After pest control and wildlife removal, we’ll restore your property to its original condition and protect it from future infestations.
Nuisance Wildlife Exclusion
Wildlife exclusion is the process of creating physical barriers to keep wildlife out of areas they’re not wanted. This can involve sealing off potential entry points, installing screens and netting, or building fences. Wildlife exclusion is a humane and effective method of controlling wildlife, as it prevents them from entering the area without harming them in any way.
Typical Areas for Exclusion
- Chimney – Adding chimney caps and screening can prevent animals from falling in or nesting
- Plumbing Vents – Animals seeking shelter can become stuck in plumbing pipes
- Roof & Fascia Spaces – Poorly sealed points between roof & fascia invite animal entry
- Roof Vents – Lightweight, flimsy vents should be replaced with heavy secure roof vents
- Oven & Bathroom Exhaust Vents – Adding screening to vents helps keep animals out
- Roof/Soffit Intersection – Securing gaps will help prevent animal chewing and entry
- Holes in Siding – Repairing & reinforcing holes will discourage animal infestation
- Porch & Deck – Durable screening around base prevents nesting animals
- Trees & Landscaping – Removal of overhanging tree limbs and encroaching vegetation
- Food – Examining any food sources and access points to the food and minimizing them
Long-Term Pest Control
Although the Critter Control of Houston wildlife technicians won’t be there for long, the lasting effects of their work can be seen far into the future. Knowing you’re safe from potentially dangerous animals in your home is expected. When that expectation isn’t met, turn to your local experts. We’re ready to protect you from the very worst. Whether it be bugs in the basement, raccoons on the roof, or bats in the bedroom, we’ll be there.
Home Restoration Services
Feces left from wildlife in your Houston home can be more dangerous than the animal itself. Every day byproducts of living, like fur and feces, will remain—and the latter is not something you want lingering in your home for very long. Different animals will have different excrement behaviors; for example, raccoons will use one area of your attic for living and one area known as the “raccoon latrine”.
Dangers of Animal Droppings
Animal feces can grow several hazardous spores that, when ingested, can cause serious and sometimes fatal illnesses. Rodents can transmit salmonellosis through contamination of food, and raccoons are notorious for transmitting raccoon roundworm through infected feces.
Where Do You Find Animal Droppings in the Home?
By no means a comprehensive list of where to find animal droppings in the home, below are a few common areas wildlife prefer in your Houston area home:
- Attics (raccoons, bats, squirrels)
- Kitchens (rodents)
- Garage (raccoons)
Attic Restoration and Insulation Replacement
A well-insulated attic can be an invaluable investment for your Houston home. Replacing your soiled insulation with brand new, energy-efficient insulation can help you save money in energy costs because it will be working how it’s meant to. Did you know that many people think their attic is already properly insulated but it’s in fact not? We can help measure your existing insulation and make sure it meets the standards set by the government. When hindered by wildlife feces or otherwise compromised by the presence of wildlife, insulation is not very effective—but our Houston attic restoration professionals will be able to replace your insulation quickly and easily.
Can I Attempt DIY Attic Restoration?
We wouldn’t recommend it— our Houston attic insulation professionals have the safety equipment necessary to remove damaged and contaminated insulation. Some existing insulation can contain vermiculite and hazardous spores that are easily transmitted to unprotected citizens. Critter Control of Houston’s insulation specialists can also prepare quotes for most major insurance companies, so we make it easy for you when you choose attic restoration with us.
Attics are one of the easiest places in a house to insulate, especially if you’d like to “cap” your existing attic insulation. Call 713.820.6563 today for more information or to requst an attic insulation estimate.
Crawlspace Restoration and Encapsulation
Dealing with an animal in any area of your home is overwhelming and potentially hazardous and expensive. Critters are drawn to cozy and isolated areas in which to shelter and possibly raise their young. Common places for animals to go in your Houston home include attics and crawl spaces.
An obvious indication of animals in your crawlspace is the presence of feces. Some other signs that you may have a furry visitor include:
- Unusual noises like thumping or scratching
- Horrific odors (from feces or carcasses)
- Chew marks on soft materials, like wooden beams
- Soft materials like paper or insulation shredded for nesting use
- Staining from greasy fur
Cleaning Up the Crawlspace After Animal Control
Once you are sure the animal has been removed (we can help with that, too, the damage has likely already been done. Whether it’s a lingering odor from the animal’s feces are known to carry raccoon roundworm, a hazardous illness), secondary pests like fleas or ticks, or even pipe/insulation/structural damage to your crawlspace, wildlife can cause a lot more damage than you might think.
Home Sealing Services After Pest Control
The most effective pest and animal control are exclusions services from Critter Control in Houston. Our exclusions seal all current and potential entry points that pests use to gain access to your house. We match specific products and strategies to block the target pests.
