How to Protect Your Home from Termites

Termites can be dreadful, especially for homeowners who have not protected their houses from a possible termite infestation. Termites are dangerous because of their ability to eat a home from under the home owner’s feet without their knowledge until when it is already too late. These pests can chew through flooring, wood, and wallpaper without being detected. If this is not scary enough, the fact that they do it round the clock, seven days a week puts the structural integrity of your house at risk. Your home may suffer significant damages if the termites are left to rein havoc over a long period.

Fortunately, there are tips that all homeowners can apply to protect their houses from the infestation of termites. Some of these tips have been endorsed by the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) to help you protect your home from termites.

Ensure That Wood Is Not in Contact With the Ground

Termites often find a conducive habitat in timber. Termites often find food, shelter, moisture and easy access to the house when the wood of the house is in direct contact with the ground. You should ensure that the wooden side doors and windows are placed six inches above the ground. You might also need to re-grade or push mulch further away from the foundation of your house to eliminate wood-soil contact.

Having a concrete base and erecting supporting steps will also help you protect your home against termite infestation. It is also essential for you to know that wooden stairs or posts embedded in concrete are likely to be attacked by termite because they extend into the soil. Pressure-treated poles and wood are also vulnerable to termite attacks because termites get into the wood through cracks or build tunnels on the surface of the wood.

Prevent Moisture from Accumulating Close to the Foundation of Your Home

Termites prefer a habitat that is moist. Therefore, by keeping the area near the foundation of your home dry, you create a harsh environment for them to thrive. You should install well-designed gutters, splash blocks and downspouts to divert water away from the foundation of your home—repair all leaking pipes, air conditioning units, and faucets to eliminate water leakage. The ground next to the foundation should be graded to encourage drainage of water away from the house.

Minimize Humidity and Moisture in Crawl Areas of the House

The standard building codes dictate that a square foot of venting space should be made for every 150 square feet of crawl space. However, this can change for crawl spaces that are fitted with vapour barriers. The vents should be kept clean at all times. They should not be blocked by debris of leaves or any other form of dirt. You can also install polyethylene sheets to minimize moisture and humidity in these crawl spaces.

Avoid Storing Firewood in Crawl Spaces and Near the Foundation of Your House

Fuelwood, cardboard, boxes and all the other wood products provide conducive living habitats for termites by providing food and shelter. When they are put against the foundation of your house, they find hiding spots within the cracks of the foundation where they make their entry into your living space. You should also clear all the plants growing close to you’re the foundation as they may attract termites into the house. You should strive to eliminate all dead roots and tree stumps below and around the home. Any other type of form boards around the house should also be removed.

Do Not Use a Lot of Mulch

This is good advice, especially for house owners who are already battling with a termite infestation. Mulch is good for its health advantages to the plant and the environment. It is also aesthetically valuable. Nonetheless, when mulch is used in the wrong way, it will lead to termite infestation in your house. Termites love mulch because it offers protection against adverse weather conditions and its ability to retain moisture. Mulch is not attractive to termites because of its nutritional value but because of its ability to hold on to moisture.

Call a Professional Pest Control Firm

If you reside in NJ, calling a pest control NJ Company will help with your case. A professional will customize solutions to your specific problem. They will prescribe a termiticide for your particular situation. They will come up with preventive solutions in cases where termites have not yet arrived and control measures where termites have already infested your house. If you requested the services of pest control before, maintaining the same company will prove useful.

These are some of the measures which you can put in place to control termite infestation in your house. Remember to practice preventive measures because it will save you from the considerable expense that might occur when you are supposed to take control measures after infestation.