Renovations are common phases for homeowners who want to beautify their abode or add features for their growing family. Aside from the aesthetic value, revamping some parts of your house could also be the chance to remove some risk factors for termite infestation. You might not know it yet but your house could be harboring possible sustenance to the sneaky pests. With that, the best termite protection could be achieved by noticing and removing these things.
So before you call the contractors, you might want to check the following portions of your household that you can include in the dirty work. Some of these are basic and easy to do.
1. Installing proper ventilation
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You should know by now that moisture is the bosom friend of termites. The moisture level on your house could spike during rainy periods, and if you don’t have proper ventilation, this dampness can linger. This moisture can be located in the crawlspace of your basement that is very easy for the termites to access.
A dehumidifier is a good choice if you’re always discovering damp spots on your household. This addition will help in avoiding molds and mildew that can harm your family’s health aside from the threat of the mites. When it comes to air-conditioners, make sure to place it against the wooden parts of your house. Wood beams exposed to too much cold temperature could start harboring moisture inside.
2. Going through the foundation
One of the alarming facts about termites is that they know what to target to bring a house down. Foundations are the common favorites of the pest as it’s usually made of wood and in direct contact with the soil. It’s good if you invested on the best termite protection in the past, but if not, you should add your foundation on the renovation checklist.
Most contractors would know a thing or two about sealing this part of the house to avoid termites from penetrating. They would usually use a special sealant that can ward off moisture and block any possible entryway. Just avoid doing this on your own as it can compromise the quality of the renovation and you might pay more in the process.
3. Removing still water on your lawn
The common things on most house yards are pails of water standing next to the foliage. As much as this looks innocent, this is an easy source of moisture to sustain the pest. If your house is under renovation, you can take a stroll on your yard (given that it’s safe for you) and remove the still water. You probably had no use for it and it would be best to use the hose if you’re watering the plants.
However, still water isn’t just those found in buckets. It could also be your problematic drainage system or your blocked roof drain that have stuck water. Termites love the mixture of water and rotting leaves, so do yourself a favor and ask the contractors if they can accommodate this work.
4. Ditching your mountain of chopped wood
If you have a wide lawn, there’s a possibility that there’s a stack of chopped wood waiting for the winter to come in your yard. It doesn’t take rocket science to know that this will soon be the harborage of the pest. A little rain is all it takes to make it more inviting to start a colony.
This part becomes even more alarming when you stack the wood inside your house. Such thing is like laying a yummy treat for the termites without any risk. Inadvertently, you’re setting a part of your house to be the termite hideout.
You don’t have to burn the wood. The best termite protection is to store it at least 18 inches above the ground and away from the walls.
5. Investing in treated lumber
Are you excited to have that new balcony overlooking the lake? Before you rush in on choosing the material, ask your contractor if they can avail treated lumber. This material is sealed with chemicals so it will be weather-resistant and less appealing to the hungry termites. Some wood treatments may use chemicals that can kill the pest that moment they munch on it.
Just keep in mind that treated wood isn’t the one-time solution for you to avoid a termite infestation. It just reduces the risk but you still have to monitor your house. Some chemical treatments on wood can wear off after a few years while some wood needs to be treated regularly. This could be a hassle but nothing beats a new balcony that can dodge any threats of termites.
6. Availing a pest control treatment
In another post, we’ve discussed pre-construction termite treatment. If you’re into a massive renovation, you can avail a pest control service to do this in your house. This best termite protection may include but not limited to applying termiticides on foundations, soil, and any wooden material in the construction. The process and extent of the treatment will depend on what package you’ll avail from the provider.
You can do this regardless if there’s already a present infestation or none. As a method of prevention, this treatment will give a layer of shield on your home against the possible invasion of termites.
You can actually ask your contractor about this as some companies have pest control partners on their projects.
7. Using stainless steel mesh under concrete floorings
In case you’re remodeling your entire home, you should consider buying stainless steel mesh as an anti-termite cover beneath the concrete or wood slabs on the construction. This is a kind of a physical barrier that you can use along with the other examples I’ll give here. As a safeguard barrier, the mesh can also be placed on the foundation of your house to shield it against Subterranean termites. However, steel mesh doesn’t possess the same effectiveness with that of the best termite protection like termiticides.
Still, this is a good choice if you loathe the idea of using harmful chemicals. The mesh is made of very tiny patterns that can be as small as 0.66 x 0.44 mm, which is impossible for termites to penetrate.
8. Using granite chips
Another option you have as a change on your usual house construction is the granite chips. The crushed masonry would be used as a layer of protection around pipes or concrete slabs as these are heavy and unlikely for termites to carry. However, the application of this could be tricky as there should be no space between each chip that can be used as an entryway by the pest.
This is a good choice if the contractors are more used to its convenience. However, there are already cheaper and more efficient barriers in the market that you can use. It’s up to you to choose but this good old solution never gets out of style in preventing termites.
9. Checking the soil
One thing that most homeowners overlook is the soil surrounding the house. Sure thing, the abode is nice and cozy, but if you don’t look around for the signs of termite presence, your new wooden beams could be subject to their claws. Spend a little more and apply termiticides on the soil surrounding your home.
Just remember that there’s a right atmosphere for applying for this best termite protection. The soil should be damp but not too wet so the chemicals will be absorbed optimally. Too much dry soil wouldn’t be good too.
If you already suspect a possible infestation, never hesitate to contact a pest control company so they can trench the ground to look for the pest’s network. By the way, you should talk to the contractor before doing this as the inspection might hinder some construction work.
10. Best Termite Protection: Coating your pipes
Putting a coating on your pipe isn’t necessarily connected to a termite infestation. Doing this would reduce the chance of leaks that can increase the dampness of a certain portion of your house. If you’re using copper pipes, you should know that this can start corroding over time and will start to thin in the process. What you can do is to use an internal epoxy that will coat the pipes and reduce the chance of leaks.
The fluid-like nature of the epoxy will soon harden once it has covered almost every inch of the pipe. Letting the water flow for a while could remove the dirt that comes with it.
You shouldn’t be too complacent if you’re using plastic pipes. This may not have the tendency to thin but it can get chipped or debilitate when exposed to very high or low temperature.
11. Treating your wooden fence
If you think of it, your wood fence is probably the most termite-exposed part of your property. It’s planted to the ground where termites could be harboring beneath. So aside from painting it with some fancy colors, you should also apply chemical treatments to it beforehand.
This is the same thing as applying termiticides on your foundation. If you’re changing the whole fence, maximize the availability of the treated timber in the construction area. This best termite protection would last longer and is less likely to be devoured by the pesky termites.
12. Checking your pool deck
Pool decks are staples whenever you have a pool in your yard. However, this could be a party-pooper once you discover a whole colony of mites eating it out. What you can do is, again, use treated wood or apply termiticides on the already present deck. It would be best to drain or cover the pool before doing this since the chemicals could be harmful to humans.
If you have the money, you can also install steel mesh under the deck to ensure that no termites will slip your watch.
The best termite protection starts with you. Renovations could be expensive but it would pay off to spend a few more bucks to termite-proof your home. With that, you get a refurbished abode and added peace of mind. With billions of dollars being thrown to waste due to termite infestation, it’s terrifying to be part of the statistics.
Do you have some thoughts about these renovation suggestions? Let me know in the comment section!