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Are You Inviting Termites?
Once termites have discovered your house, they will explore it in search of food - wood fiber. They will squeeze through cracks no wider than the thickness of a penny. As the colony matures it will also produce a steady stream of swarmers that may set up new colonies. Your problem grows exponentially.
The first thing to do in the battle against termites is to make your home a poor candidate for infestation. In general, the goal is to reduce moisture and organic matter around your home and prevent wood-fiber components from making contact with the ground. Don't affix wooden trellises to exterior walls. Keep wood debris, srcap lumber, sawdust, and firewood well away from your house. Remove infested trees and stumps.
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Cracks in wall easily big enough to allow termite penetration.
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Shelter tubes built from the ground along and under blocks to the wood.
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Example of plumbing and electrical service entry through concrete slab.
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To reduce moisture, repair leaking faucets and all leaking water lines. Fix leaking gutters, and don't allow leaves to accumulate in them or in drains. Repair any roof shingle or flashing leaks. Grade soil so that rain water runs away from the foundation. Ventilate crawl space to reduce humidity. If necessary, cover at least 90% of the soil in crawl spaces with plastic sheeting. And finally, make sure that wood siding, stucco, and foam board are always at least six inches away from the ground.
Some people think that buildings built on concrete slabs are termite proof. The fact is, slab construction is extremely vulnerable and offers many opportunities for termites to gain entry. Expansion joints, cracks, and tiny gaps around plumbing and electrical service entries are examples. In homes with basements, termite entry could occur where the floor and walls meet, or through small openings in the walls themselves.
Once you have an infestation, you need to call in a professional. They will evaluate your situation and put together an effective plan for eliminating termites from your home.
All About Termites
The Subterranean Termite Colony
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