Many homes have been destroyed by the infestation of termites which live in colonies and attack your house in colonies too. Termites are of different types such as the flying termite, dry-wood termite, subterranean termites and Formosan termites. All these can infest at places which is not easy for you to inspect. It is always advisable to take the help of professionals while dealing with termites.
Steps to Protect Your Home from Termites
- If the soil has moisture it will attract the termites, so it is required to keep moisture away from your house. The gutters should be clean and must drain at a distance from your house. Leakage of water must be avoided because termites not only use wood to burrow, but also the soil in search of moisture.
- All the wooden debris surrounding your place should be removed because it is like food to the termites, and after they are done with the debris they are going to eat away your house. Things like newspapers, cardboard boxes, firewood, etc should be kept away from your house and its surroundings.
- Your house should be crack free. Cracks are an easy opening for the termites and should be repaired and sealed.
- Structures made up of wood should not touch the ground. There should be a minimal space of half a foot between the wooden object and the ground.
- Redwood, cedar and juniper are termite-resistant woods which should be used as they are less attractive as a food source for the termites, though not termite-proof.
- Using sand as a barrier is pretty effective and useful, especially for those who do not prefer using chemicals. Termites can move particles of certain sizes using their mouths to burrow. That sand particles which can go through a 16-mesh screen can stop termites to tunnel through the sand into your home. This sand barrier should be done by a professional who will build thick trenches of sand all around your foundation or will pump the sand below your house using a sand-pump.
- Regular inspection for termites is a healthy thing to do, which is to remove the colony of termites while it is building up and have not caused much damage to your valuables.
- Never try to fight away or kill the termites all by yourself. People sometimes try using insect sprays to kill them when they find the colony in one of their property or nearby. The spray is not good enough to kill and the termites move away, often moving right into your place.
General Ways to Kill Termites
- Borate Termite Treatment- This is carried out by applying it directly on the wood, like a coat, usually carried out during the construction time.
- Liquid Termite Treatment- Liquid termiticides are sprayed in the surroundings of your house to keep the termites away.
- Termite Baits- Baits are put around your house to kill the termites as they spread pesticides through the workers.
- Fumigation- This method is only used for drywood termites found in the southern parts of United States.