As anyone who has restored a rundown home will know, it’s an expensive undertaking. Some properties can be so damaged after years of neglect that it costs nearly as much to build a new home from the ground up. Fortunately, simple maintenance tasks can go a long way toward preventing damage in the first place. If you’re a new homeowner, consider prioritizing these tasks regularly:
Table of Contents
Sealcoat the Driveway
A paved driveway can be a significant investment, so it can be disheartening to watch it fade, crack, soften, and stain over the years. However, if you hire a sealcoating company serving Atlanta to sealcoat your driveway every two or three years, that’s no longer an issue.
Sealcoating is a liquid protective barrier that prevents structural damage, extends pavement life, and even improves curb appeal. It offers many benefits, like blocking UV rays, resisting chemicals and oil spills, and waterproofing against damaging freeze-thaw cycles.
Control Moisture and Drainage
Moisture and drainage may not be things we think much about, but ignoring them can have major consequences. If you don’t address poor drainage outside your home, water can pool around the base, causing sunken or cracked foundations, timber rot, and decay. Excess humidity inside your home can also be problematic, as dampness encourages the growth of mold and mildew, which can be damaging to health.
To protect both your home and its occupants, manage outdoor moisture and drainage by extending downspouts away from your home’s foundation. You should also make sure the soil has proper grading to prevent erosion.
Indoors, ensure proper insulation, extractor fans, and dehumidifiers or forced-air systems to keep humidity to a minimum.
Inspect and Maintain the Roof and Cladding
Your home’s roof and cladding are what protect the rest of your home – including the interior. That’s why maintaining them regularly is so important. A leaking roof lets water into your ceiling and walls, while damaged cladding lets in both moisture and cold. Both forms of damage encourage mold growth.
Schedule professional roof checks every one or two years. When necessary, renew the caulking and sealants around windows and doors to block timber rot. Check the siding at least twice a year to look for surface damage, and repaint every five to 10 years.
Don’t Neglect Service Systems
We assume our plumbing, electrical, and HVAC systems will keep working as they always have. However, nothing lasts forever. Over time, parts can fail, and systems can fall into a state of disrepair.
Fortunately, routine maintenance helps you know when systems are due for repair or replacement, often long before they experience catastrophic failure. Schedule routine HVAC maintenance services at every seasonal change, and prioritize regular plumbing inspections every one to two years. Electrical inspections are generally recommended every three to five years.
Renovate with Durability in Mind
If you’re getting ready to remodel your home, consider more than just the materials and elements you like. Think about what will last the distance. For example, brick and concrete masonry, natural stone, and standing seam metal roofs are all designed to last 50 to 100+ years. Meanwhile, less durable materials like asphalt shingles, fiberboard and particleboard, and untreated siding all have much shorter lifespans and typically require more maintenance.
When you’re spending your hard-earned money buying a home, you want it to stay in good condition for as long as possible. Regular maintenance, care, and durable materials can help. Don’t underestimate the peace of mind that comes from having professionals care for your home systems, driveway, roof, and cladding.
Hurricane Isaias was the first major hurricane to hit our area since we moved here 6.5 years ago. We followed our county’s mandatory evacuation orders and drove many hours away to an unaffected part of Florida (Ocala). As we hunkered down at an Airbnb with our friends, kids, and pets, we watched as the hurricane became a Category 3 and turned towards our area back home. Luckily, our house and most of our neighborhood sustained only minor damage, relatively speaking. A few trees down, a scratch in the painted top piece of our fence (can see the tree leaning on it below?), and a LOT of leaves and sticks to clean up.
Overall, we felt very grateful and very lucky. Also, if you want to know how many times Jennifur meowed in the car during our little road trip, the answer is 15 or so, and then she curled up and slept just like Penny.
But luck wasn’t the only factor. When we moved here, we prioritized making hurricane-ready improvements to our house. Some were big and costly, but others were things we were able to check off in an afternoon. We’ll do a separate post about all of our hurricane prep tips, so this is more about home improvements you might want to consider before next hurricane season rolls around. We also have to acknowledge that all the things on this list are absolutely a privilege to be able to afford and we’re very grateful that over time we could save up and execute these to safeguard our house.
