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:

Published: April 27, 2000

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