What is Pest Proofing?

Rather than dealing with a pest infestation, we think it’s better to take steps to stop pests from getting into your home or business in the first place, and that’s where pest proofing comes in. Pest proofing can be as simple as sealing up a hole where mice are getting in or as comprehensive as laying non-toxic baits, traps, and using smart systems to prevent and control pests

So why would you consider pest proofing?

Pest proofing reduces the risk of a pest infestation in your home or business by stopping them from getting in. Most pests are looking for food and shelter, and homes and commercial buildings are a perfect haven for them.

Pests can damage property, cause serious illness and disease, and once there’s an infestation they can be very hard to eradicate.

Pest infestations are particularly serious for businesses that manufacture and pack food. Imagine the implications of an entire batch of product getting contaminated by pests or their droppings. Would your business recover easily from that?

This is why prevention is definitely better than cure.

Pest proofing: The legal side

If your company is involved in the production, packaging, or storage of food, The Food Safety Act 1990 and The Food Safety (General Food Hygiene) Regulations 1995 stipulate that you must take adequate measures to prevent pest infestation and contamination of your premises. Failure to do this can result in a pretty hefty fine of up to £20,000 and even a jail term. To stay on the right side of the law, a contract with a professional pest control company is always your best bet.

The main legal point to note as far as pest proofing and control measures go is that the use of toxic baits and chemicals to control pests in areas where food is produced or stored is prohibited. That’s why we would always use appropriate monitoring and non-toxic pest proofing and control measures in these areas. So forget putting down your own chemicals if you’re in this type of business!

Where it works

A comprehensive pest-proofing programme can work wonders for businesses and save you time and money (not to mention keeping you on the right side of the law!). New innovations like smart pest control systems can give you information on pest activity on your site 24/7, so if there’s ever a problem, you’ll be the first to know and you can deal with it right away.

Where it might not work

Professional pest proofing methods work in most cases and DIY methods you try at home can work, but the fact is, many pests, especially rodents, are determined creatures, and sometimes despite our best efforts, they’ll still get in through the tiniest of gaps in walls, pipes, and foundations.

What are the alternatives?

You can invest in traps, mesh, wire wool, and chemical repellents for your home to prevent and control pests. Some of these might work well, but we would generally advise against the use of chemicals if there are children and pets in the vicinity.

The pros:

Proper pest proofing can keep your business on the right side of the law. Pest professionals have the expertise and equipment to successfully prevent and eradicate pests in most cases.

The cons:

Proofing doesn’t work to prevent pests 100% of the time.

Some methods aren’t appropriate for some locations.

Can be an expensive undertaking, especially for smaller businesses. 

Costs:

Costs can vary greatly, as proofing a property against pests could be as simple as concreting a hole where mice are getting in, but commercial projects from one-off visits to ongoing projects can cost anything from £200 to several thousand pounds.

If you want to give the DIY option a go, a DIY pest control kit can cost as little as £10.