Fighting off pests in an area where they are already established can seem like a losing battle. It is easy to consider giving in and let them be. However, leaving pests alone has a number of repercussions, including home damage, allergies, and diseases. While it is possible to eliminate pests from a building, it can be a tough and lengthy process. That is why building designers are encouraged to ensure that pests do not get into the structure in the first place. Such a building minimizes not only pest issues but also the need for aggressive pest control in Salt Lake City or other metropolitan areas. In line with this, here are the various aspects of building design that can help control pests. These guidelines can also be found on the website of the Department of Environment.
Pest Pressure
Pest control professionals and anyone else involved in the building design process should have a thorough knowledge of pest species in the area. This information is already available in the local universities and pest experts, so there is no need for doing the research all over again.
Physical Context of the Building
The built environment plays a huge role in the proliferation of pests, or lack of it. For instance, buildings in Manhattan have never had a problem with rats. The building team at any place must focus on the context and enhance mitigation efforts appropriately.
Ease of Inspection
Effective pest management does not have room for funny philosophies like ignoring what you do not know. Pest control becomes stressful if the building has blocked drains, hidden meter boxes, forgotten kitchens, and so on. Enhance pest prevention by incorporating in the design important components, such as false ceilings and foundation access.
Pest Resistant Building Materials
Pest resistant materials are effective in not only preventing the entry of pests but also in making it unbearable for them to stay in case they manage to enter. It is important to choose these materials carefully, knowing that the level of resistance varies. Some are 100% effective, while some give just a small amount of resistance. Popular materials include treated woods, aluminum siding, and fiber cement siding.
Moisture Management
Every professional builder should try as much as possible to keep moisture away from the building. Moisture is a trigger of many issues, including pest infestation and material decay. Some of the pests that find solace in moisture-ridden structures include millipedes, cockroaches, and flies. Minimize moisture in the building by using slopes, good gutter systems, vapor barriers, and proper ventilation.
The arguments in this guide can be taken to mean that pest management professionals will no longer be important. But that's far from the truth. Most people will agree that as long as people live in buildings, the issue of pest infestation will never go away. Integrated pest management (IPM) promotes the science aspect of the trade so that the firefighting mentality can be forgotten. Pest management professionals will be at the center of the building design process. That is all about designing a building with pest prevention in mind.
