| Termites are a concern for homeowners in every | | | | Reducing and eliminating the water in the ground |
| state except Alaska. These destructive insects | | | | directly around the foundation is the next critical |
| can slowly destroy the structure of a home, | | | | step. Putting in a slope to allow water to flow out |
| eating the very wood it's made of and inflicting | | | | from the house is crucial; homeowners should also |
| serious damage that can run into the tens of | | | | consider the possibility of adding a concrete skirt |
| thousands of dollars, sometimes even requiring | | | | around the foundation. Gutters and downspouts |
| the destruction of the structure if the termites | | | | should be kept on good repair and adjusted to |
| are allowed to stay unchecked. While termite | | | | direct water as far out from the foundation as |
| eradication can be expensive, a few simple | | | | possible, and sources of dripping water such as air |
| precautions can help prevent this; many of the | | | | conditioners should be set up so that any standing |
| typical preventive measures involve reducing or | | | | puddles are eliminated. Splash blocks (which |
| eliminating moisture and water near the | | | | disperse water when it strikes the surface) are |
| foundations of the house. | | | | useful for this purpose. |
| The most common types of termites are the | | | | While many homeowners use mulch, ground |
| Formosan termite and the Eastern subterranean | | | | cover, and various forms of pea stone and gravel |
| termite. Formosan termites, found chiefly in the | | | | around their foundations for its beauty and |
| Southern US, are subterranean termites that may | | | | practicality, these are an open invitation to |
| nest either in the soil or in the wood of a | | | | termites. All of these substances serve to trap |
| structure. The brown reproductive termites | | | | moisture and water under the surface, providing |
| swarm in the evening during May to July. Colonies | | | | an ideal medium for termites. Mulch itself is not |
| of Formosan termites are large, with up to 5 | | | | particularly attractive as a food substance to |
| million individuals. Therefore, they destroy wood | | | | termites, but it holds water that attracts them. |
| faster than the Eastern subterranean termite. The | | | | Contrary to popular belief, stone and gravel |
| more widespread Eastern subterranean termites | | | | covers hold as much water under the ground as |
| live in smaller colonies and therefore tend to take | | | | mulch, so this is not a useful alternative. If gravel |
| longer to inflict damage. During the spring, the | | | | or crushed stones are used, the cover should be |
| reproductives swarm and leave the colony. The | | | | no more than 2-3 inches deep, and there should |
| reproductives are black and have a thick waist, | | | | be no contact between the gravel and the siding |
| their antennae are straight and both pairs of | | | | or wood components of the house. |
| wings are the same length. These termites feed | | | | Crawl spaces are prime staging ground for |
| on wood, but nest in the soil, constructing mud | | | | termites. Most building codes call for 1 square foot |
| tubes from their nests to the wood in structures. | | | | of vent opening per 150 square feet of |
| Both of these varieties of termites depend on | | | | crawlspace area. Moisture in crawl spaces can |
| moisture for their sustenance, and build their | | | | further be reduced by installing 4-6 ml |
| nests in areas that have abundant moisture for | | | | polyethylene sheeting over about 75 percent of |
| their building and nourishment means. The pencil | | | | the soil surface. This cover will act as a barrier to |
| shaped tubes that they use to climb from the soil | | | | evaporation from the soil and help prevent |
| into the structure of a house are made of mud | | | | condensation of moisture on joists and sub |
| and must be kept moist, so eliminating excess | | | | flooring. If a crawlspace has a polyethylene vapor |
| moisture is crucial for termite prevention. | | | | barrier, the total vent area often can be reduced |
| The first measure to implement is to remove any | | | | to 1 square foot per 300 to 500 square feet of |
| direct contact between structural or decorative | | | | crawlspace area. There should be one vent within |
| wood and the ground. Any wood in contact with | | | | 3 feet of each exterior corner of the building. As |
| the earth tends to soak in moisture and become | | | | with gutters and downspouts, vents should be |
| a magnet for the insects. Overhangs, decorative | | | | kept free of leaves, dirt, and other debris, and |
| lattice work (typically used under porches and | | | | should not be obstructed by vegetation. Although |
| decks, and over the openings to crawl spaces), | | | | a homeowner can install these barriers |
| and support posts should be cut loose from the | | | | themselves, it is not an easy job, and such vents |
| ground or given some kind of concrete footing, | | | | and vapor barriers can be installed by most pest |
| so that wood that has become moist from rain | | | | control companies. |
| or run off does not attract termites. | | | | |