable vents
- Utility penetrations where pipes and wiring pass through the structure
- Crawl space openings
- Construction openings left from original building work, additions or earlier repairs
In older and mid-century Los Angeles homes, additions and earlier DIY repairs can leave gaps that are easy to miss from the attic hatch. The route in does not always start at the roof: on our Santa Clarita job below, we covered entry points in the attic, the crawl space and on the exterior. Our guide to identifying household entry points for rodents shows where to look.
What we seal them with
We pick the material to fit the opening:
- Wire mesh covers vents and larger gaps where air still has to pass through.
- Polyurethane foam fills irregular voids.
- Cement closes openings where a solid patch fits better.
On many jobs we combine them. In a Sherman Oaks attic, for example, we screened the gable vents with wire mesh and foam.
What the inspection gives you
The free inspection shows you how the rodents are getting in, what condition the attic is in, and which steps it actually needs. Our crews take before and after photos on the job, and before-and-after photos are available upon request. You then get a transparent proposal by email with exact prices and service details, each service listed with its own fee, and no hidden charges or upfront fees. You can read more on our rodent proofing page for Greater Los Angeles.
Trapping vs exclusion vs exclusion plus cleanup
Each option solves a different part of the problem. Trapping removes animals. Exclusion closes the route. Exclusion plus cleanup closes the route and restores the attic the rodents lived in.
| Option | What it does | What it leaves behind | Who does it | What backs it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trapping only | Removes rodents already inside | Open entry points, droppings, nests and soiled insulation | A licensed pest control provider (PestCare in the LA area) | Varies by provider; can involve repeat visits or a recurring contract |
| Rodent exclusion | Finds and seals entry points with wire mesh, polyurethane foam and cement | Any contamination already in the insulation | AtticareUSA | Written 1-year limited warranty on the treated areas |
| Exclusion plus cleanup | Seals entry points, removes contaminated insulation and waste, sanitizes when needed, air seals, installs new insulation last | A cleaned, sealed attic with new insulation | AtticareUSA | The 1-year limited warranty covers the rodent proofing part of the job |
Hearing rats at night in Santa Clarita: what kind of company should you hire?
Hire based on what is happening in the attic right now. If rodents are still active, start with a licensed pest control provider to remove them. Then hire a rodent exclusion and attic restoration company to seal the entry points and restore the attic. In Santa Clarita and the rest of Greater Los Angeles, that means PestCare first when needed, then AtticareUSA.
If you are lying awake in Valencia, Canyon Country or Stevenson Ranch listening to scratching overhead, the sound tells you something is moving. It does not tell you how the animals got in or what they left behind. Use these rules to sort it out:
- You still hear movement or see fresh activity. Treat it as live rodents. PestCare, our sister company in Burbank, removes them first. Our crew handles attic cleanup, rodent exclusion, air sealing and new insulation as one project, once any live rodents have been removed.
- The noise has stopped, but you find droppings in the insulation. The contaminated insulation comes out, the attic is cleaned and sealed, and new insulation goes in last.
- A trapping service keeps coming back. The animals are being removed, but the route stays open. What you need now is exclusion.
- You are not sure which of these applies. Book the free inspection. We check for activity and entry points and tell you what we found.
Santa Clarita is inside the area our Burbank office serves, along with Palmdale and Lancaster further north. For a fuller comparison of the two kinds of companies, read pest control versus attic restoration in Santa Clarita.
What does the 1-year rodent proofing warranty cover?
AtticareUSA's rodent proofing comes with a written 1-year limited warranty on the treated areas. New entry points found within that year are sealed at no additional charge, and the warranty transfers if you sell the home. It comes with a one-time job, not a subscription.
Here is our warranty wording in full:
"Rodent proofing has a written 1-year limited warranty on the treated areas (not living spaces or garages): new rodent entry points found within the year are sealed at no additional charge, subject to the listed exclusions, and the warranty transfers to the next owner if the home is sold."
In plain words:
- Written: the terms are on paper, not a verbal promise.
- 1 year: the coverage runs for one year.
- Treated areas: it covers the areas where we did the rodent proofing, not living spaces or garages.
- New entry points count: new rodent entry points found within the year are sealed at no additional charge.
- Listed exclusions: the warranty is subject to the exclusions written into it.
- Transferable: if you sell the home, the warranty goes to the next owner.
The warranty covers the rodent proofing. You pay for the job once, and the written terms tell you what backs it.
How to read any rodent exclusion warranty
When you compare quotes, ask every company the same four questions:
- Which areas are covered? The whole house, or only the areas the crew treated?
- Do new entry points count, or only the ones that were sealed? This difference matters most when rodents keep testing the house.
- Does it transfer if you sell? A buyer may care whether the coverage comes with the house.
- Does it require a paid plan? Some coverage only holds while you keep paying for ongoing service.
A long headline term means little if the answers are vague. Ask for the terms in writing and read them before you sign.
Real AtticareUSA rodent proofing jobs in Los Angeles and Santa Clarita
These three attics needed both sealing and restoration. Here is what our crew found and what we did.
Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, CA 91423 (job WO-9716, completed December 31, 2025)
- Condition: The insulation was torn and contaminated, with darkened patches where rodents had nested.
- Cleanup: We cleared 1,300 sq ft of attic and sanitized it with OdoBan.
- Sealing: We closed entry points with wire mesh, polyurethane foam and cement, and screened the gable vents with wire mesh and foam.
- Air sealing: We sealed the gaps around fixtures, piping, wiring and vents.
- Insulation: New R-38 fiberglass batts went in last.
