I have a fair number of insects invading my finished basement (mostly potato bugs, Hell-of-a-lot-apedes, and spiders) which I believe are entering between the molding and ceramic floor. The basement is damp which I will attempt to remedy by following some of your suggestions. The two things I'm going to do is to: rip out some drywall to leave the gap at the bottom of the vapor barrier (there was none), and to ventilate the basement from the floor to the outside via a fan and some ducting.
My Question is: Is there anything I can do about the BUGS? It was recommended to me by several neighbors that once I finish with the drywall, I silicone the moldings to the drywall and the floor to act as a physical barrier to discourage the bugs from entering (it looks nice as well). Isn't this going to counteract the gap in the vapor barrier. Is there something else I could be doing while the wall is open, like insecticides? Will the bugs be less interested in my basement once it is drier?
Answer:
Sealing with the various productrs on the market will not hold back the critters that have been here longer than we have. They'e survivors and there isn't a whole lot to be done about them. What has worked for me in the past, and for others, is starving them. They'll only stay as long as they have something to eat. If they're feeding on one-another, you might try determining the food chain and going after them that way.
