Termites are a real nuisance and hard to get rid of once you have them. They are extremely destructive and can cause significant damage to your home and its contents. They are so small that you may not even know that you have them until the damage is done. When that happens, don’t expect your homeowner’s insurance to cover it because most policies do not. However, implementing a termite prevention plan can prevent such a catastrophe. To help you do that, here are seven ways to prevent termite damage.
1. Eliminate Excess Moisture as Part of Your Termite Prevention Plan
When basements, crawl spaces, decks, and other structures contain excess moisture, they become a breeding ground for termites. One way to eliminate such moisture is to ensure that your home’s drainage system works properly. Make sure your gutters and downspouts are not clogged. If necessary, install downspout extensions so that the water drains away from your home’s foundation. You can also eliminate excess moisture within your home by installing a dehumidifier.
2. Avoid Ground Contact for the Control of Termites
As part of your termite prevention treatment plan, you should ensure that no wooden members of your home’s foundation, framing, or siding are in direct contact with the ground’s surface. This is because termites live in the ground, and such wood provides a direct bridge for them to enter your home. If there is not at least 12 to 18 inches of separation, you may need to pull some of the soil, mulch, and other organic material away from your home’s foundation.
3. Declutter Your Home for Termite Prevention
Termites will not only inhabit the structural members of your house, but they will also invade furniture and other wooden items within your home. Also, watch out for cardboard boxes, newspapers, and magazines. They make excellent breeding grounds for termites, especially if they are moist. You should go through your home room by room and look for ways to reduce clutter. Additionally, ensure that furniture and other items are termite free before moving them from one room to another.
4. Fix Water Leaks for Termites Management
We have already established that termites are attracted to moisture. As part of your termite management plan, ensure that none of your plumbing fixtures are dripping. Check for wet spots under sinks and around appliances that use water. Also, check your outdoor faucets to ensure they are not leaking into your basement or crawl space. Another area to check to prevent termites is to ensure that the drip line from your air conditioning equipment is draining properly.
5. Take Advantage of the Sun for Termite Prevention Treatment
Until now, we have mostly discussed how to prevent termites. But what should you do if you see termites? Obviously, you will need professional help if they are in the walls and other parts of your house. However, if you discover a small item with only a few termites, you might be able to remedy that situation by placing the item in the sun. Termites cannot stand the heat, and the sun will not only kill the termites but also dry out the item that attracted them.
6. Apply Borax as a Pre-Primer for Preventing Termites
Borax is very effective in the control of termites. When painting wood, furniture, doors, or window frames, apply a coat of boric acid to the wood as a pre-primer before applying the finish coats of paint. The wood will absorb the borax, which can be a barrier to termite infestation for decades. Borax and boric acid can typically be purchased from home stores or online retailers.
7. Find out How to Prevent Termite Damage from an Expert
In addition to the seven tips presented here, you can find out more about how to prevent termite damage by contacting a professional. For instance, a contractor specializing in waterproofing basements and crawl spaces could show you how to rid your home of excess moisture. If you know you already have termites, a pest control specialist could greatly help. You might also need to contact someone who specializes in repairing damaged framing.
Correcting Termite Damage
If your home, basement, or crawl space has been damaged by termites, contact us today. We are experts at repairing those areas and can restore your home to its original pre-infestation condition. We can also show you how to prevent termites by eliminating wet areas that tend to attract them.
Other services we provide include concrete leveling, framing repair, retaining wall installation, and yard drainage. We are fully licensed and insured. We are a small company that has been serving the Middle Tennessee area, including Nashville and Murfreesboro, since 2004.