The syndicate of co-owners of a luxury condominium building located in the historic district of Saint-Lambert, on the South Shore, requested our expertise after several co-owners reported the presence of crux cockroaches in their respective units. This situation, which is delicate in a context of co-ownership where decisions must satisfy all residents, required management that was both technically efficient and transparent in terms of communication. Saint-Lambert, near Greenfield Park, is a popular residential town whose old buildings sometimes have migration routes for insects between units. Our exterminator in Saint-Lambert was mandated by the syndicate to carry out a coordinated intervention throughout the building.
Coordination of the inspection in a condominium context
Intervening in a condominium building involves prior coordination with the syndicate and the co-owners to organize access to the different units. Our technician has developed a two-day inspection schedule, allowing each unit to be visited at a time agreed upon with the owner-occupiers. The inspection accurately mapped the distribution of the infestation in the building: three units showed significant activity, two others showed early signs, and the common areas (corridors, mechanical rooms, storage room) showed moderate activity. Sticky traps have been installed in the common areas to monitor movement between units. The analysis showed that cockroaches moved mainly via common electrical conduits and spaces around heating pipes. This diagnostic phase is especially important in a condominium building, as a partial treatment would only shift the problem from one unit to another.
Unified and simultaneous processing
To ensure effective treatment, it is imperative that all units and common areas are treated simultaneously on the same day of intervention. So we organized a full treatment day involving two technicians, who treated each unit and common area in parallel. In each unit, the treatment protocol included an application of bait gel in the kitchen and bathroom, around ducts, and in spaces behind appliances. In the common areas, residual insecticide spraying complemented the application of bait gel in the technical areas. Our professional cockroach treatment in condominiums takes into account the particular dynamics of these environments, where coordination and simultaneity of interventions are as important as the products used. Temporary sealing of common electrical conduits identified as primary migration routes was also performed.
Communication with the syndicate and the co-owners
Following the treatment, we gave the union a complete report of the intervention, including the mapping of the treated areas, the products used and the recommendations for each unit. This report was shared with all the co-owners to ensure total transparency on the steps taken. Individual instructions have been provided to each owner regarding the preventive measures to be adopted in their respective units. The syndicate has also received structural recommendations for the common areas: permanent sealing of the ducts, verification of the tightness of the technical rooms and implementation of regular monitoring. A pest prevention plan adapted to the context of the condominium has been integrated into the building’s maintenance logbook. Check out our multi-family building project to see another example of our approach in a multi-residential setting.
Results and maintenance program
The first follow-up, carried out three weeks after the treatment, revealed a very significant decrease in activity in all the treated units. Two units required mild additional treatment, which was carried out immediately during this visit. The second follow-up confirmed the complete elimination of the infestation throughout the building. The syndicate has opted for a semi-annual maintenance program with our certified extermination company, including a preventive inspection in the spring and an inspection in the fall, when pest movements are most frequent. This proactive approach allows the syndicate to protect the value of the units and ensure the comfort of all residents in the long term. Also discover how we deal with other pest problems in our realization on bed bugs in condominiums.