How to Stop Luring Termites to Your Home

You may not know it but moisture is the leading cause of attraction for termites. I'm not talking about spilling something on the floor, but I'm talking about moisture that gets into your home via leaks, holes, general dampness, improper grading, air conditioning and so forth.

To prevent termite infestations, here are some quick tips:

• Make sure the grading outside your home leads water away from the foundation of your home. If you're not sure, have a professional landscaper check out your exterior landscaping.
• Air out your home. Make sure there is adequate airflow beneath any wooden structures of your home. The airflow should be uninterrupted. This is especially critical if your home has a crawl space.
• Plug up any leaks. Don't allow a leading faucet or out of control irrigation system to cause moist soil up and near your home's foundation.
• Remove termite temptations. Since termites like wood, remove any buried stumps, logs, fencing or roots from near your home.
• Don't let any wood on your home actually tough the ground. Many of us like to have extra fire wood stacked nearby. Be sure to keep it on a metal surface and make sure it is at least 10 feet from your home.
• Have your home periodically inspected for termites. If you find you have several infestations, you'll probably need to fumigate the home with the tenting method. Expect to pay at least $1000 for one floor residence and at least $2000 for two-storey home. You'll have to be out of the home for 2-3 days.
• Spot treatments can also be utilized, which include extreme heat, extreme cold or chemicals. The cost will depend on the number of places you need to treat and the ease of access to those spots.

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Barbara Jennings is the West Coast Pioneer in Interior Redesign and has been in the redesign/home staging market since 1986. She is author of 9 books on interior decorating subjects and her most recent one, Home Staging for Profit, is a tutorial for those wanting to start their own home staging business. For more on that book, please visit:



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