Rowhouse Neighbor with Bed Bugs - Can we Improve Exclusion on Party Wall?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Insecticides don't work. Get the heat treatment and offer to chip in for theirs.

*1
Or if you know they’re too poor, just pay for theirs.

[Anonymous]

The best/cheapest solution would seem to be to pay to treat both houses, if they'll consent. Offer to put them in a nice hotel during.

[Anonymous]

Since we are still talking about appropriate levels of drama, I have not had bedbugs but I have had head lice. Head lice was no fun at all and I would vastly vastly prefer a case of head lice to bedbugs :shudder: my worst nightmare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OMG. I am SO SORRY that you are dealing with this. We had bedbugs in our row house 7 years ago, and I never knew where they came from, but I always wondered if they had come from the crazy lady next door. This must be very stressful for you.

I have no good advice, but I do have encouraging words: You will get through this! Try not to read the bedbug forums too much as they will drive you bonkers. You will get through this.

Dramatic much?

You've never had bedbugs, obviously. If anything, PP is downplaying the drama.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Since we are still talking about appropriate levels of drama, I have not had bedbugs but I have had head lice. Head lice was no fun at all and I would vastly vastly prefer a case of head lice to bedbugs :shudder: my worst nightmare.

I would take a new lice infestation every week than one incident of bedbugs. Seriously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The best/cheapest solution would seem to be to pay to treat both houses, if they'll consent. Offer to put them in a nice hotel during.

I think you also need to consider if the bedbugs have travelled to the home on the other side of the infested neighbor. You don't want to go to the expense of treating both homes only to have them walk back into your neighbor's house and then on to yours again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm looking for some ideas. We recently discovered we had bed bugs. It is a brand new issue, two weeks ago. We have also determined that our neighbor has had them for a long time (they told us). In the the opinion of the exterminator, evidence suggests we have individuals wandering over from the neighbor.

We are ready to perform a whole house heat treatment, which can be very effective and knocking out our problem...in isolation. However, this can easily be a wasted $1500 if the source of the issue isn't addressed. We don't yet know if our neighbor can be brought on board.

I am wondering if anyone has suggestions or experience with improving our protection against penetration of pests from one rowhouse to the next. We have a shared solid brick wall, which is solid but also old so there could be vulnerabilities in the old and rather soft brick. I assume there's some kind of shared space whatever void is between ceilings and the roofs (flat).

I'm having thoughts along the line of adding a layer of drywall on the "party wall" and trying to redo the ancient and not-tight closets that sit up against that well. That doesn't address roof space or floors, however - would redoing the floor to hardwood help?

Has anyone dealt with this or had a client who did? Any thoughts?

I'm sorry for my imprecise question. I owe it to myself to try and figure this out ... and for the next person, if there is a next person. I feel like we're finally up against a systemic issue we have to address.

Can you document evidence the neighbors gave you bed bugs? Then you can sue them to cover both houses and be liable for future infestations

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The best/cheapest solution would seem to be to pay to treat both houses, if they'll consent. Offer to put them in a nice hotel during.

Wrong, filthy neighbor should pay for it all

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The best/cheapest solution would seem to be to pay to treat both houses, if they'll consent. Offer to put them in a nice hotel during.

Wrong, filthy neighbor should pay for it all

OP has managed not to insult the neighbor; why can’t you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The best/cheapest solution would seem to be to pay to treat both houses, if they'll consent. Offer to put them in a nice hotel during.

Wrong, filthy neighbor should pay for it all

OP has managed not to insult the neighbor; why can’t you?

Because these type of people need to be held accountable so society doesn't pay for their neglect

[Anonymous]

Best bet is putting furniture on top of excluders. Get rid of all carpet. I put sticky traps under my bed legs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The best/cheapest solution would seem to be to pay to treat both houses, if they'll consent. Offer to put them in a nice hotel during.

Wrong, filthy neighbor should pay for it all

This is a clueless comment. Filth has nothing to do with it. Bedbugs are not like rats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Best bet is putting furniture on top of excluders. Get rid of all carpet. I put sticky traps under my bed legs.

It is a misconception that bedbugs only like beds and upholstered furniture. They're happy to live in your dresser or picture frame, anywhere where wood seams join. They like electronics as well.

[Anonymous]

I think should be allowed any drama you want when dealing with this terrible issue.

My friend had them from an antique piece of furniture she purchased. Yikes!

The heat treatment worked well.

I think the offer of $$ to your neighbors, if done correctly, may be well received. You never know. It's nice that they told you they have them, and that shows you a little something of their character. So they may be open to working on the solution with you.

Do you have just the one other house attached to yours or are there a lot?

This is one reason I won't live in a row house or townhouse. I hate the idea of not being able to control mice/roaches/bed begs/fleas that can happen to anyone.

Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Best bet is putting furniture on top of excluders. Get rid of all carpet. I put sticky traps under my bed legs.

It is a misconception that bedbugs only like beds and upholstered furniture. They're happy to live in your dresser or picture frame, anywhere where wood seams join. They like electronics as well.

yes but it is going to be harder for them to bite you if they are in those items. Keep them away from places where you sit or sleep.