Building a healthcare facility is no small task, and as any good contractor knows, you can’t afford to take shortcuts in the construction process. Before you develop any property, it’s imperative to have a clear vision for the final product and a plan for achieving it. One detail you can’t afford to overlook in your planning is designing and building to keep pests out.
Pests can wreak havoc on new construction. When their natural habitat is disturbed during the building process, pests will infest building materials such as shingles and wood in search of shelter. If these infestations go undetected, the pests can literally be built and sheet-rocked into a healthcare facility, causing expensive structural damage down the road.
Contractors and project managers looking for a proactive approach to keeping pests off their construction sites should consider Integrated Pest Management (IPM). IPM focuses on understanding why pests are attracted to a property in the first place—typically in search of food, water, and shelter. This ongoing, proactive approach stresses prevention over remediation and emphasizes alternative solutions such as sanitation, facility maintenance, and landscaping.
Although many people think pest management is a reactive process, taking steps before and during construction can save you time, money, and headaches down the road.
The blueprint
No contractor would go into a large-scale building project without a blueprint to serve as a technical guide throughout the construction process. You wouldn’t finalize your plans without consulting various experts, and in the same way, you shouldn’t operate in a silo when it comes to keeping pests out. Call a licensed pest management professional to survey your site and review your plans. He or she can help you ensure your building won’t become a haven for pests. A professional’s suggestions may include:
