Termite Prevention - Protect your Property from the Threat of Termites

Your property – be it your home or business – is probably your single largest investment. Termite prevention is important for every property owner, as termites could be eating away at your property without your knowledge. The damage termites cause can be very expensive to fix.

Importance of Termite Prevention 

A termite infestation can be hard to spot as termites live underground and eat away at wood from the inside. Even properties built primarily of brick or stone can still develop termites, because structural supports as well as other building components are constructed of wood and other cellulose-based materials. While no one can guarantee that you will never have a termite problem, termite specialists can suggest simple steps to protect buildings from termites, creating a termite barrier to your home or property. 

Termite Prevention 

Termites need two things – wood and moisture. Minimise wood and moisture on your property, and you will be protecting yourself from the chance of a termite problem.

Termites Eat Wood 

It’s simple – termites eat wood. Even if your structure is primarily stone or brick, it still likely contains wood. Wood that directly touches soil gives termites easy access:

• Fence posts, trellises or landscaping ties
• Mulch that touches the house
• Structural supports
• Wood debris (often from building) buried in the soil

Termites Like Moisture 

A seemingly small leak can create perfect conditions for termites, as well as the following:

• Leaky taps
• Leaky gutters and downspouts that leave water near the foundation
• Ground sloping toward the foundation 
• Insufficient ventilation in basements and crawl spaces

Termite Prevention Tips 

There are some simple steps you can take to help prevent termites on your property. 

• Stack firewood at the far end of the garden
• Make sure that leaves and garden waste aren’t stored next to the house
• Ensure regular maintenance of taps and pipes
• Provide good ventilation in crawl spaces