Building new, or refurbishing existing premises is an exciting time, but it can also attract unwanted visitors.
If you fail to be mindful of pests during each stage of your build/renovation works, you are potentially setting yourself up for problems at a later date.
Which is why it is imperative to make pest management a key component in your construction plans.
Why does a construction phase attract pests?
There are a number of reasons why building works attract pests. If it’s a completely new construction, works 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. That new location may well be your building, leaving you vulnerable to infestation.
It is certainly worth, therefore, instructing a pest controller during the planning stage of your build.
How a pest controller can support the build:
- Meet with you and your 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.
- Look at initial project plans and suggest proactive pest control solutions to be considered within the build.
- Assess pest activity in the area prior to construction to determine what preventive measures might be taken.
- Advice on any activities which may exacerbate a pest issue and how you can minimise such disruption.
It is advisable to continue working with your pest professional throughout the build process to ensure strategic, joined-up action against pests for the long term. Expect to pay for your contractor’s time and written reports/advice – it’s a good investment.
Typical activity might include:
- Setting bait traps around building materials and the exterior of your facility.
- Reminding workers to keep the construction site clean. Food, rubbish, and construction debris left behind can attract pests and should be disposed of daily.
- Ensuring internal plans have factored in potential pest hot spots. For example, is there is a way to remove the worktops which link together perfectly if we need to address a pest control problem in that area, or is it a case of ‘once they’re in, they’re in’? The cook line planned for the new, state of the art open plan kitchen…is that on wheels so it can be pulled out for a deep clean and regular inspections? And lastly, have plenty of access panels been included into wall, ceiling, and floor voids? Pests, especially rodents, just love such voids and will use them to travel around a site undetected, only to appear in a place that you really don’t want them to and at a time that you really don’t want either.
When building works are almost complete, we can ensure all the necessary preventative measures have been carried out to reduce the risk of pests going forward.
This type of attention to detail doesn’t stop once the site is finished though – it’s important to realise that any work that is carried out on the site that punctures a wall, floor or a ceiling will create an access point for pests, or a point that pests can travel through, so it’s important that these holes are robustly sealed whenever they are created.
The common-sense approach to pest control can be summarised as follows:
Exclusion – “proof” buildings to make sure that pests can’t get in (getting a professional pest controller involved in the build phase is integral to this strategy)
Restriction – if total exclusion cannot be achieved (i.e. the business is part of a much larger multi occupancy building) then, as a minimum, take proofing measures to keep pests out of food handling and public/staff areas
Destruction – if Exclusion and Restriction are not carried out and there is an existing pest problem then measures need to be taken to rid the premises of the pest – this often involves toxic chemicals or other lethal methods. This can be likened to “closing the door after the horse has bolted” because the proofing work should have been done beforehand but it’s widely understood that sometimes this is necessary.
This E.R.D approach is the bedrock of sensible pest control and is also the least toxic approach. It just makes sense!
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 customers in the years to come.
We take a professional and long-term view to pest control management in these situations and we guarantee that by taking such positive steps from the outset, you will have considerably less pest issues in the future.
