Can Cockroaches Infest New Construction Homes in Florida?
You’ve just moved into your brand-new Florida home. The walls are freshly painted, the air smells clean, and everything feels untouched. But then, you spot a cockroach scurrying across the floor. Now, you’re feeling less excited about your new home.
Roaches in new homes may seem surprising, but they’re more common in Florida than most people realize. Many homeowners assume infestations only happen in older properties. However, the reality is that construction sites and newly finished builds often create ideal conditions for cockroaches to thrive.
In this guide, we’ll explain why brand-new homes can get a roach problem and help you identify the common roach types that infest new constructions. We’ll also highlight their common entry points, where they can hide, and provide preventive measures you can take to protect your home, as well as discuss how professional pest control can assist.
Key Takeaways:
- Cockroaches can infest new construction homes in Florida during the building process through open entry points, cardboard boxes, or construction materials.
- German and American cockroaches are the most common new home invaders. German roaches often hide in kitchens. Meanwhile, American roaches sneak in through crawl spaces or attics.
- Moisture, food sources, and clutter attract roaches, even in brand-new homes. Unsealed pipes, leftover scraps, and cardboard boxes can invite these tiny, unwelcome guests before you even move in.
- Professional pest control services help prevent and eliminate infestations by sealing entry points, treating hiding spots, and providing long-term protection.
Why Are There Roaches in My New Construction Home?
Your home may be brand new, but that doesn’t mean it’s safe against cockroach infestations. Cockroaches are incredibly resilient and quick to take advantage of any opportunity that arises.
1. Construction Sites Make Easy Entry Points
Builders often leave homes exposed to the elements during the construction process. Gaps around doors, unfinished baseboards, open vents, and uncovered windows create numerous entry points for cockroaches. If builders don’t properly seal the home, roaches can sneak in early and hide inside walls and crevices, sometimes even before the drywall is installed.
2. Building Materials Can Carry Roaches In
Roaches and termites love having dark, damp hiding spots. Cockroaches often invade before construction finishes by hitching a ride in cardboard boxes, wooden pallets, and other packing materials that transport building supplies. Workers often leave these items in dark, damp corners after removing the materials, creating perfect hiding spots for roaches.
3. Moisture and Food Attract Roaches
Roaches seek out moisture. Construction sites often provide water sources through leaky pipes, standing water, wet drywall, or condensation. Add food scraps left by workers or improperly sealed garbage cans onsite, and you’ve got the perfect environment for cockroaches to survive and spread.
What Types of Cockroaches Infest New Construction?
Florida’s warm, humid climate, combined with shared building structures and an abundance of food and water sources, makes it an ideal environment for many cockroach species.
Roaches stay active year-round and are especially aggressive in Florida homes. Two species are widespread in new construction:
German Cockroaches
German roaches are small and light brown, and tend to reproduce at a rapid pace. They often get into your house by hitchhiking in cardboard boxes or appliances. Once inside, they tend to hide in kitchens and bathrooms where they can easily access food and water sources. German cockroaches can take over your home quickly, since they reproduce soon after they’ve secured their hiding spot and sources of food and water.
American Cockroaches
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Also known as palmetto bugs, these reddish-brown roaches are much larger than the German cockroaches. These bugs often enter through crawl spaces, attics, or crevices in your walls. These roaches typically prefer outdoor environments. However, Florida’s heat usually drives them indoors in search of water.
Common Entry Points in New Builds
Cockroaches can sneak into your newly built home through tiny gaps. Here are some of the most common entry points you can double-check to prevent future cockroach problems:
- Gaps around doors and windows
- Cracks in the foundation or around baseboards
- Crevices behind cabinets and countertops
- Unsealed plumbing and utility openings
- Garage doors with loose seals
Sealing these entry points with caulk and weatherstripping can help prevent infestations before they start.
Where Do Roaches Hide in New Homes?
Cockroaches don’t need much space to hide. In new Florida homes, their most common hiding spots include:
- Attics and crawl spaces
- Behind refrigerators and dishwashers
- Under sinks near leaky pipes
- Inside wall voids or behind baseboards
- Around air conditioning units or vents
Builders don’t always fully seal or climate-control new builds right away. Unprotected new builds can become prime hiding spots for roaches looking for shelter.
How to Prevent Roach Infestations in New Construction Homes
1. Schedule Pre-Move-In Pest Control
To avoid surprises on move-in day, schedule pest control service before you move into your new Florida home. You can have a professional exterminator inspect your home for potential entry points and check for any existing pest issues, then perform any necessary pest control measures to ensure a pest-free new home. Professional pest control services can also provide you with a tailor-made, long-term cockroach control strategy to keep your home safe from future infestations.
2. Keep Food Sealed and Surfaces Clean
Cockroaches can find the tiniest morsel of food. Small crumbs on countertops or improperly sealed food items in your kitchen will attract them. To avoid inviting cockroaches to your kitchen, use airtight containers for dry goods, keep your kitchen tidy, and wipe down surfaces regularly, especially after unpacking.
3. Reduce Moisture
Roaches love damp places. Standing water and high humidity are significant attractants for cockroaches. If you don’t want them scurrying around your bathroom or laundry room and spreading whatever they have on them, use dehumidifiers in areas with high humidity, such as bathrooms and laundry rooms. Check for leaky pipes under sinks and make sure water isn’t pooling around the foundation.
4. Unpack with Caution
Inspect cardboard boxes for egg cases, roaches, or droppings before bringing them inside. If possible, unpack boxes in your garage or driveway. Don’t let cockroaches hide among your used boxes and packing materials. Promptly discard the boxes and any other packing materials properly.
How Native Pest Management Helps Keep New Florida Homes Pest-Free
At Native Pest Management, we are committed to protecting Florida homes from pests. Whether your home is brand new or decades old, we’ve got you covered. Our team understands the unique challenges that come with Florida’s heat, humidity, and environment, and we are proud to offer safe pest control practices such as:
- Preventative pest management services
- Comprehensive inspections for roach hiding places and entry points
- Eco- and pet-friendly treatments
- Year-round pest control to keep your home protected
Whether you’re moving into a new construction home in West Palm Beach, Miami, Port St. Lucie, or anywhere in between, we’re here to help you keep your space clean, safe, and roach-free.
Final Thoughts
Finding cockroaches in your brand-new Florida home can be frustrating, but you’re not alone. Construction sites offer cockroaches and other pests ample opportunities to move in.
At Native Pest Management, we provide long-term, pet-safe solutions that are effective. No ineffective, unsafe quick-spray fixes here!
Whether you’ve seen a roach or simply want peace of mind, our expert team inspects your home before move-in, checks for infestations, and creates a custom treatment plan to keep your space pest-free.
Start your new chapter pest-free. Schedule your free inspection today.
FAQs
Can roaches live in the walls of new construction homes?
Yes, roaches can hide inside wall voids, especially if they enter during the building process or through gaps near plumbing and electrical lines.
Are German cockroaches common in Florida new builds?
Yes. German cockroaches often hitchhike in boxes or appliances and reproduce fast. Early detection is key.
Should I hire a pest control company for a new house in Florida?
Yes. Florida is home to many pests. Cockroaches are active and aggressive in homes year-round in this area. A pest control company can help protect your home by inspecting for early signs of infestations, implementing preventive measures, and advising you on how to avoid major pest issues down the line.