How to Build Pest Control into Construction and Renovation Projects

by Jennifer Brumfield, Training and Technical Specialist, Western Pest Services

Did you know that if you aren’t careful, you can literally build pests into your establishment? That’s why whether you’re renovating an existing space or building a new one, it’s important to include pest management in your construction plans. Construction can cause pest issues for a variety of reasons. New construction can disturb pests from their natural habitat and force them to search for a new location that provides shelter, water, and food – all necessary for their survival. If that new location is your building, it can lead to serious problems. Renovation projects can disrupt the sanitation and maintenance programs you’ve worked so hard to put in place, leaving you vulnerable to infestation.

Not only are pests unsightly and a nuisance, but they can pose serious threats to the health and safety of your residents. Cockroaches reproduce quickly and can spread disease, contaminate food, and even cause allergies. Rats and mice can carry several diseases and may also cause structural damage within a facility. Rodents love to gnaw on whatever they can sink their teeth into – wood, paper, dry wall, wires – all available in abundant quantities during construction. Due to their poor eyesight, they frequently mistake the wiring on electrical equipment for plant roots.

Then there are termites, infamously known for causing extensive structural damage if left undetected and untreated, which happens all too frequently– hence their nick name, “the silent destroyer.”

Laying the Foundation

It’s important to start the construction process with a plan in place to help keep pests from negatively impacting your project and your property in the long-run. Before construction starts, make sure that you do the following:

• Meet with your pest management professional and contractor to discuss how to incorporate pest management into the process. It’s important for both individuals to be on the same page and work as a team.
• Assess pest activity in the area prior to construction to determine what preventive measures should be taken to help reduce pest pressures.
• Select non-cellulose building materials to help prevent termites, perform a termite pretreatment during construction and avoid all wood-to-ground contact.
• Inspect all incoming raw materials for pests before exposing them to the construction site.

The Proper Framework

Once you have a plan in place, the real work can begin. As the constructions starts and your property opens itself up to becoming more vulnerable to pests, follow these tips to stay vigilant and keep pests out:

• Have your pest management professional set out bait traps around building materials and the exterior of your facility. This step will not only stop fleeing pests from moving somewhere else – including next door – but it will also protect your new construction from pests circling back looking for a new home.
• Properly grade the property so water flows away from the structure. Moisture attracts pests like mosquitoes and termites.
• Remind workers to keep the construction site clean. Food, trash and wood debris left behind can attract pests and should be disposed of daily.
• When it’s time to landscape, avoid plants that are attractive to pests such as fruit trees, flowering shrubs, ivy, and other ground cover.

The Finishing Touches

Once the building structure or renovation is complete and you’ve made sure to not let any pests in, there are additional measures that you can take to keep pests out. Work with your pest management professional to incorporate these tips to avoid future pest infestations:

• Install sodium vapor lights, which are less attractive to flying pests in outside areas than mercury vapor or fluorescent lights.
• Ensure all doors and windows are flush against frames and install weather stripping so smaller pests cannot squeeze their way into your building.
• Consider installing a half-meter gravel strip around the building. Rodents do not like to be out in the open so this will provide a no-cover zone. Also, the gravel creates a rough terrain for insects to traverse.
• Keep plants at least two feet away from the building as they can promote excessive moisture and hide pest activity. Branches that touch the side of the building can create a bridge for pests into your building.
• Last, but certainly not least, work with your pest management professional to continue to educate your staff on proactive, daily sanitation techniques.

With pest management as a top priority from start to finish during your construction or renovation process, you can protect your investment from pests and build a solid reputation with renters in the years to come.

Jennifer Brumfield is a Training and Technical Specialist and Board Certified entomologist for Western Pest Services, a New Jersey-based pest management company serving businesses and homeowners in major Northeastern markets.