What is Pest Proofing?

 

Pest Proofing is the home science of sealing all entry points insects and other pest can use to enter your home to eliminate their presence for good. Here at Offset we provide all of our customer with a free Inspection on how we can improve your home from its compromised entry points. A few techniques we use to remedy these situations consist of the following:

 

 

Install door sweeps or thresholds at the base of all exterior entry doors. While lying on the floor, check for light filtering under doors. Gaps of 1/16 inch or less will permit entry of insects and spiders; 1/4 inch-wide gaps (the diameter of a pencil) are large enough for entry of mice; 1/2 inch gaps are adequate for rats. Pay particular attention to the bottom corners as this is often where rodents and insects enter.  Apply caulk (see #3 below) along bottom outside edge and sides of door thresholds to exclude ants and other small insects. Garage doors should be fitted with a bottom seal constructed of rubber (vinyl seals poorly in cold weather). Gaps under sliding glass doors can be sealed by lining the bottom track with 1/2 to 3/4 inch-wide foam weatherstripping. 

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1. Seal utility openings where pipes and wires enter the foundation and siding, e.g., around outdoor faucets, receptacles, gas meters, clothes dryer vents, and telephone/cable TV wires. These are common entry points for such pests as rodents, ants, spiders and yellow-jackets. Holes will be plugged with caulk, cement, urethane expandable foam, steel wool or other suitable sealant.

2. Caulk cracks around windows, doors, fascia boards, etc. Use a Commercial grade silicone or acrylic latex caulk. Although somewhat less flexible than pure silicone, latex- type caulks clean up easily with water and are paintable. Caulks that dry clear are often easier to use than pigmented caulks since they don't show mistakes. 

3. Repair gaps and tears in window and door screens. Doing so will help reduce entry of flies, gnats, mosquitoes and midges during summer, and cluster flies, lady beetles, and other overwintering pests in early fall. Certain insects, in particular leafhoppers and hackberry psyllids, are small enough to fit through standard mesh window screen. One way to deny entry to these tiny insects is to keep windows closed during periods of adult emergence.

4. Install 1/4-inch wire mesh (hardware cloth) over attic, roof, and crawl space vents in order to prevent entry of birds, bats, squirrels, rodents, and other wildlife. Installing a chimney cap to exclude birds, squirrels, raccoons and other nuisance wildlife.