You’re not searching this because you want a biology lesson on mice. You’re probably thinking something closer to: “We’re about to start work. Is there anything we might uncover that turns this into a bigger problem?”

Fair question. And yes, rodents are one of the big ones.

A refurbishment often does not cause a rodent issue. It exposes one. Once you open up units, voids, service risers, ceiling tiles or boxing, the signs suddenly become obvious. HSE says refurbishment work is one of the situations more likely to involve biological hazards, including rat infestation and exposure to rat urine.

If you already suspect activity, the smartest move is to deal with it before the strip-out starts. That is exactly the kind of job Better Than The Pest handles through its Rodents, Mice & Rats service. Better Than The Pest’s own service page also makes clear that inspection, identifying entry points and rodent-proofing are part of the solution, not just trapping.

What are the main signs of rodents before a refurb?

Start with these:

• droppings in cupboards, voids or along edges

• scratching in walls, ceilings or under floors

• gnaw marks on packaging, timber, plastics or cables

• greasy smear marks on regular routes

• nests made from shredded paper, insulation or fabric

• a stale, ammonia-type smell in enclosed spaces

• gaps around pipes, vents, doors or drains that look just big enough to matter

BPCA lists droppings, smear marks, gnaw damage, nests and smell among the tell-tale signs of mice, while its rat advice highlights low-level entry points, especially around pipes, windows and basement areas.

Why do rodent signs get missed before a kitchen or office refurb?

Because most of the evidence is hidden in exactly the places nobody looks at until the project begins.

In a kitchen, that usually means:

• behind kickboards

• under units

• around boiler cupboards

• around pipe penetrations

• under sinks

• behind built-in appliances

In an office, it is more often:

• suspended ceilings

• risers

• floor voids

• tea points and staff kitchens

• storage cupboards

• under raised floors

• around service entries and plant areas

That pattern fits both HSE’s refurbishment-risk guidance and Better Than The Pest’s emphasis on inspecting entry points, nests, food sources and droppings before deciding what treatment and proofing are needed.

What do mouse droppings and rat signs actually look like?

This is where people start second-guessing themselves.

You find a few black bits in a cupboard and think, “Dust? Old crumbs? Something else?” Then you leave it. Then the joiner takes the units out and everyone realises it was rodents all along.

BPCA says mouse droppings are often black and roughly the size and shape of a grain of rice, and that fresh droppings are soft and moist. Midlothian Council gives similar guidance and says mice can produce around 80 to 120 droppings a day, which is why even a small infestation can leave a surprising amount of evidence.

Rats tend to leave larger droppings and heavier signs overall, but in real life the first clue is often not the droppings. It is the route. Smear marks, gnawed edges, disturbed insulation, or the same suspicious gap around a pipe that clearly has traffic. BPCA’s rat guidance says rats need only about a 15mm gap to gain entry. For mice, BPCA’s mouse guidance says they can squeeze through gaps of about 6mm.

So yes, that little hole around the pipe behind the dishwasher? It matters.

Where should you check before a kitchen refurbishment starts?

Right, let’s imagine the room is still intact and you want to do one decent check before anyone starts ripping things out.

Check under the sink first

Why there? Because you’ve got moisture, pipework, gaps, and usually a dark unused corner. Rodents love that combination. BPCA specifically advises focusing on low-level gaps first, especially around pipes.

Check kickboards and the backs of units

If you can remove a plinth or peer into gaps safely, do it. Mice in particular are often found behind kitchen units and near heating or boiler areas. BPCA lists common mouse signs under kitchen sinks and around central heating boilers.

Check food storage areas

Chewed packets, crumbs where there should not be crumbs, and droppings in the back corners of cupboards are classic signs. Better Than The Pest flags food contamination as one of the reasons rodent issues need serious attention.

Check the drain and service routes

Not glamorous, but important. NPTA notes that during building and refurbishment work, rodents can exploit unsealed pipe and conduit openings, and that damaged drains and pipes can give rats access into buildings.

What should office teams check before a refurb or fit-out?

