Western Pest Services: Keep pests at bay before, during and after construction.
FM Strategies & Solutions from Building Operating Management

Western Pest Services
Keep pests at bay before, during and after construction.
Breaking ground on a new building or renovating an old building can be exciting. But if the right precautions aren’t taken, construction can also attract unwanted pest activity.
Construction sites are ideal habitats for pests because they often offer the three things pests need to thrive: food, water and shelter. Construction can also disrupt existing pest habitats, such as rodent borrows, and even introduce new pests to the property, which can be brought in on building materials.
To help prevent pest issues during construction and protect your facility in the long-run, build pest management into your construction plans and work with an experienced provider like Western Pest Services. Here are some tips for pest control throughout the process:

Before

1
Meet with your pest management provider and your contractor to form a plan.
2
Understand the geographic conditions of your construction-site. Selecting a location for your facility near a water source, for example, might create additional pest pressures.
3
Use pest monitors to assess pest populations in the surrounding area. Understanding which pest species will be a threat will help you determine what steps you need to take to deter them.
4
Properly grade the property so water flows away from the structure. Moisture attracts pests like mosquitoes and termites.

During

1
Use non-cellulose building materials to help deter termites. Consider applying a preventive termite barrier to the property and avoid all wood to ground contact.
2
Inspect all incoming raw materials for pests before exposing them to the construction site.
3
Remind workers to keep the construction site clean. Food, trash and wood debris left behind can attract pests and should be disposed of daily.
4
To avoid being the source of pest infestations for neighboring properties – and be a responsible builder – set out baits and traps around the property’s exterior. This tactic will also help prevent pests from returning once construction is complete.
5
When plumbing work is performed, keep pipe and drain lines closed when not immediately being worked on. American cockroaches and rats can become an issue if pipes are left open.

After

1
When it’s time to landscape, avoid plants that are attractive to pests such as fruit trees, flowering shrubs, ivy and other ground cover. Make sure trees and shrubs do not touch the side of your building. Trim branches back at least two feet from the building exterior.
2
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.
3
Use sodium vapor lights on the exterior of your building, which are less attractive to pests than fluorescent or incandescent lights.
4
Continue to work with your pest management professional on a regular basis. An ongoing Integrated Pest Management program can help keep pests away from your facility in the long-run.
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Information courtesy of Western Pest Services
 
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