Pest Control for Construction Projects

DURING

“With that said, meet with your pest management professional and contractor to discuss why pest management is important during the process and make sure everyone is on the same page about how it will be carried out,” Scott described.

Construction can be the cause of pest issues for a number of reasons. When construction begins, it can disrupt a pest’s current habitat. This disruption can force them to find shelter elsewhere, including within or around building materials such as wood, or at neighboring buildings.

To prevent your construction from being the source of pest infestations for neighboring properties, and, not to mention, to be a responsible builder, work with your pest management professional to set out baits and traps around the property’s exterior.

This tactic will also help prevent pests from returning once construction is complete.

Construction can also disrupt the sanitation and maintenance programs that are already in place at your facility, which is why it’s important to keep the construction site as clean as possible throughout the entire process. Make sure all workers are aware that food and trash left behind can attract pests, and should be disposed of daily.

In addition to keeping the site debris-free, work with your pest management professional to inspect all incoming raw materials for signs of pests before bringing them onto the site.

AFTER

When construction starts to wrap-up, don’t forget about these finishing touches that can play a role in pest prevention:

• Work with an HVAC professional to ensure you have positive airflow in the building, so pests are pushed out of entrances instead of pulled in.
• Install air curtains at entrances to deter flying insects from entering.
• Use sodium vapor lights on the exterior of your building, which are less attractive than fluorescent or incandescent lights.
• Make sure trees and shrubs do not touch the side of your building.

Trim branches back at least two feet from the building exterior. When landscaping, also keep in mind that certain plants are more attractive to pests than others. For example, flowering shrubs are most attractive to stinging insects, while ivy, pachysandra and similar ground covers will attract rodents.

Once construction is complete, continue to work with your pest management professional on a regular basis. An ongoing Integrated Pest Management program for your buildings will help keep pests and the threats they pose from building a home or in your facility.

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