How can you prevent pests from entering a building during renovation or construction?

• A. Schedule treatments to minimize disturbance
• B. Leave doors open
• C. Seal entry points, install barriers, maintain sanitation, and schedule treatments to minimize disturbance
• D. Use only interior traps

Answer: (C)

During renovation or construction, the key idea is to block pest access before they can get inside and keep attracting conditions from developing. The best approach combines exclusion, barriers, sanitation, and well-timed pest control to prevent entry and harborage.

Sealing entry points is essential. Close gaps around doors and windows, seal cracks in walls, seal around pipes and utility penetrations, and repair any openings that pests could use. Installing barriers like door sweeps, temporary screens, and other physical enclosures adds an extra layer of protection to keep pests from slipping in as work happens.

Maintaining sanitation on the site matters just as much. Remove trash promptly, keep food and packaging sealed, store materials off the ground, and minimize clutter and standing water where pests could hide and breed. A clean, orderly site discourages pest problems from taking hold during construction.

Plan pest control activities to minimize disruption and exposure to workers and materials. Use targeted, least-toxic methods when possible and schedule applications during times that fit with construction activity, ensuring safety and effectiveness.

Together, these measures create an effective barrier against pest entry, unlike approaches that rely only on interior traps or on treatments after pests have already entered.