6 Ways We Got Our Home Hurricane-Ready
It bears mentioning that our house is at least 36 years or so old (the county says it was built in 1991 but all of the original windows inexplicably said 1984 when we bought it). And yes, those original windows were all in tact when we bought our house in 2020. Which definitely says something about how homes here just seem to be built for storms – even when those aforementioned windows were single pane. The fact that none of them had been replaced in many decades of hurricanes impressed us. I point this out just to show you that we didn’t think of our house as the straw house from the three little pigs to begin with. It had already demonstrated durability through many decades of hurricanes. So making these further improvements just gave us even more peace of mind, lowered our homeowner’s insurance, and made it less stressful to evacuate during a storm like Isaias.
I’m going to order these from biggest (in terms of scale, cost, and time) to smallest, because we tried to prioritize the most impactful actions first. And that starts with the biggest of all: choosing the house itself!
Buying a less vulnerable house
Upgrading to impact-rated doors & windows
Getting a whole-house generator
Adding hurricane ties
Choosing outdoor furniture wisely
Setting up security cameras
Like I said, some are bigger investments than others, but all felt extremely worthwhile when a storm came barreling our way!
1. Buying A Less Vulnerable House
Hurricanes were top of mind for us when hunting for our Florida house (obligatory before photo below). Hurricanes aren’t strictly a Florida phenomenon – think Sandy in New England, Helene in Western NC, and storms like Irene that did a number on our Virginia neighborhood in 2011 (we lost power for something like 2 weeks! Which also happened to me after another hurricane that hit VA when I was in college). All of that is to say that we had experience with hurricanes previous to living in Florida, so when we were researching potential neighborhoods, we definitely considered how they might fare in a bad storm – particularly with storm surge / flooding which often does some of the most damage in a hurricane.
In fact, water is the #1 cause of death in a hurricane, whether from coastal storm surge, overflowing rivers, or heavy rain flooding. So buying in a location that wasn’t prone to flooding has always been a top consideration for us in our house hunts (both in Virginia and when we were house hunting here). Luckily, websites like FEMA and the First Street Foundation make it easy to look up the flood risk of any address. You can also activate map layers on Realtor.com and Zillow that show a property’s risk for flooding, fire, and other environmental hazards.
Ultimately, we picked a home with zero flood risk according to these sites. Of course, that’s just a calculation, not a guarantee (and climate change makes everything less certain). But even with our own eyeballs, we could see that our location had some great safeguards. It’s protected by 30-ft high dunes on the beach (seen below after Isaias). And our home is a few blocks away, just beyond the tallest hill in our neighborhood. So our house is at a very high elevation with relation to storm surge. For Hurricane Isaias they warned about 7 feet of storm surge, but it only clocked in at about 5 feet. Once again, this dune is over 30′ high and our house is even more elevated behind an even taller hill in our neighborhood.
But obviously, picking a home involves A LOT of important factors beyond flood risk. And if you’re not planning to move anytime soon, how do you make the most of the home you already have? Well… that takes us to all of the improvements we made after we moved.
2. Upgrading To Impact-Rated Windows & Doors
The biggest hurricane-ready improvement we made to our home was replacing all of our windows and doors with impact-rated ones. These are specially constructed and installed to withstand both high-velocity winds and flying debris. A broken window is bad enough on its own, but getting one during a hurricane also increases the chances your roof will come off because of the wind and sudden pressure change inside the house. So these greatly reduce the risk of that happening during a storm.
This upgrade was BY FAR the most costly and time-consuming thing we did. Impact-rated windows can cost 2 or 3 times as much as regular windows, and the installation is more involved too. Ours ended up taking nearly 3 months (we ran into other issues, like rot under the siding) and cost tens of thousands of dollars. It was a tough pill to swallow for a result that looks & functions mostly the same as it did when we started, but we knew it was one of the best things we could do to protect our home and all of the meaningful things that we keep within its walls. Of course people and pets get a few day’s notice to evacuate, but our hurricane safe windows and doors make us feel like the art that our kids painted and all of the things we filled this house with have the best chance of being all good for the long haul.
These windows and doors have pretty amazing stats. They’re designed to withstand sustained wind speeds of 150-180+ mph (covering up to Category 5 hurricane conditions). They literally test them by firing giant pieces of lumber at them at a wildly high speed with tons of force (they call it “missile testing”). They can crack if hit extremely hard, but are designed to not breach, meaning water shouldn’t enter the house, even if a tree branch comes flying into the pane. They’re also designed to withstand some insane pressure changes (up to +90 / -130 PSF) which can often come with strong hurricanes.
