Are you seeking effective ways of limiting termite presence in your home? If you do, you’ll find this article very informative.
All you need to do is read this termite prevention guide to the end.
Preventative Termite Treatment Options
Every homeowner dreads a situation where termites infest their property.
However, that’s a reality that may occur when adequate preventive measures aren’t taken. Termites can wreak significant havoc on a property when they invade.
However, this doesn’t have to occur in the first place, which is why we’re discussing termite prevention. Due to the extent of damage, fixing damages caused by termites can be quite extensive. This in turn attracts huge costs.
How To Prevent Termites
One of the first things you’ll need to be concerned about termite prevention is the species you’re likely dealing with. Here, we’re talking about subterranean termites and drywood termites.
Each of these termite categories destroys structures differently.
In a bid to prevent these from infesting your home, you’ll need to adopt different treatment approaches.
Best Ways To Preventing Termite Infestation
Termite prevention largely seeks to get rid of favorable conditions that encourage termite presence. These range from excess moisture as well as wood-to-ground contact among others.
All of these will be discussed in this section. Also, different preventive treatment approaches for termites will be provided for subterranean as well as drywood species.
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Arrange for Annual Termite Inspections
One of the primary preventive actions to be taken by homeowners is to arrange for yearly termite inspections.
Such inspections must be performed by reputable and qualified experts. When such inspections are carried out, treatments may follow for active infestations.
Such may include direct wood treatment or other forms depending on how a structure is constructed.
What more? Monitoring systems such as baits are put in place to help determine the extent of the problem if there’s any at all.
Inspection is one solid strategy if you are looking at how to protect your home from termites.
i. Preventing Subterranean Termite Infestation
When dealing with subterranean termites’ presence, the preventive approach here is a little different from those performed for drywood termites.
There’s a long list of preventive actions to be taken and they include the following;
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Reduction of Wood-to-Ground Contact
Looking for how to avoid termites?
Subterranean termites are easily attracted to exposed-wood that come in contact with soils. Such areas are entry or access points through which termites gain entrance to your home.
If such wood must be exposed to soil, it should be treated with a termiticide.
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Sealing Possible Entry Points To Avoid Termites
Subterranean termites will also gain access to a property through gaps found around gas and water lines. It’s important to have these well sealed to keep termites at bay.
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Getting Rid of Cellulose Rich Materials Lying Around your Home
Generally, termites thrive in areas where food is abundant. Such food is known as cellulose. Most times, you may unknowingly toss around cellulose-rich items such as cartons, wood, and landscaping mulch.
When these are littered right to the foundation, it’s only a matter of time before subterranean termites come-calling. You only need to have these cleared and replace cellulose-rich landscaping mulch with alternative materials.
Also, clear out any cellulose material as far off from your foundation as possible.
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Wood Siding Should be Above the Ground
When wood siding comes in contact with the ground, opens up a possible passage for termites. These pests will readily invade your home through such exposed wood.
By adjusting your wood siding to be above ground, you save yourself the stress of such a problem developing.
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Eliminate Excess Moisture Sources
Excess moisture sources are always inviting to subterranean termites. You may want to look around for pooling water around your home’s foundation or on your roof.
Have these removed? Also, be on the lookout for moisture issues in your home’s basement.
Plumbing issues are also known to encourage subterranean termite presence. Therefore, fix all leaky plumbing in addition to dripping condensation lines of air conditioners.
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Inspect All Lumber Before Use
Any lumber (used or unused) you bring home for DIY projects should be properly inspected before bringing them into your home. This helps prevent the unintentional introduction of termites into your home.
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Seek Professional Help
Professional help is indispensable when you need to eliminate the chance of termites invading your home. Monitoring devices may be installed in addition to inspections and termite proofing.
ii. Preventing Drywood Termite Infestation
Drywood termites will easily get into your home through cracks or openings on wood. As expected, you’ll need to carry out preventive actions to safeguard your property from possible damage.
The following steps should help prevent drywood termites.
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Sealing up All Access Points
No matter how well-built a structure is, it’s likely to steadily deteriorate with time.
This is why constant maintenance is necessary to keep it in good condition. Tiny cracks on exterior wood are among common issues you may notice upon close inspection.
These cracks and crevices will need to be sealed up.
One creative way to do this is by applying a fresh coat of termite-proof paint over cracked surfaces. This helps with the sealing process. What more? Consider that your foundation vents, as well as attic areas, are likely to be exposed.
Luckily, you can fix such problems by installing bug screens. Drywood termites will have a difficult time breaching such areas.
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Eliminating Food Sources
Apart from the wood found on your structure, other food sources create the first attraction.
These include deadwood including trees and firewood. Stacking these around your structure will only create a favorable condition for termites to come around.
Have these removed as far as possible from your home’s structure? Also, it’s important that you closely inspect firewood and lumber before using them.
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Lumber Inspection
Used lumber is the most vulnerable when it comes to termite infestation.
These, including unused lumber, should be closely inspected before using them for DIY projects. You may also want to pay close attention to your wood shingles. Such points are quite vulnerable to termite attack.
Preventing termites is one action you must take seriously. These pests are known to cause all sorts of havoc to structures with billions of dollars being lost yearly within the United States alone.
With the termite prevention strategies given above, you should have fewer pest-related problems.