You can tell when you’ve been visited by them. Termites usually shed their wings in groups and leave noticeable piles of these products of exfoliation. Another signal that termites are near is the presence of small pen-like mud tunnels running along the foundation of your home. Termites do not like the air and as a result, establish tunnels between the ground and your house. If you put an ice pick into a tunnel and it goes several inches into your home then it is likely that termite damage has been done and wood must be replaced. If the ice pick goes in less than an inch, the situation may be salvageable. Salvageable only if you rid your land of termites, that is. Here is how to do it. The first and best option is the hire a professional. Fixing a bathroom faucet leak is a task that most homeowners can and should attempt because the risk involved is low if you fail, but should the process of getting rid of termites fail the very foundation of your home is in danger. Professionals will tend to use the fumigation method which relies on the use of heavy-duty poisons.
If you must assume the exterminator role yourself here are some suggestions. You may use special insecticides. Drilling small holes into the diseased wood and pumping these chemicals in will kill the termites in several months. After the holes have been drilled you must fill them with caulk, however, to ensure that the termites are fully exposed to the death gas. Additionally, if you take boric acid dissolved in water and apply a layer to the wood termites will steer clear of your territory. Some people have found that using propane heat on the termites works as well. Professional guidance is recommended for this procedure, however. Freezing the bugs is safer and easier. Liquid nitrogen pumped into the wood will freeze the termites to death.
While these solutions may rid you of pests, the best solution is always prevention. Here are some ways of making sure your home is not a termite target. The most important thing to remember is a dry foundation is an inedible foundation; if you keep your wood dry you will not have a problem with termites. Avoid planting thirsty plants near the base of the house. Excess watering will attract termites if the wood retains the liquid. Avoid, if you can, building with woods termites find tasty, such as cedar and redwood. Digging a tiny tunnel (five inches deep) around your house and filling it with sand will block the passage to the wood as well. There are products you can purchase at the hardware store that will protect your wood. Buy a wood preservative that contains pentachlorophenol and apply a few layers to the wood. Cover all the cracks and fissures to make sure it is completely insulated. Remember to remove any rotted wood you find so that the termites do not spread.
If you follow the above measures it is likely that your house will be safe. It is recommended however, if you have corroded wood that you seek professional help before you act. Sometimes rotten wood is an indicator of a dry rot. Dry rot is a microscopic fungus that, unlike its name suggests, is very wet. If the moisture of your wood is over twenty percent dry rot can appear. The air-borne fungus spreads quickly in wet conditions. Feeding on the cellulose fibers of the wood, this fungus acts much like a termite. When the wood becomes very porous as a result of this hungry fungus it will absorb more and more water and will become weaker and weaker. At some point the weakness will translate into a crumbling foundation and a sloping, sinking, or crumbling house above. To prevent dry rot you can use the same methods as you would for keeping termites away. Remember, dry wood is happy termite-free, rot-free wood.
