Month: December 2021

Santa – Is That You In My Attic?

The holidays are right around the corner, and as we await the arrival of Santa Claus, many smaller Texas wildlife are awaiting the arrival of the colder weather and a move indoors.

Wintertime is a busy time for wildlife control services, as this is the time when many people realize they have unexpected company in their attics.

Pay attention to the cues that you have critters as the days get shorter and the nights get cooler to know whether you need a critter control company to pay a visit.

Is There Noise Coming From Your Attic?

A very common sign that it might be time to schedule a visit from a wild animal control service is the noise coming from your attic.

The sounds of scratching, scraping, and running from above the ceiling in your house could possibly mean there are squirrels, mice, possums, raccoons, or other small wildlife nesting up there where it is nice and warm at night.

Are There Bad Smells In Your House?

Another indicator that there are critters living in your attic and you should have a wildlife control service out is the occasional presence of a musty smell in certain spots in your home.

That mustiness is the smell of the urine and feces of rodents and other small wildlife.

If you go up into your attic and the musty smell gets stronger, it likely means there is a nest somewhere up there.

Are There Signs in Your Attic on Nest-Building?

While you are up there, if you notice any ruined boxes or belongings, stains on the attic floor, shredded paper, pieces of insulation, or other potential “nesting materials” scattered around, this is another sign that there are furry squatters hiding up there.

They may not be around in the daytime when you go to check, but if there is an active nest somewhere they will be back at night.

Get Help From a Wildlife Removal Service

What should you do when noticing these things? Reach out to a local wildlife removal service to handle your critter control issue.

They will come to your house and investigate to determine whether you are hosting wild animals in your attic, what type, and plan the best way to capture and remove them for you.

The service can then also help with animal damage repair, including closing off entry points to keep them from returning.

It Isn't Santa In Your Attic!

This holiday season, as eagerly as you might be awaiting a visit from Santa, make sure that noise is not just critters moving around in your attic.

If it is, a local wild animal control service can help!

Sealing Your Basement – Can I DIY The Work?

Sealing your own basement can be an easy way to deal with a wet basement using a wall coating that can be purchased at any home center.

Unfortunately, many homeowners find that putting on a coating is enough for a little while, but only for a little while.

Whether it has to do with the product and how it is applied or a need for foundation repairs first, there are many times when painting on a sealant just isn’t enough and can actually allow more damage to happen.

Basement Sealer Paints – Not Much Lasting Effect

While basement sealer paints do serve their purpose, they tend only to be useful in the most basic of cases when the wet basement issue is very minor.

They can work well in conjunction with other foundation repair methods, but most of the time they are not worth the money, time, and effort made to apply them by themselves.

These sealers must be applied using a special technique to ensure they actually seal, and not before diagnosing where the water is coming from in the first place.

Why Do Basement Sealer Paints Fail?

Cheap basement sealer paint fails for a number of reasons. Unless applied correctly so it gets into the porousness of the basement walls and floors it will not adhere properly.

It can peel and flake after a short time, allowing moisture to enter once again. Additionally, basement cracks, no matter how fine, must first be located and then sealed with a crack repair sealer to close them off.

Trying to seal over cracks with a layer of paint will not work. Surfaces must also be completely dry and clean during the application or the paint will not adhere well.

Must First Discover Source of Leak

The most important factor when trying to decide on foundation repairs to remedy a damp or wet basement is knowing what the source of the water is. Many times, the problem can and should be resolved using some other method.

Problems like drainage too close to the house and exterior foundation damage must be properly corrected, as a thin coating of waterproofing is not going to stop that water and damage from progressing.

In some cases, interior drains and sump pumps might be the best resolution to the problem.

Consider Calling A Foundation Service

Before spending money on gallons of expensive and messy basement sealer and putting in the hours required to empty your basement and then paint the whole thing, consider calling a foundation repair service out first to diagnose the problem.

A sealant may still be a part of the repair plan, but not before a water source is determined and other damage assessed, and repaired.