Barrier And Soil Treatments For Termite Control!

This post is provided by Jesse Hughes.

Your home is probably the most expensive item you have purchased. You can expect it to last for the rest of your lifetime.

Unfortunately this is not always the case. Termites are one of the biggest threats to any home. This is because they can exist in your walls for long periods of time without being noticed. For this reason they are able to cause a huge amount of damage.

In fact, it is estimated that termites cost in excess of $5 billion dollars of damage every year.

There are in excess of 2,000 types of termites found across the world. Just 50 of them are found in the states, the only state they have not yet been found in is Alaska.

No matter where you live, if you think you might have a termite problem it is important to talk to your local pest control expert about termite control.

Dealing With Termites

The three main types of termites to concern yourself with are dampwood, drywood and subterranean.

A termite is usually between ¼ and ½ inch long although the kings and queens are often found to be as long as 1 inch.

They eat any cellulose based material. In general this is any type of plant life. As wood is originally plant life it is an excellent source of food for them; all they have to do is reach it.

Unfortunately this means that your home is an excellent target for them.

In general they will cross your yard and then get into your home through cracks, around pipes and wires. Once inside they can start eating your wood and, unchecked, will work their way round your home.

It is worth noting that termites need damp conditions to survive. If you have a leaking gutter or downpipe then your foundations will be permanently damp, allowing the termites in.

Barriers And Soil Treatments

It is important to take as many precautions as you can to ensure the termites never reach your home:

1. Repair any leaking gutters and pipes, this will prevent the termites from having somewhere comfortable to live.

2. Remove excess plant cover and wood mulch, especially near the walls of your home.

3. Make sure all water drains off and away from your property.

4. Seal all entry and exit points around pipes and wires.

5. Keep any wood products away from the outside of the house.

6. Regularly inspect your outbuildings and decking.

7. Screen your vents, this will allow the air to move but prevent termites getting in.

8. Treat your wood with a wood preservative and insecticide; this will make it less appealing or even deadly to any termites.

Perhaps the best tip is to create an area that the termites simply cannot get across.

To do this dig a trench round the outside of your home. It should be six inches deep and six inches wide. Then soak the trench with a good quality termiticide. Making sure the soil is loose at the bottom of the trench will help ensure it soaks in properly.

You can then close the trench in, or preferably fill it with concrete to make an effective barrier. Then all you need to do is stay vigilant.