Termite Prevention Is Better Than Cure
The three things that termites absolutely must have for survival are soil, wood and water.
There are quite a few steps you can take to prevent termites from entering your home. Doing regular checks around the perimeter of your house and fences is the first step.The Qld BSA also lists general maintenance jobs that can prevent termites. Please read through these other preventative measures.
- Be vigilant in making sure your home is clean from rubbish and timber lying around. It’s not a good idea to have firewood or excess timber and building materials lying on the ground around your house, make sure to store it properly. Any sort of wood or dead tree branches touching the ground is an open invitation to hungry termites. Store the wood on top of a thick concrete slab or metal stands raised off the ground, this way if termites are building mud tunnels to it they can be seen.
- Remove any brush or heavy growth from around your home. Vegetation can create areas of intense moisture, which is necessary for colony survival.
- Only use treated timbers to build any wooden structures that will have direct contact with the ground such as garden beds, retaining walls, decks and pergolas. The chemicals in treated timber do not guarantee that termites will not invade the wood, but they can act as a deterrent. It is better to use concrete supports that raise the wooden support beams for decks and pergolas off of the ground. This is a great way to avoid wood to ground contact.
- If your house has vents to sub floor areas then ensure that they remain unblocked to encourage airflow and keep the subfloor dry.
- If your house is built on a concrete slab then make sure the edge of the slab is exposed as well as the weep holes.
- Don’t build garden beds up against your house walls as this hides the edge of the slab and covers the weep holes giving termites the perfect undetected entry point.
- Avoid using mulch near your home. Mulch provides a food source and a water source for hungry termites and if placed near the exterior of your home, it is only a small step for a colony to move into your walls. If you must use mulch then place it far away from your house or try one of the new rubber type mulches.
- Termite shields (the metal strips around the foundation) do not stop termites from entering your home but they do force termites out into the open where they can be detected. Therfore it’s important to make sure these shields are intact and not damaged in any way.
- Termite colonies are attracted to moisture and need water to survive so removing their water source is a must. It’s very important to ensure that any leaking taps or pipes internally and externally are fixed to prevent moisture levels in the sub floor. Eliminate any standing or pooling water from around your home.
- Seal any cracks or holes within the foundation of your home. This will help prevent easy access for wandering termites.
- Last but not least annually get your home inspected for termite damage. An annual inspection can save your home if termites are found early. If termites are not found in the home, the trained pest control specialists can at least offer recommendations to help you prevent a termite invasion. They may catch something you missed.
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