How are the small yards in Hayward walked?
A small yard with a fence on each side is a narrow rat route, and the walk follows the fence from the back gate to the house. Grease marks along the boards and a burrow at a post are the signs that a run is in use.
Sheds and garages at the back of small lots give rats cover, and the technician checks the gap under each door and the joint where the building meets the fence.
What about the older houses in the core?
Older houses in the core often have a crawl space or a raised foundation, and their porch and steps rest on the ground. The walk reads the sill, the porch joists and the step stringers for soil contact.
Eaves and soffits on the older houses are checked for gaps, because a roof rat can use them to reach the attic.
How do the hill-side lots differ?
The lots near the hills can have a slope behind the house, with a retaining wall or a planter that holds soil against the building. The walk checks the wall, the planter and the drainage, and it records any soil at the wood.
A hill-side lot can have more wild growth at the back fence, which gives rats cover. The report notes the growth and the distance from the house.
What should a Hayward caller have ready?
Have the street address ready so the report carries the right county, and ask for the licence holder’s name and the county registration when booking. Tell the technician about any animal kept at the back of the lot.
Clear the route to the garage and the back gate, and move any stored wood away from the walls.
Back gates and small yards
The back gate of a Hayward yard is often the weakest point on the lot, because it is opened daily and its base is worn. The walk checks the gate’s base and its latch, and the fence joint beside it.
A small yard with a planter and a shed can have all three features close together. The report records each one and the order in which the work is done.
Hayward has many lots of the same size, and the walk on each follows the same route, adjusted to the house. A homeowner who has had one visit can see the same route on the next and compare the findings with the earlier report.
The houses in Hayward’s core and its hill edges are different enough that one walk does not suit both. The technician adjusts the order of the walk to the house, and the report explains the adjustment.
Hayward’s bay-side streets can be damp at the foundation after the wet months. The walk reads the moisture and records it, so the homeowner can see whether a change to the grade or the drainage would help.