There are alternatives to replacing your windows (like window shutters, plywood, or even “hurricane fabric“), but we decided they weren’t as ideal for our family of our specific house. Plus we wanted something that protected us year-round without the effort, time, or warning needed for those other methods. We’ve actually had more Tornado Warnings here than hurricane issues, and those don’t often give you enough warning to board up your windows!
While expensive, upgrading our doors and windows also helped our insurance policy. I won’t say it saved us tons of money, but it did save us about 10% and keep our insurance policy from spiking or getting dropped entirely, which is a real concern these days in Florida.
3. Getting A Whole House Generator
The next most costly upgrade on this list is getting a whole-house generator. After experiencing several multi-day hurricane-related power outages in Virginia, we decided a generator was a must-have in Florida. Prolonged power outages aren’t necessarily “damaging,” but they can be inconvenient (no lights or Internet), uncomfortable (no A/C or hot water), and even costly (lost food, flooring damage from the fridge melting out onto the floor, etc).
We opted to have a whole-house Generac generator professionally installed versus buying a portable one from the store. Yes, it was much more expensive (about $8K installed), but it had some big long-term advantages to us:
It’s automatic: When power goes out – even briefly during a normal thunderstorm – it automatically clicks on right away. It also switches back over to the utility power automatically when electricity is restored.
There’s no setup: Since it’s permanently installed and hardwired to our main breaker, we don’t have to mess with wires, plugs, gasoline, or other fuel lines. We also don’t have to lug some big piece of equipment out of our (non-existent) garage.
It’s constantly fueled: It’s hooked up to our natural gas utility line, so we don’t need to worry about refilling gas or propane tanks before a storm comes. It wouldn’t work if the hurricane takes out our gas line, but that’s low risk since it’s buried very deeply underground.
There’s no decision-making: Since we picked a generator large enough to power our whole house, we don’t have to prioritize what gets power and what doesn’t. Portable generators may only power a couple of appliances (like the fridge) or require fuel rationing, which might be hard to do during extended outages. It even keeps the pool running so it won’t get all green, which can happen during periods of extended power outtage since it can’t filter itself.
It’s safer: Sadly, one of the main causes of death after a hurricane is carbon monoxide poisoning due to improper generator use. Ours is outside, and since we barely* have to interact with it, there’s very few ways we could mess it up.
*Generac recommends turning it off to cool for 30 minutes after 24 hours of use, so we did go outside and press a couple of buttons each day after we returned from our evacuation until the power was restored.
All that said, I’ll be honest: our generator has been kind of a headache over the years. We had some issues with improper installation, challenges with the annual maintenance company, and some hiccups reconnecting it during our recent renovation. So if you’d asked me a month ago, I’d have given you a lukewarm review. But now? After 4 days without power from Hurricane Isaias? I’ll sing its praises ALL DAY. Not only did we keep some normalcy in our house during an otherwise stressful time, we became a place for friends and neighbors to come and charge their phones, get on our Wi-Fi, and enjoy some A/C.
4. Adding Hurricane Ties
Hurricane ties (also called hurricane clips or straps) are metal connectors that essentially lock your roof to your walls, making it harder for high winds to rip off your roof. I know, that sounds scary, right? Maybe it’ll be helpful to know that it’s usually an issue with much stronger hurricanes than we’ve had in the last 6.5 years here – so that’s not common at all. In fact there’s zero evidence that our house has ever lost its roof in 36 years of being here. And our neighbors who lived here for 70 years have never even had a broken window, let alone any roof issues. But back to hurricane ties: they became standard building code in Florida in 2002, but older homes (like ours) can be pretty easily retrofitted with them. We paid a local contractor about $900 to install ours to ensure that they met code. And then they were inspected in order to lower our homeowner’s insurance. Very worth it! Highly recommend.
We don’t have attic space under most of our roof, so some of the added ties are visible on the exterior under our roofline (seen above, painted). But when we had the siding redone on a portion of our home during our our recent renovation, they were able to install them to be hidden. Here’s a pic of them before the siding went up.
