Lighting and Heating

Particularly a problem during winter, pests, ranging from rodents to insects to termites, all search for a warm, cozy place to nest. Rodents are a common occurrence in lofts across the country as they always favor warm and dark areas. Unfortunately, lighting in your loft will attract moths and other flying insects, yet if you keep your loft in the darkness, you are making the space far more attractive to rats and mice. The best thing for your loft is to install low-level, yellow lighting, which is bright enough for rodents not to gather, yet dark enough not to overly attract moths and flies.

Holes and Leaks

One of the best ways to pest-proof your loft is to ensure holes in the floorboards, walls, and ceilings are boarded up or, ideally, sealed completely. Rodents especially are continually searching for tiny areas they can sneak into, especially around gas and water pipework and damaged air bricks. 

Steel wool inside the holes is an effective tool to seal any gaps before boarding over the holes securely. The most important thing to do is to ensure you have sealed the exteriors, making your loft as impenetrable as possible. 

Excessive moisture attracts pests such as cockroaches, ants, and slugs, the latter becoming a larger risk when excessive damp is present. It is strongly advisable to fix all leaking pipes, however insignificant the leak and completely eradicate any stagnate water. 

Hoarding

Lofts are most families’ go-to space within the home to store boxes stuffed full of old memories and cherished souvenirs. However, scrupulous decluttering is the most effective way to help reduce the risk of pest infestation inside your loft. Termites, who love cardboard and paper, can cause serious structural damage, but fortunately, termite infestations are always avoidable. Should you notice signs of termite damage, you must immediately contact a professional termite treatment expert such as proactivepestsolutions.com.au who will eradicate the problem. 

Piles of papers you have forgotten about, therefore, never move or disturb, are a sizeable attraction for cockroaches and other insects. If papers are important, tightly seal in plastic bins raised high off the floor but not touching any wall or ceiling. Shredded paper is particularly tempting, so once shredded, you should recycle it immediately.

No perishable items such as packaged food should ever be stored in your loft as this is a sure-fire way to attract pests. Outside the house, it is vital to cut down overhanging branches from taller trees and shrubbery which are growing near to the loft area.