Remodeling can be a very exciting time in the life of homeowners, as you are finally getting those new cabinets, new windows, or an addition like you wanted. As exciting as remodeling can be, it can also be stressful, particularly when you begin dealing with pest animals during the remodeling process. While pests can throw a hiccup into the remodeling process, they can be easily remedied with several different tips. Continue reading to find out more about how to pest-proof your home during the remodeling process.
Seal It Up
Arguably the most effective way to pest-proof your home while remodeling is to simply make sure that no animals have entry points into any part of your home. For different homes and projects, this might mean different methods of sealing up spaces. For some applications, particularly when a wall or door is allowing access to the outdoors, some tough plastic sheeting taped very well should do the trick. It might be surprising, but this will usually deter even larger animals, such as raccoons. If you are roofing your home, your best bet is to check the attic of your home and look for any entry points, no matter how small. If you see any, be sure to seal them with all-weather sealant, aluminum sheeting, or new lumber. In addition to checking the new construction areas, also be sure to check the whole house for any gaps, cracks, or holes, because rats, mice, and bats can gain access into seemingly impossible areas. Seal these areas with all-weather sealant, steel wool, or aluminum sheeting if you have to. Regardless of what you have to do to maintain a secure barrier between your home and the outside, it is hands-down the best way to pest-proof while remodeling your home.
Clean Up
It might be shocking, but often the only reason pest animals want to come into homes and onto properties is because there is something food-related that attracts them. The easiest way to fix this is to make sure that all trash is secured, as well as any pet food lying around. If you have a woodpile or tall grass in your yard, removing them will more than likely decrease your home’s attractiveness to pest animals. While cleaning up the outside helps a ton, so does cleaning up the inside. Wherever your home is being remodeled, be sure to clean up any food or trash that has been left out. Make sure that every entrance is sealed and just be sure to keep a clean home and yard, as most nuisance wildlife thrives in highly cluttered areas.
Repellents
While most marketed repellents generally do not work very well for deterring pest animals, there are some that are highly effective. If you have had good success with certain products in the past, by all means, use them. However, if you are looking to try some new repellent strategies, do not discount essential oils. Spearmint, peppermint, and a couple of other essential oils mixed with water in a spray bottle can really prevent critters from entering your home. Simply spraying any exterior entry points or any problem spots with this spray can usually prevent rats and mice at the very least from coming into your home. If you are looking for a repellent that keeps more animals away, be sure to try the same method, only using hot peppers instead of essential oils. Mix it in a spray bottle with water, and it should be more than effective at keeping nuisance critters away. If these repellents still don’t seem to do the trick, find a professional wildlife control company like A+ Animal Solutions for help.
Set Some Traps
Since remodeling is generally a time-consuming process, there will likely be opportunities for pest animals to get into your home no matter how hard you try to keep them out. Since this is the case, it is important to have some traps set just in case. One of the best all-purpose traps for smaller pests is the glue trap. A glue trap set along the edge of a wall near a likely entry point can be all that is needed to prevent a mouse, rat, snake, or insect infestation in your home. If you are more worried about larger animals as well, a cage trap is an excellent choice. These traps can catch raccoons, squirrels, groundhogs, skunks, opossums, and many other animals. At the end of the day, setting traps is a great strategy to fall back on.