Termites are a the single most feared insect to homeowners everywhere. The last thing a homeowner wants to hear is that they have a termite problem. The process of eliminating an infestation is elaborate, and if the damage done before their discovery is significant, repairs to a house can be costly. The good news is that there are steps that can be taken to reduce the chances of a termite infestation. The following are three of the most important actions you can take to keep termites away.
Keep the bottom of your house dry
It is true that termites eat wood, but it doesn't have to be your house. One thing that will attract them to your home is moisture, especially the moisture underneath your house. Termites, like most animals, need water,…show more content… Even better, make sure to store the wood on cement or a similar barrier between the wood and the ground. Termites will discover this wood from their tunnels in the soil, so be careful not to let the wood touch the soil.
Treat any wood used for construction in your yard
This can be something elaborate like a patio deck or something as simple as a platform for your garbage cans, but whatever it is, you need to make sure the wood used is treated after the project is finished. Do not rely solely on paint or stains. It is easy to miss a spot, and this allows a termite to gain entry into the wood and begin eating. If you want to paint the wood, first apply an oil-based primer. This will provide a good seal before you paint the wood. If you are looking for a natural finish and want to stain the wood, make sure it is an oil-based stain that will penetrate deep into the wood. This will provide the protection you are looking for.
Always remember, to prevent a termite infestation, you want to avoid attracting them to begin with. Keep food and water away from them. In the case of termites, this is wood and moisture. For best results, protect all of the wood on your property, and keep your house dry at all