Rodent Control in Stone Oak
Stone Oak is the big master-planned district north of Loop 1604, between Blanco Road on the west and US 281 on the east. It got going in 1985, and most homes date from the 1990s on. The houses are newer and tighter than the ones inside Loop 410, but the land around them is still rough in places. Lots back onto cedar, live oak and limestone, and the greenbelts run right behind the fence.
That mix means two kinds of calls. Roof rats get into attics on the big two-story homes. And on the brushy edges, pack rats build nests under decks, in sheds and around the AC pad.
Complicated Roofs, Small Gaps
A lot of Stone Oak homes have steep, chopped-up rooflines with several levels. Every place where a lower roof tucks under an upper wall leaves a seam, and builders don't always close them well. Roof rats find those spots. Add tall trees left standing during construction, and the rats have a way up.
Ask the tech to check the roof-to-wall flashing, the returns at the end of each eave, and the spot where the cable and AC lines go into the house. Most of the fix is exclusion work at the roofline.
The Greenbelt Behind the Fence
Brush and rock behind the house is home to woodrats, deer mice and the occasional roof rat. When they find a shed with an open gap, a deck with nothing underneath it, or a garage door that doesn't seal, they move closer. Keep a clear strip between the brush and your walls. Store firewood up off the ground and away from the house. Look under the deck now and then for a pile of sticks.
Our guide to pack rats on the brushy edges of town goes into more detail on what to look for.
- Stick and leaf nests under decks and in sheds
- Chewed wiring in cars or boats parked for a while
- Droppings along the garage wall near the side door
Landmarks and streets: Stone Oak Pkwy. · Loop 1604 · US 281 · Blanco Rd. · Wilderness Oak · Hardy Oak Blvd. (ZIP 78258)
Questions From This Part of Town
My house is new. How do rats get in?
Small construction gaps at roof seams, line sets and garage doors. New houses settle, and seals shrink in the heat.
Other parts of town: Alamo Heights, Olmos Park and Terrell Hills, Timberwood Park, Leon Valley, Castle Hills and Shavano Park, Medical Center, Windcrest, Live Oak and Universal City, Leon Springs and Fair Oaks Ranch, Beacon Hill and Five Points, South Side and the Missions.