We added the hurricane ties around the same time we got new windows & doors. That’s because our insurance required us to submit an updated Wind Mitigation Report to get credit for the windows. As I mentioned, this requires a special inspection, so before paying for that, we asked the inspector for tips on other things we could do to improve our report. He suggested these straps and even pointed us to a qualified handyman who could install them.
We’re planning to have the rest of our siding replaced in the coming months, so we’ll be able to get those hidden hurricane straps everywhere soon!
5. Choosing Outdoor Furniture Wisely
We’ve also considered hurricane prep when choosing some of our outdoor furniture. Outdoor items can become dangerous flying objects in high winds, so before any big storm, we move and/or secure all of our outdoor furniture. BUT, since we don’t have a garage or big shed to store them in, we’ve prioritized furniture that folds, stacks, or otherwise is easy to arrange to be a compact and secure grouping in a corner of the fence that shelters it from a lot of the higher wind gusts.
For example, we picked stacking outdoor dining chairs (similar linked) for the table above and on our upstairs deck. Also, these wicker lounge chairs by the pool collapse to be virtually flat. See them leaned up atop the upside-down table below? These features make it easy to condense everything into one, heavy mass that’s less likely to blow around. I’m also a big fan of bungee cords to hold things together so they’re locked in place.
Basically, whenever we buy outdoor items, we make sure we have a plan for what will happen to them in a hurricane.
6. Setting Up Security Cameras
Hurricane Isaias was the first time we’ve had to evacuate for a storm, so it was helpful to have ways to keep an eye on things from afar. We added Ring cameras years ago for general security and monitoring purposes, but they were a big sanity-saver during Isaias. Being able to keep watch for damage, debris, and general storm progress made leaving a lot easier. And thanks to our generator, they all stayed connected the whole time (thanks generator)!
We luckily didn’t experience any damage during Isaias – apart from a scratched fence board from the fallen tree shown above. And knowing that, thanks to these cameras (and reports from helpful neighbors) made the drive back after the storm much less stressful. Thank goodness for no bad surprises waiting for us at home.
Beyond cameras, some other smart devices came in handy too. We knew our leak sensorsunder sinks and major appliances would alert us to issues like a thawing fridge. And our windows & door alarmsconfirmed that they didn’t blow open. Even our generator has an app that tells us if it’s operating correctly, which was really nice to know.
Sure, none of these things actively prevent hurricane damage, but they gave us much-needed peace of mind during our evacuation. Also, three cheers for our fence, which turned out to be ridiculously strong. Imagine how much that giant pine weighted?! And it leaned against it for days before a pro could come get it off for us.
Like we said at the start, some of these hurricane-readiness improvements were bigger & much more costly than others. That’s one reason we’ve added them over time, as budget has allowed. Thankfully, Mother Nature was patient with us, and our area didn’t get hit with any major storms in that time. And now we feel as ready as we can be for future storms – and are hopeful even more advancements over time will pop up, and maybe we can add those on too.
What we know for sure is that the things listed in this post made it easier, faster, and less nerve-racking for us to evacuate when we were told to. And we’re very thankful that it was a no-brainer to prioritize the safety of people & pets and evacuate without a second thought, because we’d already done a lot to protect our home. It made driving away a little easier – and coming home a lot sweeter.
*This post contains affiliate links, so we may earn a small commission when you make a purchase through links on our site at no additional cost to you.
A patio is a wonderful addition to any home, providing a space for relaxation, entertaining, and enjoying the outdoors. But weather conditions can cause mildew or algae. Let’s talk about how to clean the mildew and algae off your patio.
