As mentioned in a previous article about termite infestation ("Termite Tribulations"), the average single-family home has as many as four termite colonies beneath it (and each colony has as many as 1 million winged residents). The smallest of cracks in your foundation -- usually a basement or concrete slab -- is enough for those sneaky termites to gain entry into
your home. And once they're inside, anything made of wood -- from door frames to floors to furniture -- is fair game. As if this scenario weren't bad enough, after they feast on wood, termites leave behind a chemical trail that sends signals to other termites that food is near. Once started, this trail of destruction is impossible to stop without the services of a
professional who is skilled at locating the hidden regions of your home where these termites take up residence.
As a homeowner, you can never prevent termite infestation with 100 percent certainty. However, you can take various measures to decrease the probability of infestation in your home. Considering both the cost of damage and inspection/extermination, you have absolutely nothing to lose by trying every one of these precautions.
What are termites attracted to, besides wood? Moisture. It's extremely difficult to ward off moisture throughout your home, and especially underneath it, where termites gain initial entry to your property. The good news is that in many cases, the problem starts in areas you can reach -- outside and around your home, where wood products are exposed to the elements and thus trap moisture. You can discourage the conditions conducive to the accumulation of moisture by:
Trimming all shrubs, bushes and other dense greenery away from the foundation of your home.
So many homeowners collect piles of firewood outside their homes come wintertime. But some of us who don't use the entire pile let it sit throughout the rest of the year. This does you no good for many reasons. First, the firewood begins to rot as it's exposed to changes in the weather; second, it's ultimately useless because it becomes wet with
moisture; and third (and most important), it's a magnet for termites seeking a home. You'll obviously need to store some firewood outdoors during the winter months -- particularly if you light fires often -- so your best bet is to keep the pile raised off the ground and away from the edge of your house.
Consistent with the reasoning of the above-listed point, remove all lumber, tree stumps and any other variety of wood from the parameters of your home. If you're saving some wood for that home-improvement project you're planning to tackle on a rainy day, store it in your garage in a dry pot. No wood should be touching the ground around your house, period.
If you've got leaky pipes or any accumulation of water underneath your home, call a professional (or tackle the job yourself if you're capable). If you've been putting off the job, don't stall any longer. You may already have attracted termites to the water. By the same token, if you find standing water anywhere -- inside or outside your home -- get rid of it, and you discover that it's an ongoing problem, call a professional home inspector to address the issue and determine how you can solve it.
Clean your gutters and downspouts regularly. Clogs and other obstructions can attract termite populations. Inspect your gutters regularly for signs of disrepair.
Inspect your home's crawl space. If you discover any obstructions, remove them at once. It may be in your best interests to call an inspector to determine if the space is properly ventilated; it should be in order to stave off termites.
Since drywood termites can prey on the outside of your home, inspect your home regularly for any cracks. If you find cracks, seal them immediately. Ensure that your home receives continual maintenance to keep its exterior
paint in good condition. Chipping, peeling paint can increase the likelihood of termite infestation.
The bottom line here is to pay attention to the regular maintenance of your home. Keep appointments on your calendar to perform self-inspections of your home. It's one of the smartest cost-saving measures you can take, and in terms of the potential these proactive steps can have for discouraging termite infestation, you could literally save yourself thousands of dollars in damage.
Published: April 27, 2000
Use of this article without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.
Courtney Ronan is a freelance writer who contributes a weekly column profiling various communities. She also writes a weekly review of real estate related web sites. Courtney's career in journalism has included recent stints as managing editor of Agent News and as associate editor of Texas Business magazine.
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