Termite damage prevention in Fairfield County, CT

Signs of termite damage prevention

• Soil or mulch piled against siding
• Wood touching the ground, like trim, steps or fences
• Leaking gutters, downspouts or pipes

Why it happens

Termites need moisture and an easy route to wood. Reducing both makes a home less attractive.

What we do

• Walk the property and note the conditions that help termites
• Explain what to change
• Inspect for existing activity
• Treat if needed

When to call

Call before a problem starts, or after any water leak near wood. Call (203) 256-1200 and we will tell you the earliest time we can come.

Termite Damage Prevention

Termite damage prevention is important for all homeowners and businesses. Each year more homes are damaged and/or destroyed due to termite activity than due to fire and natural disasters combined. Yet we take fire prevention more seriously than termite prevention. Most people can easily list fire prevention measures. However, few people can make a list of termite damage prevention measures. Can you? You'll be able to list the most important termite damage prevention measures after reading this article, and you'll find these termite damage prevention measures are very easy to implement.

Termite Damage Prevention - Think "Wood"

Termites eat wood, and eat wood continuously. One colony of termites can totally consume 2.3 linear feet of 2x4 pine in a single year. Since the colony works from the ground up (we're focusing on subterranean termites) they are likely to take out the bottom 4 inches of 14 of your home's support beams in one year. Imagine what that would do to your home? Can you afford to have an entire side of your house sink 4 inches downward this year?

Termite Damage Prevention - Think "Soil" and "Moisture"

As we mentioned, we're focusing on subterranean termites, the most common termites in the Northeastern U.S. These termites build their homes in moist soil as they need water to survive. How do they get from the soil to the wooden parts of your home which they love to eat? They use that moist soil to build mud tubes. In this way, they can get to the wood without ever being exposed to light, air, predators. Pretty ingenious system!

Termite Damage Prevention - Basic Concept: Avoid wood in direct contact with soil.

So here's the basic concept at the heart of all termite prevention strategies: Avoid wood in direct contact with soil. Termites in the soil around your home or business can sense the presence of any wood that is in direct contact with the soil.

Termite Damage Prevention - Discover where wood is in direct contact with soil, and create a barrier.

Here are a few of the most common scenarios where wood may be in contact with soil on your property:

Mulch: Think about it - mulch is moist, rotting wood - perfect for termites! You don't need to necessarily rid your yard of mulch. It's beautiful and supports a healthy landscape. Just don't let mulch come into direct contact with your house. That could be the beginning of a termite highway into your home! Create a six-inch "no mulch zone" around your home.

Yard Debris: Remove any dead branches, roots and other yard debris from your property. The wood, sitting in the soil and rotting is an invitation to termites. And definitely, don't have such debris in direct contact with your house!

Wood Piles: Whether it's lumber or firewood, if it's in direct contact with the soil it's inviting termites. Provide a barrier between the wood and the soil. An ideal barrier is a concrete slab. And, don't stack the wood against your house.

Support Beams: Create a barrier between any wooden beams and the soil. Such beams might include support beams for your deck and fence posts.

Wood In Contact with Soil: Inspect your home to ensure that there is no wood in contact with the soil. Is there soil up against the siding of your home? That will invite termites.

Scent of Rotting Wood Dripping Into the Soil: Do you have leaky gutters? Leaky plumbing? A leaky roof? If so, the water is dripping onto the wooden portions of your house (siding, support beams, floors) and then down into the soil where termites are living and alert for the scent of rotting wood. They'll begin constructing mud tunnels towards that rotting wood.

It's important to make sure there are no termites eating away at your home's support beams now or in the future. The stakes are too high!