Building With Pest-Resistant Materials
The best way to deal with pests and prevent them from becoming an issue is to start at the beginning. Using pest-resistant materials shouldn’t add a significant cost to the build but they will reduce the ongoing costs of pest control experts.
More importantly, they’ll stop pests from getting in and ruining your home or eating your food.
Even if your house is already built, you can make use of the following materials when completing alteration and extensions.
It’s also worth checking with your local pest control firm, click here to find out more about them. They can advise you regarding which pests you are most likely to be dealing with.
Composite Wood
This type of wood is made from recycled wood and plastics. The aim is to create a material that can’t be readily digested by termites, preventing them from eating your house. It’s effective at keeping termites away and is just as strong as traditional wood.
As a bonus its less likely to rot and you can even purchase this type of wood in a multitude of color options, helping you to create the perfect space, no matter where it is in your home.
Composite Plastic
This is similar to composite wood and is created from glass, carbon, and even basalt. It is normally used for fencing and even decking but there are many other possible applications when building.
The fact that its mold and mildew resistant and not attractive to rodents makes it a good covering for electrical wires, keeping them safe from the rodent’s teeth.
Brick, Concrete & Natural Stone
These heavy-duty building materials are not attractive to rodents, termites, or most other pests. Put simply they can’t chew their way through them and they can’t make homes in them.
They generally don’t attract moisture and are very effective at keeping termites out of your home.
The fact that they can also look good is a bonus!
Natural Pest Resistant Wood
You may be surprised to find that some wood is naturally pest resistant. Ipe is extremely hard and not attractive to pests. Many trees have oil in them which also repels pests. Other woods, such as cypress, yellow cedar, and redwoods are simply less appealing, making them a better option if you live in a termite area.
Treated wood
You can also use wood that has been treated with insecticides and preservatives.
The aim is to prevent rotting and fungal infection but it also makes the wood less attractive to pests, this makes it a great option for outdoor applications or even for your foundations.
Of course, using these materials does not guarantee that you won’t have a pest problem but it does reduce the risk. As with anything pest related, it’s important to visually inspect your house on a regular basis to ensure issues are found and dealt with before they become serious.
If you do discover an issue it is always worth speaking to the professionals, they can make sure any nest is destroyed, not just the visible issue.
