How to Prevent Termite Infestation in Your Home

Termites are a common problem for most home owners, but fear not, here are many tips that will help save your home from termite infestation.

My rule of thumb is to regularly inspect the structure of your home. Keep a log to note any areas of concern. You can also take pictures to really see if there is a difference. Signs of termites are mud tunnels, piles of sawdust like material, and sometimes you can see a trail.

Tip 1. When ever possible use building materials that are termite resistant naturally such as redwood, cedar and juniper. These types of woods have a natural termite repellent.

Tip 2 Idle water is notorious for attracting these critters. They like moist living conditions so any idle water spots will naturally make the soil very moist and in turn making a very happy hope for termites.

Tip 3 Crawl spaces are known for getting a termite party started because they tend to be moist, have gaps and have dinner awaiting the termites. I suggest using a thin polyethylene film and lay it down in the crawl space. This gives the sub-floor some protection. I also suggest calking any gaps to prevent a right of passage for these guys.

Tip 4 Have a good drainage system for your yard. Make sure your property is properly graded and have the drainage sloped away from your home and avoid puddle spots. This creates idle water so you are back to square one.

Tip 5 DO NOT keep scrap wood in close proximity to you homes structure. From the scrap wood these guys will go right to your structural beams and then you will really have a problem on your hands.

Tip 6 Make sure the landscaping close to your home is well pruned and give your yard frequent manicures to prevent moisture. This includes making sure your sprinkler system is set to minimize spraying water on the home itself.

Tip 7 Decks and wood structures in the yard are also open game for termite infestation. Use a good quality weather sealer and make sure you seal your structures including window frames regularly.

Tip 8 You can not just solve the termite problem at surface, you have to get to the source of their party and crash it other wise they will continue to travel to other areas of your home once they are done with one. They are unstoppable!

Tip 9 Make sure wood is not buried in the soil around the home during preconstruction. Once you are living in your house, dispose of wood including saw dust properly and don't burry it These suckers will find it and just make room for a house party.

Tip 10 Do not leave tree stumps and roots in place. You have to pull these out.

Tip 11 Do not take this lightly Termites are a real problem so if you are not making progress on your own, do not hesitate to call a professional.

Good luck with preventing termite infestations in your home!