Question by capwest5a:
Bedbugs and Baseboards?
OK, here’s the context. I live in a low-income housing building. In itself, that is not a problem – it has thick walls, nice decor, terrazzo floors (don’t slip and fall on those please OUCH LOL 🙂 What the problem is: As many of you may have heard, bedbugs are making a rather large comeback – and not just here in the US. (I’m in downtown Seattle). Anyways, my neighbour directly above (a drug addict) and my neighbor to the left (also a drug addict) – well, to be honest they are the types of people who will let ANYONE in the building so long as the person has a free beer or a crack or heroin hit for them. The homeless guys they bring in have the ubiquitous backpack – which I am certain is how this building is getting infested. EVERY SINGLE PERSON who I have heard of who lets this guy named Kent stay with them has had a MAJOR infestation in their apartments. He’s like the ‘pied-piper of bed-bugs’ is what I call him. (As you can intuit, I don’t let homeless people in my apartment, oh hell no).
A tiny bit more context before I get to the question. Oh yeah, so these previously massively infested have gone through multiple treatments, you know – wash EVERYTHING, bag ALL the rest of your possesions and bug-bomb those, throw all upholstered furniture out, throw your mattress out, etc. Low-income people can be well, stupid. “Hey, there was this cool-looking couch sitting out by the dumpster and I brought it in!” Good move – you just reinfested your apartment !! The so-called ‘treatments’ are not working.
Anyways, my question is this. My apartment is unusual in this building because it apparently used to have carpeting years ago. Hence, the gap between the bottom trim piece of the baseboards (quarter-round) sits about 1/2 inch above the level of the stone floor. Bedbugs like to travel through the walls, I have heard (not an expert myself, but I have a feeling it’s true). So I am trying to find a solution to sealing off the baseboard gaps in the largish part of my apartment. The bathroom is already sealed off with some cheap-looking silicone baseboard looking tape and the kitchen never had a carpet apparently because the baseboards there are still tight to the floor. I saw that caulking is an option, but for a 1/2″ gap around a large room? Should I just hire a contractor to somehow remove trim and replace it with tight to the floor trim? (I’m actually physically disabled but do know a contractor who would/might do it for free if I bought the materials). Any other suggestions are highly appreciated.
Thanks a lot Steph. Do you think that I am unaware that 5 star hotels and other places are getting them too?? Nice spelling as well. You did not offer any solution or advice – merely told me that I was categorizing people, which I do. You have been categorized as well as a (blank) (blank)..
Thanks a lot Steph. Do you think that I am unaware that 5 star hotels and other places are getting them too?? Nice spelling as well. You did not offer any solution or advice – merely told me that I was categorizing people, which I do. You have been categorized as well as a (blank) (blank)..
“I watched it on Court TV”. ROFL. But I will try that, just to appease you and appease my anger to your (blank) answer).
Best answer:
Answer by stephanie U
sorry to tell you low income the slum of addict s , so on. is not the problem ,a real problem even the 5 star hotels.i watched court t.v. on bed bugs it happens cause the bed bugs are a breakout if left un treated ,but it happens if your city or state is known of outbreak.you blame the source ,that is drug Addict s is at fault it s not.bed bugs will go through a small crack cause of their flat body. there hard to do away.but, you have a bed plant on each legs ,with out touching the walls or any furniture,on each one place a cup of mineral water, half way .that will stop ,or drown the bugs from getting to your bed, also keep the blanket of the ground.you got to keep the pattern of this over and over .and get the pest control guy on the routine. even ask him all the precautions .good luck
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You need to first have the apartment inspected and treated for bed bugs.Once that is done then get your contractor friend to add some molding to the existing and make sure he fills the gap with spray foam or caulk before installing the trim. have him check all areas in all rooms just to be safe. Good Luck