Sealing Roof Vents
Keeping your Houston attic safe will in turn, keep your energy bills down, as your insulation will work more effectively if not soiled. Clever animals like raccoons, squirrels, and bats will take advantage of weak and damaged areas of your home, especially your roof. From attic fan vent guards, roof vent guards, gable vent closure,s and soffit vent repairs, the team at Critter Control of Houston can do it all.
Chimney Cap and Screen Installation
Like many other areas of the exterior of your Houston home, your chimney is exposed to the elements regularly. This can lead to the natural degradation of your chimney’s bricks. Unfortunately, when your chimney starts to degrade(Opens in a new window), animals don’t stop trying to get in through it—common chimney visitors include raccoons and bats.
Chimney caps can assist in keeping these curious critters from falling into your Houston chimney.
- Chimney caps cover the top of your chimney and are often made of stainless steel or copper mesh to keep strong chewers from gaining access easily.
- Chimney screens refer to the area of the cap that encompasses your chimney, made of the same material as the caps themselves. The screen keeps animals from climbing into the sides and falling down (sometimes their final resting place).
Benefits of Chimney Caps
- Keeping sparks and embers contained, protecting your home and neighborhood from possible fires
- Keeping water out—Moisture is a big problem when it comes to brick and mortar deterioration
- Keeping drafts out of your home
- Keeping larger natural debris like sticks, leaves, and branches out
Critter Control of Houston offers a wide range of animal prevention products and home services, including foundation vent screening, carcass removal, dropping removal, and more.
Foundation Vents
It is pivotal that the animals’ potential entry points to your Houston home are installed and sealed properly. There may exist a variety of reasons that these entrances may be compromised, including damage from other animals, decay from exposure to the elements, improper installation, or the lack of installation in the first place. Exposing your home to clever and shrewd animals can invite damage beyond what you might imagine. Learn more below about why foundation vents are an important consideration when animal-proofing your Houston home.
What Are Foundation Vents For and Do I Really Need Them?
The primary purpose of foundation vents and foundation vent screens is to keep good, quality air coming into your home and getting rid of bad air, and also to prevent excess moisture from building up in the crawlspace/basement. Luckily, the foundation vents also function as an animal exclusion method—the sturdier, the better. This worthwhile investment can save you headaches in the long run.
How Do Foundation Vents Help Protect My Home from Wildlife?
Strong foundation vents made of heavy-duty material like galvanized steel are built in such a way that larger animals like skunks and squirrels will not be able to rip or chew their way through, keeping your home protected. The cracks around the vent screen will be sealed and the holes in the screen itself will be too small for smaller animals like rodents to get through.
Caulk & Sealing
Caulking wildlife entry areas is an important, easy and effective way of controlling wildlife critters, so it’s a no-brainer—just make sure you’re certain the animals have been removed before sealing with caulk.
Benefits of Sealing with Caulk
The benefits of sealing your home with caulk are similar to those of making sure your attic is up to code; when implemented properly, they can both decrease your home’s energy costs. It’s important to have a trained expert inspect your home for small entry points. Bats and rodents are known to sneak in through holes as small in diameter as a dime.
Where Should I Caulk?
Interior Caulking
Caulking certain areas of your Houston home through which common visitors like rats gain entry will help keep animals out. Some common wildlife entry areas on your home may include:
- Kitchen cabinets
- Washing machines and sinks
- Furnace/water heater
- Floor vents
- Attics
- Crawlspaces
- Basements
Exterior Caulking
Some exterior areas of your home that curious and determined wildlife may use to get in include:
- Roofs, including eaves, rafters, fascias & more
- Windows
- Doors
- Foundations
In short, yes. Keeping your gutters clean will offer an array of benefits for your Houston home, including:
- Protecting your foundation from accelerated decay
- Discouraging animals from nesting
- Eliminating potential leaks in your basement and to your roof’s fascia boards and soffits
- Discouraging potentially hazardous mold, mildew and insect infestations
Gutter Protection from Pests
Your Critter Control of Houston technician will take several important steps while cleaning your Houston gutters, using a combination of specialized equipment such as pressure washers and other gutter cleaning tools. After cleaning your gutters, your technician will install Leafproof and Leaf Defier gutter guards to protect your home at one of its pain points.
Leafproof Gutter Guards
Leafproof(Opens in a new window) gutter guards are installed over your existing gutters and work to effectively direct leaves and other natural debris off your roof. They also help direct water into the gutters. A direct benefit of the Leafproof guards, in addition to the exceptional protection from natural elements, is that wildlife no longer has anywhere ideal to nest because they are unable to chew through the aluminum material.
Leaf Defier Gutter Protection
When used in conjunction with the Leafproof gutter guards, the Leaf Defier helps to keep your gutter maximally protected. The insert is made of polyurethane and fits in your spouting to help direct the water out of your downpipe effectively. This lightweight product protects thousands of homes throughout the country, saving headaches and money for residents—and your Houston home is no different.
Contact the home service professionals at Critter Control of Houston to schedule a home inspection. We can help you identify which points need to be caulked and ideally save you the headache of a possible future pest infestation.