Office rodent issues can be harder to spot because the evidence gets spread out.

You might not get obvious kitchen-cupboard droppings. What you get instead is the slower build-up:

• scratching above ceiling tiles

• signs around the staff kitchen or vending area

• movement around bin storage

• gnawed service penetrations in risers

• odd smells in locked cupboards or plant rooms

And then there’s the hygiene side. If the refurbishment touches food prep or canteen areas, the Food Standards Agency says premises must be kept clean, maintained and in good condition, allow good hygiene practices including pest control, and remove food waste quickly so it does not build up and attract pests. It also says openings to the outside should be designed to prevent dirt build-up, with insect-proof screens where appropriate.

So if you are refurbing an office kitchen, café space or staff welfare area, pest control is not some side issue. It sits directly alongside hygiene, waste handling and condition of the premises.

Should you start the refurbishment if you find droppings?

Honestly? Not until you know what you are dealing with.

A few old droppings in an unused cupboard might point to a previous issue. Fresh droppings, scratching, active routes or live nesting are different. HSE says work is considered higher risk where there is evidence of rat infestation, and that this is most likely during refurbishment or demolition work. It also advises controls like good hygiene, keeping breaks away from the work area, and covering cuts and abrasions.

That is why the sensible sequence is:

1. confirm whether the activity is current

2. treat the infestation properly

3. identify how they are getting in

4. proof the access points

5. only then close the space back up

NPTA makes the same broader point in its guidance on exclusion and proofing: sealing access points matters, but if rodents are already inside, you need a management plan first rather than just blocking the hole and hoping for the best.

What are the entry points people miss most often?

This is the bit I always think gets underestimated.

People look for a dramatic hole in the wall. Rodents usually do not need that.

The more common missed access points are:

• gaps around incoming pipes

• cable penetrations under units

• damaged air bricks or vents

• gaps beneath external doors

• broken drain covers or damaged drainage routes

• service risers that were never sealed properly

• voids behind boxing and bulkheads

BPCA says proofing should focus on low-level gaps first, while NPTA specifically calls out incomplete sealing around pipes and conduits during builds and refurbishments as a recurring access problem.

And here is the trap people fall into: “We’ll sort the proofing after the job.” Sometimes that is too late. If the access route is still open during the works, the site can stay active the whole way through.

The pre-refurb rodent checklist

Use this before any kitchen strip-out, office fit-out or internal refurbishment starts.

Check for signs

• Droppings

• Gnaw marks

• Smear marks

• Nests

• Scratching sounds

• Stale or ammonia smell

Check the likely hiding places

• Under sinks

• Behind kitchen kickboards

• Boiler cupboards

• Ceiling voids

• Floor voids

• Risers

• Staff kitchen areas

• Storage cupboards

Check the access points

• Pipes

• Cables

• Vents

• Doors

• Drains

• Damaged brickwork

• Unsealed service entries

If you find evidence

• Do not ignore it

• Do not just close the gap and hope

• Get the infestation assessed before the works open everything up further

That is where Better Than The Pest’s About page positioning actually fits well. They frame the business as property protection specialists, not just someone turning up with traps. On a refurbishment, that is exactly the mindset you want.

FAQs

What is the first sign of rodents before a refurbishment?

Usually droppings, scratching sounds, or gnaw damage. In kitchens, under-sink cupboards and behind kickboards are common first-hit areas. In offices, it is often ceiling voids, risers and staff kitchen spaces.

Can rodents delay a kitchen or office refurb?

Yes. Active infestations can hold up strip-out, contaminate food or welfare areas, and leave access points that need proofing before the space is finished. HSE highlights refurbishment as a higher-risk setting where rat-related hazards may be present.

Is it enough to seal the holes before the job starts?

Not always. NPTA says proofing is essential, but if rodents are already inside, access points should not just be sealed blindly without a proper management plan.

Who should I contact if I find signs before work starts?

If you want to get ahead of it before the refurb opens everything up, go straight to Better Than The Pest’s Contact page or their Rodents, Mice & Rats service.