Question:

I have a fair number of insects invading
my finished basement (mostly potato
bugs, Hell-of-a-lot-apedes, and spiders)
which I believe are entering between
the molding and ceramic floor. The
basement is damp which I will attempt to
remedy by following some of your
suggestions. The two things I'm going
to do is to: rip out some drywall to
leave the gap at the bottom of the vapor
barrier (there was none), and to
ventilate the basement from the floor to
the outside via a fan and some ducting.

My Question is: Is there anything I can
do about the BUGS? It was recommended
to me by several neighbors that once I
finish with the drywall, I silicone the
moldings to the drywall and the floor to
act as a physical barrier to discourage
the bugs from entering (it looks nice as
well). Isn't this going to counteract
the gap in the vapor barrier. Is there
something else I could be doing while
the wall is open, like insecticides?
Will the bugs be less interested in my
basement once it is drier?

Answer:

Sealing with the various productrs on the market will not hold back the critters that have been here longer than we have. They'e survivors and there isn't a whole lot to be done about them. What has worked for me in the past, and for others, is starving them. They'll only stay as long as they have something to eat. If they're feeding on one-another, you might try determining the food chain and going after them that way.

Answered By: Ren Molnar

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