When an apartment building manager located in the Panama sector of Brossard, on the South Shore of Montreal, noticed traces of cockroaches in several apartments, he quickly contacted Nova Extermination to obtain a professional evaluation. Cockroaches, the most common species in collective housing in Quebec, had settled in the humid and warm areas of the kitchen and bathroom of several units. From the first call, our team scheduled a complete inspection of the building to determine the true extent of the infestation and develop a treatment plan adapted to this type of building.
Inspection and identification of the infestation
Our certified technician carried out a systematic visit to each of the accessible units, starting with those where the tenants had reported visible activity. The inspection targeted the spaces under sinks, behind appliances, inside cabinets and along pipes, where cockroaches take refuge to lay their eggs. Sticky traps were strategically placed in common corridors and in the technical rooms to assess population levels and confirm the species present. This evaluation phase is essential: it makes it possible not to treat blindly and to optimize the intervention for a multi-storey building like the one in Brossard. Our team of exterminators in Brossard is well aware of the challenges specific to multi-residential buildings in the region, including migrations between apartments via common ducts.
Treatment by application of bait gel and targeted spraying
Based on the results of the inspection, we opted for a combination of insecticidal bait gel and residual spraying in the most affected areas. The bait gel was applied in small dots in cracks, behind baseboards, under cabinets, and around appliances. This method is particularly effective because the cockroaches that ingest the bait then contaminate their conspecifics by contact and ingestion of their droppings, creating a cascading effect in the colony. In common areas and service areas, residual spraying of registered insecticide was applied to non-food surfaces. Our approach to cockroach extermination is based on Health Canada approved products used by accredited technicians to ensure the safety of residents. Particular attention has been paid to terraced dwellings, even those that do not yet show visible signs, in order to prevent any reinfestation by internal migration.
Sealing and preventive measures
In parallel with the chemical treatment, our team proceeded to identify the routes of entry and migration of cockroaches into the building. Cracks in the walls, gaps around the pipes and failing joints under the sinks were reported to the manager for immediate sealing. We strongly recommend sealing these openings with caulking or polyurethane foam to physically block movement between dwellings. In addition, a pest prevention plan was given to the manager, including instructions for tenants: store food in airtight containers, dispose of food residues quickly, correct water leaks and maintain rigorous cleanliness in the kitchens. These measures, combined with professional treatment, significantly reduce the risk of recidivism in a densely occupied building.
Monitoring and results
A first follow-up was carried out two weeks after the initial treatment to check the effectiveness of the bait gel and to identify sticky traps. The data collected confirmed a marked decrease in cockroach activity in the majority of the dwellings treated. A second pass made it possible to complete the treatment in the units where residual activity was still detected. At the end of the protocol, almost all the dwellings had a total absence of live cockroaches or fresh oothecae. You can consult other examples of our interventions in our projects concerning cockroaches in collective buildings and our treatments against bed bugs to see the extent of our expertise in residential pest management on the South Shore. Calling in professionals as soon as the first signs appear remains the best decision to protect tenants and preserve the reputation of the building.