When it comes to infesting homes and other buildings, termites are incredibly proficient, gaining access through damp spots caused by anything from vegetation and plants to poor ventilation. Being aware of warning signs and taking preventive measures can help stop termite problems before they become too large to ignore. Consider the following tips for preemptively dealing with termite infestations:
• Don’t affix wooden trellises to exterior walls.
• Keep mulch, wood debris, scrap lumber, sawdust and firewood away from your home. If you keep firewood outside your house during the winter, raise it off the ground.
• Trim all shrubs, bushes and other dense greenery away from your home’s foundation. Move mulch away from the foundation as well.
• Don’t stack, store or bury wood debris adjacent to your home.
• Remove infested trees and stumps.
• Keep a good coat of paint on all exterior wood.
• Apply clear caulk to cracks and wood separation on exterior trim.
• Repair leaking faucets and water lines, both indoors and outdoors.
• Fix leaky roofs and gutters.
• Don’t allow leaves to accumulate in gutters and drains.
• Grade soil so water (including air conditioning condensate) runs away from foundations.
• Ventilate crawlspaces and attics to reduce humidity.
• Cover at least 90 percent of the soil in crawlspaces with plastic sheeting.
• Ideally, wood siding, stucco and foam board should be at least six inches away from the ground.
• Seal all cracks and holes in your home’s foundation to block access points.
When looking for a pest control company, it’s important to find one that can explain how to correct certain termite-inviting conditions in your home. According to John Williams, owner of Hi Tech Termite Control of the Bay Area, Inc. in Hayward, it’s also important for the firm to be highly responsive to your specific needs. “A company’s responsiveness is often related to how engaged the owner is with day-to-day operations,” he says. “You want to work with a company that has a principal with whom you can deal directly. You shouldn’t have to go through several managers to get an answer.”
