In Chambly, on the South Shore of Montreal, the management of a residence for independent seniors, whose facilities adjoin the waterfront of the Richelieu basin not far from Carignan, contacted our team to deal with a recurring problem of mouse infiltration in the corridors and common rooms. The proximity to the river and surrounding green spaces creates a reservoir of wild rodents that is particularly active in the fall, when temperatures drop and animals seek warm shelter. Our specialized caulking approach has been adapted to the imperatives of a care environment where the safety and comfort of residents are a priority.
Special constraints of a congregate living environment
A seniors’ residence poses specific constraints for exclusion work: the spaces are permanently occupied, residents often have an increased sensitivity to odours and dust, and the work must be planned so as not to disrupt care routines. Our technician carried out a complete inspection outside of working hours, in consultation with the management. The building, built of brick and concrete in the 1980s, had numerous cracks in the mortar joints between the bricks, unsealed cable passages in the technical corridors, and crawl spaces accessible from several service rooms.
Inspection of the exterior surroundings revealed that ornamental bushes planted near the foundation created an ideal ground cover for rodents, and that several manhole covers had worn joints. The expansion joints between the building’s extensions (built at different times) had never been revised and provided circulation corridors for mice in the load-bearing walls.
Sealing techniques suitable for institutional buildings
The work was carried out section by section, starting with the least frequented areas. The degraded mortar joints between the bricks were mechanically scraped to a sufficient depth and then relined with frost-resistant grouting mortar. This operation, called repointing, restores both the waterproofness and the aesthetics of the façade. The expansion joints between the building sections were cleaned and filled with an elastomeric polyurethane sealant capable of adapting to the seasonal movements of the structure without cracking.
In the technical corridors, the cable penetrations were treated with ULC-certified fire-rated sleeves that simultaneously ensure pest exclusion and compliance with fire compartmentalization requirements, in accordance with the National Building Code. The crawl spaces were inspected and the connections to the outside were closed with six-millimetre galvanised steel mesh, fixed on treated wood frames. For a thorough check of the airtightness of underground plumbing, a smoke test on drainage systems has been recommended, as rodents can come up through faulty siphons that are not maintained.
Preventive Management Plan for Collective Residences
Following the work, an annual preventive management plan was established with management, including an inspection of the envelope each fall and a verification of the screens and weirs in the spring after the freeze-thaw cycles. Maintenance staff have been trained to recognize early signs of activity (droppings, snacking, nighttime noises) and to report any abnormalities quickly. The exterior surroundings have also been landscaped: ornamental bushes close to the walls have been pruned to leave at least 50 centimetres of free space between the foliage and the façade, eliminating the vegetation cover used by rodents to discreetly approach the foundations. Defective manhole covers were replaced with cast iron models with gaskets. These exterior developments effectively complement the interior closure work and reduce the pressure exerted by local wildlife on the building envelope. An integrated prevention plan helps to maintain a healthy environment in the long term. Our extermination team in Chambly remains available for quick interventions in this type of establishment. Consult our caulking in collective buildings for a similar example. With Nova Extermination, each living environment receives rigorous and respectful attention from the occupants, with sustainable solutions at every stage.