- Warranty: The rodent proofing on this job carries our 1-year warranty.
- Project page: Sherman Oaks job WO-9716
Los Angeles, CA 91306 (job WO-10181, completed February 17, 2026)
- Condition: This 1,560 sq ft attic held two kinds of old insulation, white loose-fill and matted brown batts.
- Cleanup: Rodent waste, droppings and nests came out with the old material, and we applied OdoBan.
- Sealing: We closed entry points with wire mesh, polyurethane foam and cement.
- Air sealing: We sealed the gaps around fixtures, piping, wiring and vents.
- Insulation: New R-38 fiberglass batts went in on a clean, sealed surface.
- Project page: Los Angeles 91306 job WO-10181
Santa Clarita, CA (attic insulation replacement and rodent proofing)
- Cleanup: We vacuumed out the old insulation and debris, then sanitized the attic.
- Sealing: We covered entry points in the attic, in the crawl space and on the exterior of the home.
- Air sealing: We air-sealed the attic.
- Insulation: R-30 batts finished the job.
- Project page: Santa Clarita rodent proofing job
When the attic also needs cleanup and new insulation
If rodents have lived in the insulation, sealing is only part of the job. The order matters: clean first, seal entry points, air seal the gaps, then insulate. We replace rodent-contaminated insulation instead of topping it up, because a new layer on top leaves the odors and contamination in place.
Here is how we run the sequence:
- Remove and clean. We remove old and contaminated insulation with a heavy-duty vacuum, along with rodent droppings, nests and debris, then haul it away. When needed, we treat the work area with OdoBan disinfectant and odor eliminator to address rodent odors and pheromones.
- Seal the entry points. With the attic floor exposed, we can see and close openings that were hidden under the old material.
- Air seal. We close gaps and cracks around fixtures, piping, wiring and vents on the attic floor with foam and caulk. ENERGY STAR's attic air sealing guidance also advises sealing attic air leaks before adding insulation.
- Insulate last. New insulation goes in only after the attic is cleaned and sealed.
Do not cover the problem with new insulation. If the old material stays, so do the scent and the waste. The CDC's guidance on cleaning up after rodents explains why droppings and nesting material call for careful handling.
Approximate Los Angeles price anchors (ranges only, not quotes):
- Attic cleaning: about $1,500-$4,500
- Rodent contamination: adds about $500-$2,000 or more
- Contaminated insulation removal: about $1,500-$6,000
- New insulation: roughly $2.50-$4.50 per square foot
Price depends partly on your attic's square footage, and our on-site estimator takes measurements. Rodent proofing depends on what the inspection finds, and your proposal lists it as its own line. For more on sequencing, see attic cleanup order of operations in Los Angeles.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an exterminator before rodent proofing?
Only if rodents are still active. If you still hear movement or see fresh signs, PestCare removes the live rodents first, and AtticareUSA then cleans, seals and restores the attic. If the activity has stopped, our free inspection can go straight to the entry points and the condition of the insulation.
How long does the warranty last, and does it cover new holes?
Our warranty lasts 1 year, is written, and transfers to the next owner if the home is sold. New rodent entry points found within the year are sealed at no additional charge, subject to the listed exclusions. The coverage applies to the treated areas, not living spaces or garages.
Is rodent proofing a subscription?
No. AtticareUSA's rodent proofing is a one-time, subscription-free job, unlike an exterminator's recurring service contract. The 1-year warranty comes with that single job.
Does AtticareUSA work in Santa Clarita?
Yes. AtticareUSA seals attic entry points across Santa Clarita, including Valencia, Canyon Country, Newhall and Stevenson Ranch. We serve Greater Los Angeles from our Burbank office, including the San Fernando Valley, Glendale, Pasadena, Santa Clarita, Palmdale, Lancaster, Long Beach, and parts of Orange County, Ventura County and the Inland Empire.
Can new insulation go over old insulation with rodent droppings?
It should not. We replace rodent-contaminated insulation instead of topping it up, because a new layer on top leaves the odors and contamination in place. The old material comes out, the attic is cleaned and sealed, and the new insulation goes in last.
Are rodent droppings in attic insulation dangerous?
Handle them with care. The CDC's rodent cleanup guidance describes precautions for handling droppings, urine and nesting material. When the waste is spread through the insulation, removal is a larger job than a quick sweep. That is why AtticareUSA vacuums it out with the old insulation and sanitizes the work area when needed.
Schedule a free inspection to find how rodents are getting in
If the scratching came back after the last fix, the route in is probably still open. A free inspection shows where the entry points are, what condition the attic is in, and what the sealing needs to cover. You then get a transparent proposal by email with each service priced separately.
AtticareUSA has been in business since 2012 and has helped over 11,000 clients. We are highly rated with 1400+ reviews, BPI-certified, and licensed, insured and bonded (CA #1051462). Customers review us on Google, Yelp and Angi, and we are Diamond Certified after an independent survey of past customers.
Our Greater Los Angeles office: 4001 W Alameda Ave., Suite 106, Burbank, CA 91505
Phone: 1-888-843-7081
Contact us to schedule a free inspection and find out how rodents are getting in.
Sources
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, "Identify and Prevent Rodent Infestations": https://www.epa.gov/rodenticides/identify-and-prevent-rodent-infestations
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "Clean Up After Rodents": https://www.cdc.gov/healthy-pets/rodent-control/clean-up.html
- ENERGY STAR, "Attic Air Sealing Project": https://www.energystar.gov/saveathome/seal_insulate/attic-air-sealing-project
