Every homeowner wants to avoid a pest infestation at all costs since it can be the reason for inconveniencies and property damage. Roaches, ants, spiders, bed bugs, fleas, and rodents are pests you don’t want to have in your home. But there’s another most hated vexation found in homes: termites. Termites are known to be silent destroyers since they can cause severe damages to your home without giving any hint. And once they build their nest and mounts, it’s difficult to eliminate them. So, when it comes to termites, prevention is always the best option. If you want to keep your home termite-proof, keep reading to learn more!

Key Takeaways:

• Termites need moist soil to thrive and are attracted to wet areas, so eliminate standing water and chronically moist soil near your house.
• Create and maintain good ventilation in your basement and attic to keep those crawl spaces as dry as possible.
• Using termite-resistant building materials, such as cedar, redwood, and juniper is an excellent way to termite-proof your home.
• Slope all exterior grades away from the house to maintain good drainage and adjust sprinkles to keep them from spraying directly onto wood siding and walls. 

Remove Access for Termites

Over time, your home naturally settles, and many materials, including wood, concrete, metal, and PVC shrink and expand. Unfortunately, termites are known to pass through expansion areas of your home, such as plumbing openings, cracks, and small crevasses. In fact, termites only need 1/32 of an inch to enter your house. So, finding and sealing any potential access areas is vital. A few methods of removing termite access include:

• Sealing everything that has to be sealed, including pipe joints, cracks, tubing, and other potential openings where termites can crawl in. 
• Patching cracks in your property’s foundation with a patching compound or cement.
• Painting wood to fill in the small crevices and cracks
• Installing bug screens over foundation and attic vents

Fix Water Leaks and Cracks

Water leaks can be an open invitation for termite infestation. Knowing that they thrive in moist environs, it’s crucial to fix any form of leaks in your home. If you’ve had a water leak in your home for a long period, ensure that you have your home inspected. A home inspection is the first step to termite-proof your home. Note that acting fast is crucial in preventing any potential invasion. And once you’ve fixed the water leaks, thoroughly clean the damp areas and make sure that they’re kept dry. It’s also wise to visit those areas again for reinspection. 

Eliminate Wood to Ground Contact in Your Home

Termites are known to enter homes easily if there’s wood making contact with the ground. Some examples include a wood siding, wood lattice, and door or window frames that make contact with the ground. Anything made of wood should be at least 15 cm (6 inches) above the ground level to prevent termites from getting into your home. You may need to put a concrete base on some wooden items in your home. Besides, cutting off the base of wood lattice work touching the ground can also help keep termites out of your home. 

Maintain Proper Ventilation and Sealing

Ventilation and sealing are essential in moisture control. Without the right ventilation in basements and attics, condensation can build up and seep into wood, making it the perfect habitat for termites- condensation also causes rot and mildew. And without the right sealing and moisture barriers, moisture will build up behind walls. The good news is that you can prevent moisture build up by maintaining proper ventilation and sealing. And without moisture, termites have fewer reasons to explore your home, which makes this one of the most effective ways to make your home termite-proof. 

Improve Drainage

Water collecting around your home’s foundation can create a moist environment that attracts termites- termites will most likely infest if the soil next to the foundation is consistently moist. So, you should make sure that your home’s drainage system is working properly and is directing water away from the foundation. You could grade your yard and add downspout extenders to prevent water from pooling around the house. Moreover, irrigation systems and lawn sprinklers should be oriented to minimize water puddling near the foundation. 

Regular Inspections

It’s essential to check your property for termite infestation. Regular inspection ensures that you know if you have pests and where they are hiding. Note that besides inspecting the inside of the house, you should also check wood and wooden furniture as these are attractive to termites. Also, your lawn can be a source of termite activity, so it’s crucial to keep an eye on it. Look for signs of termite activity, for instance discarded wings or mud tubes.

Moreover, you should get termite inspections done annually by a professional. A pest control professional will typically have the knowledge to spot a termite infestation before it’s too late. The earlier you spot the termites, the easier it is to deal with them. 

Call a Professional Pest Control Company

When things get rough, the best resort is to seek help from the pros. Our pest control professionals are well-rounded in handling termites and other pests. We’ll help inspect and treat termites to make your home termite-proof. Besides, we’ll give you practical insights on how to maintain your home without termites infestation. Call us- we have the very best treatments and solutions for termites and all kinds of pests found in your property.