New bathroom after rat infestation - where to start

[ThankYouForTheDays]

Hi

Our house has suffered from a number of rat infestations over the last few years. We have had rats under the extension and above its ceiling, they also managed to get from the extension roof into the space under the floorboards in the bathroom.

We found a great pest control man about a year ago that checked all our drains and found an unsealed pipe in the space where the previous owners had moved the kitchen sink from when the extension was built. With our house finally rat free we would like to get the bathroom replaced as it has a mild smell of rat urine some days and when we removed one of the floorboards last month we found quite a sizeable amount of rat droppings that my husband carefully removed.

My concern now is how we go about doing things. I don’t know if I need a builder or a plumber or a specialist in clearing rodent waste, I probably need them all!

The plan I have in my head is to get a general builder in to remove our bath, sink and floorboards. Once everything is out I then get a specialist company to clean the mess the rats have no doubt left under the floor and sterilize it so the smell starts to go. Once the cleaning has been done I get the builder back to fit new floorboards then a plumber in to fit the new bathroom suite. Do you think that sounds logical? I don’t even know if a builder would want to lift the floor boards so it may be something my husband has to do but he doesn’t know how to remove a bath or anything.

Any advice appreciated, I’m a little overwhelmed by it all.

Youtube is your friend for 'how to' videos on all manner of plumbing and rubbish removal. Rodents incur a public health risk and it will cost a fair bit to get a specialist agency in to clean up. As you will know, rats have a number of health risks to humans so take care with this project by wearing appropriate protective clothing and gloves. Rats hate wire-wool, like what you scrub ovens with. Block any holes or gaps with that stuff, as when they chew it they get a shock which is a deterrent. White vinegar - cooking grade - is cheap on ebay and gets rid of all manner of animal smells. I use it to clean floors and pet areas in my home, and swear by it. Being cheap, you could soak all floor areas. It may serve as a temporary remedy until you get the works finished.

Plumbers are used to seeing all sorts in their trade, as they work in drains. Lots of properties get infestation and it has no reflection on you as the occupant. Builders will also do this work as pests will be a typical issue they have encountered during projects they are tasked with. Your local environmental health department may even have lists of tradespersons they approve of for such works, or you could set up an honest request on mybuilding or another website. If you remove all evidence of an infestation and conduct a deep clean, you may wish to hold off with tearing out the interior. If you get rid of the source of the problem, the smell may disappear. Do make sure you get a qualified person in to check any wiring or other cables you may have under the floorboards (say, underfloor heating) as rats are a terrible menace in the chewing department. Good luck!

Thanks for your reply - makes me feel better :-)