Is it better to spray before renovation or after? What is the best product to do the job myself?
By Sam
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Having done several renos of infested properties, I feel like an old pro, lol!
I'd spray first, use something like liquid Sevin and be liberal. Make sure to follow the directions to the letter. If at all possible, spray two-three days ahead of the scheduled demolition day to avoid being swarmed by fleeing creepies, and be sure to spread a good band on the perimeter of your demo area so they can't flee the spray and then creep back in when the spray dries. Wet spray kills on contact, dry spray takes a few more hours. Your demolition crew will thank you for not having to cope with the horror of swarming roaches.
Very important: be sure that you and your crew wear properly fitted face masks and other protective gear as dead roaches spread disease every bit as much as live ones. Oh eeww!
Then after the reno is complete, spray again to keep the roaches hiding temporarily in the shrubs from re-infesting the nice new tasty reno materials you've just installed. Again, make sure to lay down a wide perimeter band, this time to keep the little rotters out.
Re the boric acid, I have used it as a indoor perimeter shield at baseboards and in cabinets. It works great and is inexpensive but takes time, and does need to be applied where children, pets, and foods are not exposed to it. One of the reasons I like the liquid Sevin is that once it dries it's not as dangerous to children and pets.
Anything you use to kill cockroaches is a poison-to you and the roaches, though, never forget that for a moment whilst handling it and planning where to apply it.
I have used boric acid before, but it seems the roaches eventually come back. Especially if you live close to a wooded area or have neighbors that use an extermination service. The best thing I have found is Combat gel. It comes in a syringe type tube and leaves a thin line of the product. Roaches eat it, then return to the nesting site. They die. Then others eat them and they die. It usually takes 3-4 days. After 7 years, I have had no returns.
I would make one suggestion, but it is not a spray. Boric Acid. Inexpensive and easy to put into place. You can purchase it at the dollar store and most retail stores or use "20 mule team." Boric acid is a dust. Place between all studs (it is a dry powder) and anyplace you can reach place a dusting can reach like on the floor where the studs are connected and on top plate aka any horizontal area where the dust will stay in place including any holes where piping - electric, plumbing, gas lines etc. Spray the boric acid in these openings. It will not do any damage to the item it is laid on.
When the insects walk over the boric acid it somehow damages either their nervous system or circulation. It will kill them without hurting us in any way :) For those of us who want to place the boric acid in the walls after the drywall is in place just remove electrical covers and spray it into the openings of the electric box and it fall to the floor. I have "opened" walls literally 20 years after placing the boric acid down and dead insects where dead wherever the boric acid is.
Other places to place the boric acid is in the corners of cabinets, like kitchen cabinets, and under the stove, behind washers, dryers, and any other reachable place. I pulled out my stove to replace it and after 10 years of boric acid placement I found dead cockroaches.
As for me Boric acid is cheap and does a fantastic job of killing insects. As for me I would place the boric acid before the remodel or construction is complete. It will not interfere with the construction workers. Nor any animals you may have. Your thought as thinking whether to place insect repellent before or after construction is a good thought.
Here is a warning label from a box of boric acid.
KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN. Precautionary statement hazards to humans and domestic animals: Harmful if swallowed, inhaled or absorbed through skin. Causes eye irritation. Avoid breathing dust. Avoid contact with skin, eyes and clothing. Wash thoroughly with soap and water after handling. Remove pets, birds and cover fish aquariums before dusting.
FIRST AID: IF SWALLOWED: Call a Poison Control Center or Doctor immediately for treatment advice. Have person sip a glass of water if able to swallow. Do not induce vomiting unless told to do so by the Poison Control Center or Doctor. Do not give anything by mouth to an unconscious person.
IF IN EYES: Hold eye open and rinse slowly and gently with water for 15-20 minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present, after the first 5 minutes, then continue rinsing eye. Call a Poison Control Center or Doctor for treatment advice.
IF ON SKIN OR CLOTHING: Take off contaminated clothing. Rinse skin immediately with plenty of water for 15-20 minutes. Call a Poison Control Center or Doctor for treatment advice.
IF INHALED: Move person to fresh air. If person is not breathing, call 911 or an ambulance, then give artificial respiration, preferably mouth-to-mouth if possible. Call a Poison Control Center for treatment advice. Have the product container or label with you when calling a Poison Control Center or Doctor or going for treatment..
Roach Pruf (Boric Acid) is the only thing I would use. It is a powder and completely rids the bug. I totally agree with redbeard.
The best and safest way to stay rid of roaches or any other bug and even snakes, is throw moth balls under your house. I have done it for years and haven't had any in my house! I will throw a few, about four, at one end and the same amount middle ways and at the other end of the house. This is just enough to do the trick and no odor from them gets in your house.
As for the snakes, I scatter the moth balls around my yard, but back it up with lime around the perimeter of the yard, haven't seen a snake in years in my yard.
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