If termite damage doesn’t worry you, it should. Every year these little pests gnaw through the structures of homes and cause billions of dollars in damage. You should know how to identify them and protect your property from these little vermin. The first step to termite prevention comes down to awareness of them. Termites on the property will rarely emerge from their mud tubes or the food sources they tunnel in. Unfortunately, most people have no awareness of termites in their home until they catch a swarm or discover wood shavings from their colony.

Checking for Termites

First, probe the wood for hollow or exposed places. You might also look for a hollow area in the wood. Another thing that you should be aware of is termite swarms. In some cases, people have mistaken termite swarms for an ant swarm. One of the most common types of termites that you will discover in the US is the native subterranean termite. The less common termites that you might encounter include the Formosan termite and the Drywood termite.

How to Prevent Termite Infestations

To prevent an infestation, you should make the structure as unappealing as possible to these little wood feeders. For example, you might build the home with a concrete foundation. In addition, you will ventilate the space between the wood and the soil. You will also cover the surfaces of wood that have been exposed to a metal or sealant barrier.

Keeping Your Termite Prevention Barriers

The goal of the construction is to keep the soil dry next to the foundation, and you will give it the proper drainage and grading. You will also eliminate the number of openings where termites will have access to the home. For example, fill in the cracks within the cement foundation, and wherever the utilities go through the wall, you should caulk, grout or cement it. Leaks within the home should be fixed as soon as possible.

Finally, you should also check to ensure that shrubs and trees don’t get too close to the structure. Areas with termites will feed off this, and it hands the termites direct access to the wood surfaces. You will occasionally inspect the home to lower the risk that a termite colony will form. The best way to handle termites is through having licensed professionals come out to eliminate the termite problem. Having seen a multitude of circumstances, these professionals will understand the best way to get rid of them.