Termites annually cost $1 billion in damage in the United States. Subterranean termites in particular, can travel underground in soil and can eat wood, roots, or processed cellulose materials like paper and cardboard. They can tunnel through foam insulation or chew through some thin plastics. While termites eat and live in wood, which is what our homes are built on, there are homes who have lasted for generations because they have been properly taken care of. So, how do you prevent termites to come into your home? Although termites are annoying pests, especially when they are infesting homes, they are important pests in our ecosystems. They play an important role in recycling elemental nutrients and increasing organic matter in soils. Their underground tunnelling helps to aerate, drain and mix soil. The problem, however, is when the wood that they are decomposing and tunnelling is part of our home structure. One effective way to prevent termites in our home is by understanding their biology and habits so that we can easily prevent, detect and control their infestation.
How to Prevent Termites in Your Home
Cut Off Moisture
Termites need moisture to survive. They usually enter homes through the surroundings soil, and commonly bringing moisture from the soil into the wood inside a structure. To prevent termites, minimize soil moisture under and next to structures. Minimizing soil moisture in and around homes can be done by:
- Sloping soil grade, exterior paving and slab patios to deplete water away from the home.
- Maintain your roof gutter system and prevent blocked drains.
- Ventilate crawl spaces and attics
- Keep the roof and plumping free of leaks.
About Vegetation
While we love to have plants and other forms of vegetation around the home, this can also contribute to moisture and other problems associated with pests that includes termites. Vegetation around the house may hinder the evaporation of moisture from walls and soil next to the building. Planting shrubs may obscure the airflow around the basement or crawl space vents. Regular watering of vegetation will lead to an increase in moisture levels around and under a home, which could lead for termites to be finally attracted to your home. Also, the roots of your vegetation may lead to create cracks in a foundation wall. If you cannot avoid having plants in the surrounding of your home, make sure that shrubs with trunks are at least three feet away from the house. Keep your shrubs clipped to allow around 20 inches of clear space between your vegetation and the side of the house. This clearance and space will allow adequate light and airflow around the structure. If it is a tree you are planting, the mature size of the tree will determine its distance from your home. If the height of the tree is about 15 to 20 feet, it should be at least 20 feet away from your home. Trees that are too close to a home may soon have problems that include branches damaging the roof and siding, tree roots extending their length inside the home structure and foundation.
Landscape Mulches
Landscape mulches such as bark and gravel can create a warm and moist atmosphere for termites. If you want to use mulch for aesthetic reasons, apply only a thin layer of it as you can.
Pressure-Treated Wood
Copper-chromium-arsenic or CCA pressure-treated pine is designed to protect wood against insect attack and fungal decay. The use of high quality CCA wood is known for effectively deterring pests. However, there are also some negative side-effects to the use of CCA such as:
- Burned pressure-treated wood contains toxic arsenic that is released in the smoke and some stays in the ashes
- Drilling or sawing CCA wood during construction makes sawdust that is not safe to inhale
- Health risks have been associated with prolonged human skin contact with this type of wood.
To still be able to take advantage of CCA treated wood, only use them in portions of a home that may be vulnerable to pest infestations. Wood that is in direct contact with the soil can allow termites an easy access so make sure to set deck pilings, stair framing and other construction materials on concrete supports above soil grade even if you are using pressure-treated wood.
Preventive Pest Control offers safe and effective termite treatment. To schedule a FREE appointment, call us today!