Construction Pest Control: Is Your Site Protected?

If you're working on a construction or renovation project, the last thing you want is to discover a pest infestation. Pest problems can be costly as work has to be halted until they are dealt with. Pests can also pose a health and safety risk on your site. Here's what you need to know about construction pest control.

What Type of Pests Get Onto Construction Sites?

Open wall voids. Rubble. Insulation. These are just some of the things on construction or renovation sites that are irresistible to pests. The most common pests you'll find on construction sites include;

Rodents

Rats and mice chew and wiring and insultation, and their urine and droppings contain some nasty pathogens that can cause illness.

Birds

Birds like crows, gulls, and pigeons love construction sites because there are plenty of places to roost. Birds carry a lot of diseases that can cause illness. Their droppings are acidic which can cause damage to structures and they are also very slippery.

Ants

Ants can cause a lot of damage on construction sites, especially a species called the carpenter ant. This ant nests in, and feeds on, wood which can result in expensive damage to structures and stored materials.

Construction Pest Control: Keeping Your Site Pest Free

Consult professional pest control

Before you begin your construction project, it's a good idea to get a pest management survey done. A pest management company will assess your site for pest types and pressures, review what your current plans are to manage pests (if any), and put together a pest prevention plan.

If there are existing pest problems, your chosen pest control company will be able to deal with them ahead of time before your project starts.

Focus on everyday pest control

Even if your site is pest free at the beginning of your project, it doesn't mean that it will stay that way. You need to stay vigilant. Make sure your site and work processes are set up with the aim that your site will stay free from pests by:

• Sealing up/blocking any potential entry points with mesh, weather stripping, or sandbags.
• Getting rid of any sources of standing water.
• Having a proper waste management plan in place-emptying bins every day, keeping the site clean, clearing away old or unwanted materials.
• Keeping materials like wiring and insulation sealed up so rodents can't get access to them.

Know the signs of infestation and call help in early

Even if you've kept on top of keeping your site clean, sealing up entry points, and following pest prevention advice, pests might still get in. Most pests are experts at hiding out and when they are on the look out for food and shelter, it can be hard to stop them getting in. That's why knowing the signs of infestation is one of your major weapons when it comes to construction pest control.

Common signs of pest infestation include;

Visible droppings or urine

Gnaw marks on wires, boxes, and stock

Dead or alive pests

Tracks or greasy marks on walls or anywhere a pest has travelled through

Signs of infestation will vary depending on the pest that's causing the issue, so it's important to get professional advice sooner rather than later.

Need Pest Control on Your Construction Site?

If you want to keep costs down on your construction project, it can be tempting to think you can skimp on pest control. Think again. One day your project might be ticking along then all of a sudden, there's a pest problem. Work is halted. Maybe workers experience a health problem due to an infestation. Or pests cause costly damage to your site or materials. It will cost you far more in the long run if you start your project without a pest management plan in place.