Making sure your house is in tip-top shape is one of the best ways to preserve or enhance its value. Home improvement includes doing projects such as adding a deck onto your home or fixing a window that leaks water. What many homeowners forget to improve is their home’s ability to keep household pests away. This is important, as pests can cause damage to your home and possessions, spread diseases to your family and pets, and they can possibly make you squeamish. Learn about common wildlife that could invade your home here and continue reading to learn some home improvement tips that will keep household pests away.
Be Sure Old Pests Are Gone
Before you begin your project of pest-proofing your home, you need to be sure that there are no existing household pests already there. Consider hiring a professional pest control expert to examine your home, as they will be able to identify any pre-existing problems you may have with insects, rodents, or any other nuisance animals. If there are any problems, this professional can remove the pests and install preventative measures to keep them out next time. They can also advise you about any potential problems you may encounter and will even install various preventive measures if you would like them to. Obviously, you will want to make sure existing pests are gone by hiring a pro to be sure you are not improving your home only to have pests already in it.
Fix the Attic
If you have had pests in your attic before, you might have some serious damage up there. Even if you have not had pests in your attic, there is a good chance your attic is not in great shape. If this is the case, you might be interested in attic restoration. Hiring a professional to restore your attic can save you a lot of money in the long run. Not only will attic restoration patch holes and fix openings, but they will also install quality insulation and improve the energy efficiency of your home. Attic restoration not only improves your home’s resistance to pest animals, but it also saves you money with your energy bill.
Patch Holes
One of the best home improvement steps you can take to pest-proof your home is to inspect your home for any gaps, holes, or cracks, and make sure that you seal them. Look all over your home. Examine the exterior and interior of your home. Look in the attic, along your roof, along the walls, the foundation of your home, and along doors and windows. If you find any holes, gaps, or cracks that are concerning, there are a few ways you can go about fixing them. One of the easiest and most useful repair methods is to simply put all-weather sealant in the problem area. Another way you can fix larger gaps is by installing thin sheet metal over the problem area. If there are any holes or gaps where pipes enter your home, be sure to put steel wool around them, as rodents hate the feeling of steel wool.
Improve Your Yard
If you are trying to pest-proof your home, do not overlook your yard. One of the easiest and cheapest ways to improve your home’s ability to keep household pests out is to simply clean up your yard. Get rid of any woodpiles, tall grass or weeds, or any messy brick piles. These places attract raccoons, opossums, skunks, rodents, and snakes onto your property, and potentially into your home. Secure any dog food and trash you have, as this can attract all kinds of pests near your home. Also, be sure to pick up any fruit that has fallen from trees in your yard.
Fix Doors and Windows
Small household pests, such as rodents and insects, can gain access into your home through windows and doors. If your windows or doors are not closing tightly, there may be enough room for mice or bugs to squeeze in. Weatherproof strips eventually go bad on doors and windows, and these are often what can cause a loose seal. These are easily replaced and not only bar entrance for insects, but they also help improve your home’s energy efficiency, as less air gets through. Finally, another way you can repair your doors and windows is to replace the screens, so that when your window is open and bringing in a breeze, pest insects won’t be able to get in as well.
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