Four Ways To Keep Pests Away From Your Home's Foundation
Pests that get into your home via your home's foundation can be persistent and hard to keep away, but there are several steps you can take to keep them away. With the help of a professional, you can deter pests from encroaching on your home and causing any damage.
Keep It Clear
Many pests will seek homes that provide shelter and food, and they'll find this in places like secluded and shaded areas or areas that have plenty of plant growth or decaying wood. Keeping the perimeter of your home clear of as much debris as possible is a great way to start deterring pests from getting too close. If you have wood piles, anything leaning against your house, or weed growth, clear away as much as you can. The farther pests have to travel across unsafe ground to get to your house, the less tempting a target it will be for them.
Keep It Dry
Many harmful pests also thrive in moist environments, which they can commonly find in damp soil. Keeping the area clear will already help this issue, as exposed and clear soil will dry up faster than anything covered with debris or plant growth, but you can take additional steps such as diverting any gutter downspouts away from problem areas or taking care of any leveling issues that might cause water to pool in certain areas.
Have It Sealed
No foundation is completely pest-proof, but you can make it much more difficult for creatures to get in or under it by asking a professional to inspect and seal off any cracks or gaps. A pest control specialist will be able to make recommendations as to what repairs might be necessary and what parts of your foundation need the most attention. This can include cracks in concrete, but it can also include soil surrounding your house; if not taken care of, burrowing pests can loosen dirt under concrete and create potential structural risks, so properly sealing off the perimeter of your property where soil meets concrete around sidewalks and patios is also very important.
Have It Treated
Pest control specialists can also offer broad and specific treatments for your pest issues. One method they might use is treating the soil surrounding your home with something like diatomaceous earth, which is harmful to insects but generally safer for pets and humans than pesticides. They may also use chemicals nearer the actual foundation of your home, which can prevent pests from working their way underneath or crawling up your outside walls.
What treatment will work best will depend on the way your home is built, the kind of pests you're dealing with, and potentially other factors. Some treatments may require follow-up visits and repeat applications. A specialist will be able to choose what's best to keep pests away, and if necessary, take care of any that are already inside.
Contact a pest control company to learn more.