.tasty-pins-banner-container{display:block;margin-bottom:20px;position:relative;width:-moz-fit-content;width:fit-content}.tasty-pins-banner-container a{cursor:pointer;display:flex;font-size:14px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:1px;line-height:1.8em;text-transform:uppercase}.tasty-pins-banner-container a:hover{opacity:1}.tasty-pins-banner-container .tasty-pins-banner{align-items:center;bottom:0;cursor:pointer;display:flex;justify-content:center;left:0;padding-bottom:1em;padding-top:1em;position:absolute;right:0}.tasty-pins-banner-container .tasty-pins-banner svg{margin-right:4px;width:32px}.tasty-pins-banner-container .tasty-pins-banner span{margin-top:4px}.tasty-pins-banner-container a.tasty-pins-banner{text-decoration:none}.tasty-pins-banner-container a.tasty-pins-banner:hover{opacity:.8}.tasty-pins-banner-container a.tasty-pins-banner-image-link{flex-direction:column}.tasty-pins-banner-container a img{margin-bottom:0}.entry-content .wp-block-image .tasty-pins-banner-container img{margin-bottom:0;padding-bottom:0}#et-boc .et-l div .et_pb_image_wrap .tasty-pins-banner-container .tasty-pins-banner{padding-bottom:1em!important;padding-top:1em;text-decoration:none}#et-boc .et-l div .et_pb_image_wrap .tasty-pins-banner-container a.tasty-pins-banner{cursor:pointer;display:flex;font-size:14px;font-weight:700;line-height:1.8em;text-transform:uppercase}#et-boc .et-l div .et_pb_image_wrap .tasty-pins-banner-container a.tasty-pins-banner span{letter-spacing:2px;margin-top:4px}.et-db #et-boc .et-l .et_pb_module .tasty-pins-banner-container a:not(.wc-forward){padding-bottom:0}
However, over time, patio slabs can become plagued with unsightly mildew and algae growth, particularly in shaded or damp areas.
Algae on patio surfaces not only look unpleasant but can also create a slip hazard.
In this blog post, we’ll explore effective methods for removing mildew and algae from your patio, ensuring it remains a safe and inviting space.
Gathering Necessary Supplies
Before starting the cleaning process, it’s important to have all the necessary supplies on hand. Here’s a handy list to get you prepared:
Stiff-bristle brush or scrubbing brush
Garden hose with a spray nozzle or a pressure washer
Protective gloves and eyewear
Broom or leaf blower
Tarp or drop cloths to shield nearby areas
Cleaning agents
Oxygen bleach, which is great for tackling mildew
Algae remover specifically designed for patio surfaces
White vinegar, a natural cleaning alternative
Baking soda for those tough stains
Chlorine bleach for the most stubborn mildew (just be careful with certain materials)
With these supplies, you’ll be ready to tackle any mildew or algae that has taken over your patio.
Preparing the Patio Area
Preparing your patio for cleaning is a straightforward but essential step.
Start by moving all your furniture, potted plants, and decorative items to another spot. This will give you clear access to every inch of your patio and protect your belongings from any potential damage.
Next, grab a broom or a leaf blower to sweep away loose debris, leaves, and dirt.
To protect plants and nearby surfaces from cleaning agents, cover them with a tarp or drop cloth. This is particularly important if your patio is next to wooden decking or porous materials.
Taking these preparatory steps will ensure that your cleaning process goes smoothly and that everything stays in great shape.
Cleaning Methods for Mildew
To get rid of mildew on your patio, start by mixing oxygen bleach with warm water according to the instructions on the package.
Wearing gloves and protective eyewear, apply the solution to the mildew-infested areas using a stiff-bristle brush. Focus on small sections at a time to ensure thorough coverage.
Let the solution sit for about 10-15 minutes so it can break down the mildew effectively. After that, rinse the patio well with a garden hose or pressure washer to remove any residue.
If you prefer a natural approach, a mixture of white vinegar and water works wonders for less severe mildew. Just apply it in the same manner and scrub away.
Dealing with Algae on Your Patio
Algae can make your patio look grimy and can even be slippery.
If you’re dealing with light algae growth, start with a simple solution of water and baking soda.
Sprinkle the baking soda over the algae, then scrub it with a stiff-bristle brush. This should break up the algae and make it easier to wash away.
For more stubborn patches, you’ll want to use an algae remover that’s specifically designed for patio surfaces.
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for application and let the product sit for the recommended time. Afterward, scrub the area thoroughly with your brush to ensure all the algae is lifted.
Once you’ve scrubbed away the algae, rinse the area well with a garden hose or pressure washer. Make sure to get rid of all the cleaning solution to prevent any residue from affecting the patio’s appearance or feel.
Remember, consistent cleaning can prevent algae from taking over, so make this a regular part of your patio maintenance routine.
Preventive Measures
To keep your patio looking its best and free of mildew and algae, regular upkeep is essential.
Start by sweeping your patio frequently to remove leaves, dirt, and other debris that can hold moisture and encourage growth.
Address any drainage issues promptly—standing water is a major contributor to mildew and algae.
