Home improvement permits are at an all-time high throughout the neighborhood, as Elmhurst homeowners continue to put more money than ever back into their homes. Even though remodeling kitchens, adding basement finishing, and second-story additions increase home values, these exact same projects have an unexpected negative consequence – dislocated pests in search of shelter.
So rodents, roaches, and other intruders will not vanish into thin air when their den is destroyed. Instead, they move into neighbouring homes and businesses, extending the pest infestation across blocks that were once clear of these annoying insects.
Even if you are not the one upping your property value, professional pest control becomes a necessity when construction activity ramps up in your area.
Elmhurst’s Specific Construction Hot Spots
- Queens Boulevard Corridor Redevelopment
This stretch is now an epicenter of commercial and residential development along Queens Boulevard. Multiple storefront renovations are occurring at once, and the commotion is causing the pests to poke their heads into nearby restaurants and retail stores. However, property owners in the area have stated that this has led to an increase in the number of pests at night, after construction crews leave for the day.
- Grand Avenue Historic Home Renovations
New homeowners are restoring and updating Grand Avenue’s historic pre-war homes. When disturbed, these pests do not simply go away; they move on to neighboring properties via shared walls or openings in the foundation.
- Woodhaven Boulevard Mixed-Use Projects
They are now home to new mixed-use buildings along Woodhaven Boulevard. This is most problematic during the demolition phase, which removes established pest habitats, driving rats and mice into neighboring structures for shelter. Those who stagger within three blocks of this residence have observed that the appearance of construction often coincides with the parade of pests.
- Broadway Brownstone Conversions
Brownstones on Broadway convert to multi-family units after an extensive process of interior gutting. Such programs may run six months or longer, maintaining pressure on nearby properties. The perpetual vibration and the sound push pests through the connected basements and common courtyards.
Why Construction Drives Pest Migration in Elmhurst
Commercial construction does not kill the pest. It leaves them homeless and desperate. So this is what happens when a renovation crew pulls out the hammers inside an Elmhurst property.
It starts with the destruction of its habitat. Rodents and cockroaches establish their colonies in the wall cavities, the crawl spaces, and below the old flooring, where they are undisturbed.
Construction is the ultimate pest-ridding operation; when workers tear into these areas, they destroy a number of food sources, nesting spots , and a sense of security for pests. They then immediately look for new spots to be close to.
Some of the essential drivers of pest displacement are as follows:
- Vibration and noise pollution — The constant disturbance created by power tools and heavy machinery drives most pests out of the area, as they can no longer reside in their current location.
- Disruption of sustenance — Listen to the sound of destruction dragging away the crumbs, grease, and moisture that fuel pest populations
- Structural openings — Construction temporarily breaches walls and foundations, and pests saunter right out
- Debris piles — Construction materials and garbage act as a temporary refuge, giving pests a base for launching their move to neighboring buildings
The Right Solution For Elmhurst Property Owners
Dealing with pest displacement due to construction requires more than mere pest control. Property owners now have a provider who knows exactly the unique construction patterns and building types of Elmhurst.
Local residents and business owners have been dealing with increased pest pressures due to nearby renovation projects, and Pointe Pest Control has been there to help. Rather than just catching them with a treatment after an infestation has formed, they mold food and pest plans around producing protection before the arrival of pests. The technicians survey properties next to construction sites, finding entry points that can be exploited by insects.