Termites are a major detriment to both personal and business property. Annually, the little wood eaters account for more than one billion dollars’ worth of property damage in the United States. No matter what time of year, termites can strike and leave your home or business buildings severely damaged. Termites are sneaky critters that burrow into buildings and lunch on the wood without being noticed. This is the reason why they are able to cause such catastrophic destruction.
Termites, anywhere in the world, are considered a major problem. Many homes and businesses are destroyed by the wicked little creatures because they went unnoticed by the home owner. Because they are so hard to catch, many believe that there is nothing that can be done to help prevent termites from attacking their property. They are sadly mistaken.
There are many things that can be done to prevent termites from burrowing into your home or business and keep them from causing you thousands of dollars in damages.
But first, you have to familiarize yourself to three conditions that attracts termites.
Soil. Termites are naturally subterranean. Meaning, they thrive underground. It is in their nature to build elaborate tunnel systems that extend up to three feet below the surface. They burrow in to the soil to store their food.
Wood. Cellulose, which is found in wood, is a favorite among termites. If a single wood touches the soil, expect termites anytime soon.
Water. As any living organism, termites need water to survive. May it be in the form of a leaky faucet, natural precipitation, or even trapped moisture underground.
Here are a few pointers to help keep your home termite free.
- To prevent infestation, remove all stumps from the area and keep all wooden parts of the building at least six inches above the foundation.
- Minimize the use of wood mulch near the foundation.
- Fix any leaky faucet and try to keep your floor always dry. Eliminating water source, which is one of the three factors for termites to survive, is a must-do.
- The next thing a building owner should do is keep wood and cellulose materials away from the building’s foundation.
- If it happens that you are building a house with a wooden base, treat the wood with anti-treatment formulas.
- Scrap any exposed wood or store them in a concrete storage away from the house if you intend to use them in the future.