Think about how much shade your patio gets. If it’s heavily shaded by trees or bushes, consider trimming them back to allow more sunlight to reach the area. Sunlight helps to dry out moisture and discourages growth.
If your patio is made from a porous material like concrete or sandstone, applying a sealant can provide an extra layer of protection.
Another tip is to move outdoor furniture and potted plants around occasionally. These items can trap moisture beneath them, creating ideal conditions for mildew and algae. By moving them, particularly out of shady areas, you allow those areas to dry out properly.
Consider setting a schedule for light cleanings using your preferred method. Whether it’s a quick scrub with a vinegar solution or a spray down with a hose, frequent maintenance can stop problems before they start.
If you live in a particularly wet or humid climate, you might need to increase the frequency of these cleanings.
By staying proactive, you can enjoy a beautiful and safe patio year-round.
Removing Mildew and Algae from Your Patio
Cleaning your patio can seem like a big job, but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming.
By gathering the right supplies and taking the time to prepare properly, you’ll be well on your way to a sparkling clean outdoor space.
Regular upkeep will not only keep your patio looking great but also prevent mildew and algae from taking hold in the first place.
Simple steps like sweeping often, addressing drainage issues, and allowing more sunlight to reach your patio can make a huge difference. Moving furniture and potted plants around occasionally will also help keep moisture from building up.
By making these tasks part of your regular routine, you’ll maintain a beautiful, safe patio that enhances your outdoor living experience.
So roll up your sleeves, get scrubbing, and enjoy your refreshed patio!
If you or a family member are sensitive to strong odors then you know that painting the inside of your house can be challenging. So, BEHR has formulated their new PREMIUM PLUS Interior Paint & Primer to be “Low Odor”,
This page contains affiliate links. If you purchase a product from these links, we will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Interior Paint & Primer: Key Features
helping it meet LEED and GREENGUARD Gold requirements. But it also offers exceptional durability and hide with a finish that resists mildew and stains. This coating also has exceptional scrub-ability so it’s easy to maintain the color and finish. That makes it ideal for family rooms, living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, and ceilings. For more information on this Behr Premium Plus Low Odor Interior Paint & Primer, log on to Home-Depot-Dot-Com.
The purpose of a sealant, or caulk, on the exterior of a home is to seal gaps that allow air and moisture to infiltrate the structure of the home.
That seems simple enough, but the reality of building materials is that they are constantly moving.
Changes in temperature and humidity cause them to continually expand and contract which means the size of those gaps is constantly changing.
This means that the caulk filling those gaps is regularly being stretched and squeezed, so if it dries hard it will crack within a season or two due to the movement. To have any longevity in an exterior environment, a sealant needs to remain flexible even after it dries.
Because most homes are comprised of many different types of materials, the gaps that need to be filled are often between completely different building materials. So, a successful exterior caulk also needs to bond, or adhere, well to a wide variety of materials and surface textures.
Because an exterior sealant is very visible, it’s also important for it to blend aesthetically with your home. Some caulk options are very flexible but cannot be painted and only come in a few colors. While there are plenty of “paintable” caulk options, many of them dry relatively hard within a few months.
Solution: Elastomeric Caulk
Elastomeric caulk is a great solution because it has the ability to stretch.
Titebond has addressed all those issues with their new all-purpose exterior sealant called TiteShield.
It’s an elastomeric caulk which, as the name implies, can stretch even after it’s completely dry. In fact, TiteShield can expand and contract up to 50% of the joint size while covering gaps up to two inches in width.
TiteShield also bonds well to a variety of building materials from wood and metal to concrete and glass.
Plus, it’s available in a wide variety of colors but can also be painted with ordinary latex paint.
Nobody likes finding roaches in their house. Unfortunately, finding them is a difficult job when you’re ready to apply pesticides. They hide in nooks and crannies you can hardly see, let alone treat!
That’s where COMBAT Max Roach Killing Gel comes in.
This page contains affiliate links. If you purchase a product from these links, we will earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Combat Max Road Killing Gel: Key Features
COMBAT Max Roach Killing Gel’s formula attracts roaches with the food and water they need.
And because it’s a gel you apply with a syringe, you can treat those nooks and crannies where roaches hang out.
Plus the gel starts killing both large and small roaches within a matter of hours by ingestion OR contact so you eliminate even more pests.
