Tips to protect your house from termites
Elimination of wood in contact with the ground
The thing that one must know is that termites’ problems gain momentum when the wood comes in contact with the soil. The components of the building should never be in direct contact with the ground. The contact between the earth and the wood provides easy access to moisture, shelter, and most importantly food. Through this line, the termites get hidden passages to enter the house.
Door and window frames, wood siding, and other wooden structures should be at least six inches above ground level. This is the basics of constructing a building. Removing the soil-to-wood contact will need you to pull or regrade the mulch or soil away from the foundation. You can do this by cutting the bottom of latticework made of wood, posts or steps should be made of concrete base.
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In case the steps and steps embedded in the concrete are made of wood, then they can be in danger of getting attacked by the termites as well. Through the wooden structures, these pests can affect the concrete also. Unlike what most people believe, even the pressure-treated wood is also vulnerable to their attacks. A cut end or a small crack is enough to allow termites to enter and start building the tunnel within.
Avoid accumulation of moisture
Moisture and termites make a great team. if the moisture is allowed to accumulate near the property or the foundation, your house will be in great danger. As termites are attracted to the moisture present in the soil, they start infesting the soil close to the foundation that remains moist at all times.
To avoid such a scenario, one must divert the accumulated water through fully functioning gutters, splash blocks, downspouts, or drain systems. Since the rainy season is approaching, one must get the maintenance done of the pipes, air ducts of the air conditioners, leaking faucets, etc. It is also important that the area near the foundation is graded outwards making the water drain away.
Places with poor drainage systems are also in great danger of having a termite infestation. Make sure that the drains and tiles are properly installed. Irrigation systems or lawn sprinklers should also be installed in a way to minimize water accumulation in the garden area.
Check for crawl places
The pests hide in the crawling places and for that reason, one should always be alert of the crawl places in their house. Especially look at the humidity and moisture of all the crawling places. Most of the time, these spaces remain hidden from our point of view and let the dust and moisture accumulate there. Make sure such spaces have a vapor barrier or are build accordingly.
Don’t place your furniture and other things accumulated in a small place. Even if you are making do in a small area, then ensure that you clean these places and reduce the moisture and humidity of the place. Keep a distance of 5 inches between the wall and the furniture. Also try to keep the vents free from dirt, debris, leaves, and other kinds of vegetation.
The humidity and moisture of the crawl spaces can be reduced by using a 4-6ml of polythene sheet. Spread it over the soil surface and let it act as a vapor barrier. This will reduce the evaporation and condensation of the moisture. For this, you can take the help of the pest management team, who can help you set up the right things to reduce the moisture inside the house.
Store firewood safely
One must take special care as to where they store their wood debris and firewood. Cardboard boxes, lumber, firewood, newspapers, and such other items that can attract termites, are a source of food for them. If these things are stacked against the wall or the foundation can offer hidden entry to the wooden structures. This may allow the termites to bypass the soil treated with termiticide.
One must also take care of ivy, vines, and other plantings that touch the house. This should be avoided at all costs. Wherever it seems practical cut the dead roots and stumps that are close to the foundation or the walls. If not checked regularly, these can become an easy passage for the pests to enter your house.
Use of mulch carefully
If you are in love with your garden and want to feed it with too much mulch, then think again. The mulch can easily become a breeding ground for termites among other pests. The landscape mulch is preferred for its aesthetic beauty and health benefits for the flora. But one must remember to use it sparingly, especially for those whose house already has a termite infestation.
Improper use of the mulch can aggravate the pest infestation in your house and take it to a whole new level. The moisture-retaining property of the mulch and its protection against extreme temperatures makes it a favorable option for termites to thrive. Even though they don’t prefer it as a source of food due to its low nutritional value, it still makes it easy for them to be transported to a great location.
One can use pea gravel and crushed stone as a better alternative for wood mulch when it comes to providing aesthetic beauty. They also retain the moisture of the underlying soil. Use mulch sparingly so that they should never come in contact with e framing of doors, windows, or wood sidings.
Professionals should run inspection
According to pest control services in Greater Noida, houses in India should get their property inspected for termites and other pests from time to time. in case there is a termite infestation, it should be treated immediately or else it would cause a heavy monetary and time loss. It is one of the best ways to prevent termite infestation. This allows the landlord to use preventive measures to ensure that their property is safe from any kind of termite attacks.
