Has Anyone Ever Run Into This?

janrickey

We started a bathroom addition, digging on the foundation. We ran into fleas like I have never seen in my life. The homeowner has a dog and of course that's where the problem started. Once we went under the house and started digging, they were everywhere.
The homeowner was in Europe, so we did what we could: had a pest company come out 2 x's, and tried a couple of other ways to get rid of them.
The homeowner got back and had another company come out and spray again. So far the yard has been sprayed 4 times and there are still fleas. The homeowner has suggested we spray Off on us to keep the fleas off. The flea situation is better but still after working 40 minutes today, our socks were full of fleas...
My feeling is "Get rid of the fleas and we will come back to work".
Has anyone ever run into something like this? and what did you do? I really think we have gone above and beyond to help our client, but I kinda think it's up to him to get rid of his fleas.
Thanks for your thoughts!

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When your work speaks for itself, don’t interrupt!

Jan

Tom R

I agree, - - FLEE!!

Patty

Look for places that a dead animal might be. Fleas tend to flock to areas like that. It could be a hole in the ground where an animal died. It could be a fireplace in the home, that an animal (raccoons are very known to do this) entered via the unguarded chimney. Squirrels are culprits, as well.

Have fun!

jmic

Have ya tried fles collars?

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Joe

A+Carpenter

FRONTLINE "TARGET"

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Teetorbilt

Set off the flea foggers, not the sprays, inside and spray EVERYTHING outside with the Malathion that I have been preaching about.

I live in FL, have animals and haven't seen any kind of bug in years.

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You can't solve you're problems with the same level of thinking that created the problems.

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Gordo

I encountered the same problem about ten years ago. The yard was INFESTED. We used WD-40 on our legs to keep them at bay. One more use for the juice.

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Looks like some pros were here.

DaveH

Man just reading it has me itching. I had it happen to me once and got rid of 'em just the way Teets said to...

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RYANINMICHIGAN

How did they not know there was a problem before you started? Some people amaze me. I remember as a kid my grandpa was a vinyl flooring guy and he had a job in flint to do and I went a long. Had to lay some floor in a kitchen and the stove had not been moved. Well he pulled it out from the wall and when I say hundreds I mean hundreds of cockroaches came scurrying out. and the little kid who lived they was running around the kitchen smashing them with his BARE heal like it was a game. Well we packed up immediately and he never went back to that house

Grumpy

The home owner is out of town and you hired an exterminator? Are you goign to charge them extra for this?

If it is really a nusiance that is disturbing your work maybe it is time to walk. It wasn't part of the job that you assessed and there is only so much you can do. IN addition it is a health hazard to be bit by any kind of bug which can carry viruses and diseases.

We buy bee killer by the case. We're always getting attacked by bees up on the roof, especially when workign on a cedar roof or house that has cedar siding. Man they love cedar. But we kinda expect it, however if we were to be bit and bit and had to stop work, I am pretty sure we'd want some extra money for our inconvenience.

Scott736

You should tell the homeowner to throw cedar chips all over the place were the fleas are... Havent ever had the problem but I have been told that if you line your yard with cedar chips the fleas wont cross em... Might work an maybe you can get back to work on it after a few days

janrickey

I appreciate the posts, we have tried several different ideas. The guys sprayed wd40 and got to work for about 4 hours before the fleas put on armorall coats and came a biting... the cedar chips are next.

We called the exterminator out cuz we figured 89.00 was worth being able to get on with the job as the HO was gone for 3 weeks. He's home now and dealing with his fleas.

Thanks for your help

__________________
When your work speaks for itself, don’t interrupt!

Jan