How Simple Home Improvement Projects Can Keep Pests Out

Pest control is often difficult and time-consuming, which is why many homeowners choose to ignore it. However, you can prevent pest infestations while beautifying your home through home improvement projects. Prevent your home from needing a termite inspection or other costly pest control procedure by attempting some of these simple home improvement projects:

Building Better Baseboards

Ever notice that the exterminator always sprays around the edges and corners of the room first? This is because there are gaps there. While you might not see them in the corners of walls, they exist nonetheless and serve as hiding places for critters.

The baseboard around your floors is a great place for pests to enter your home, which is why you may want to replace yours if it’s old or damaged. When installing a new baseboard, you can keep bugs like crickets and roaches out by using a flexible inorganic joint compound in the cracks. The compound’s flexibility will ensure that the seal won’t crack as the house settles in, deterring pests in the future. 

Sealing Cellars and Basement Joints

Many homeowners who have high energy bills can reduce this expense by resealing their basement. This will ensure that your basement isn’t leaking air or accumulating moisture. Basement seal kits are easy for novices to use and they're relatively inexpensive. Using a sealant can prevent termites from entering your home and causing major structural damage.

  

Siding Installations

Installing new siding on your home is an excellent way to improve energy efficiency, but it's also good for keeping insects out. This is especially true when you cover up the soffit areas under roof overhangs. These spaces are often more susceptible to termite intrusion, being as they are less weather-ready. A good aluminum or vinyl siding job complete with vented soffits is the best way to protect these areas from stray termites, wasps, and other destructive burrowing insects.

Landscape Design

Another big issue determining how well your termite inspection goes is how susceptible your yard is to infestation. If there are a lot of dead trees on the property close to your house, it's more likely that termites will migrate inside. However, trimming shrubbery and removing dead trees can prevent termites from gaining access to your house. Keeping firewood 15-20 feet away is another preventative measure.

Termites and rodents are attracted to moisture. When landscaping your home, make sure to keep the mulch beds near your house low so that they don’t retain as much water. As a general rule, leave a 6-inch gap between the side of the house and the edge of the mulch. This makes it easier for the exterminator to see termite tracks. Employing just a few landscaping efforts can keep your property clear and termite-free.

Before hiring an exterminator, try some of these home improvement projects. Not only will they make your home less vulnerable to pest attacks, but they will improve its value. If you’re home improvement efforts fail to rid your home of pests, you’ll need to contact a reputable pest control company so that the pests don’t cause further damage to your home.