Questions and answers

How do you build a barrier to keep bugs out?

How do you build a barrier to keep bugs out?

One type of physical barrier blocks openings into your home. Caulk around windows (especially basement windows), seal cracks around crawl space or attic vents, and replace worn weatherstripping around doors. These actions not only keep bugs out, but also reduce energy bills.

What are the tiny bugs on my foundation?

PillBugs. Commonly referred to as “rolly pollies” by children, pillbugs are the creepy crawlies that roll up into a ball when touched. They prefer to live in moist underground areas, so they are often found in and around home foundations. Interestingly enough, pillbugs are crustaceans – not insects.

How do pier and beam foundations prevent termites?

Get new termite guards around the piers. Because a pier and beam foundation has wood, it’s vulnerable to termites. It’s even more vulnerable because of its proximity to the soil. But installing termite guard around the piers can stop the tiny insects from tunneling up through the concrete supports in search of wood.

What kind of bugs eat concrete?

They belong to the genus Balaustium (family Erythraeidae) and are commonly called concrete mites owing to the locations where they tend to congregate. Concrete mites are predaceous and eat other mites as well as small insects.

What does every bug hate?

Before you reach for the chemical-laden bug spray and store-bought insect repellents, there’s a natural solution you can try—peppermint. Insects hate peppermint. In fact, the stick bug uses a milky substance it can emit from behind its head that fills the air with the scent of peppermint.

What are the tiny black bugs on my concrete?

Getting the Jump on Springtails Close-up of springtail on concrete. Springtails are tiny, gray jumping insects. They may appear in large numbers on damp concrete or other areas where there is ample moisture, such as bathrooms. They usually live in soil, but may invade homes when outdoor conditions become too dry.

How do you insulate under the house on a pier and beam?

One option is to hire a professional to spray foam insulation underneath the floorboards. The foam spray is applied in the space between the joists, or vertical beams, and then expands to completely fill the area as it slowly dries.

What can you spray on wood to prevent termites?

Use Borate Spraying borate onto any wood prior to priming and painting is an excellent way to prevent termites, carpenter ants, and some wood destroying fungi from attacking your house. Products like Bora-Care are simple to apply, you just dilute with water and spray on any wood you want to keep termites off of.

What bug makes holes in concrete?

Pavement ants enter homes and buildings through expansion joints, cracks in the building’s concrete slab, weep holes, gaps, sub-slab heating ducts, around waste pipes, bathroom traps, and other small openings. Pavement ants can also follow trails as far as 30 feet when they’re searching for food.

Do insects damage concrete?

This has led many homeowners to believe that the hordes of tiny, wriggling insects have the ability to tunnel through and digest concrete, a material that’s supposed to be pest-proof. Although there’s almost no truth to this fact, your house’s foundation can actually be an entryway for termites.

Do You need A post and pier foundation repair?

In Spite of all the pros of having a post and pier foundation, the fact that it’s built using wood makes it prone to damages. You should be on the lookout for certain signs of post and pier damage in order to prevent serious damage.

What are the common problems with Pier and beam foundations?

( 1) Sagging floors and shifting beams .When your structure is sinking or settling, all kinds of problems develop. One solution: Install shims, piers and foundation supports. (2) Tilting piers and building issues. This can contribute to foundation failure because it can cause your beams to move. One good solution: Stabilize all foundation piers.

What to do if your foundation is tilting?

One solution: Install shims, piers and foundation supports. (2) Tilting piers and building issues. This can contribute to foundation failure because it can cause your beams to move. One good solution: Stabilize all foundation piers. (3) Concrete piers are collapsing.

What’s the best way to stabilize a foundation?

One good solution: Stabilize all foundation piers. (3) Concrete piers are collapsing. This will make your foundation uneven and cause cracking in beams and your foundation. One solution: Adjust concrete piers to stabilize your structure. (3) Cracking exterior piers.