pest control

  Brownstones and prewar buildings have real charm, but they were built long before anyone worried about keeping mice and rats out. Shared walls, old masonry, cellars, and decades of added pipes and wiring give rodents plenty of ways in. The good news is that most of those routes can be found and closed with a methodical walkthrough and the right materials. How Do You Rodent-Proof a Brownstone or Prewar Building? Find and seal every gap larger than about a quarter inch, starting in the cellar and around pipes and utility lines. Screen basement windows and vents with metal mesh, keep trash in the required lidded bin, remove food, water, and clutter, and inspect again every few months. Sealing works best alongside good sanitation, not instead of it. Why Older NYC Buildings Are Harder to Rodent-Proof Newer construction is usually tighter. Older row houses and prewar apartment buildings often have several features that work in a rodent’s favor: Party walls and connected wall voids, so ...