Termites Inside Home

Problem: Wood materials in home structure are threatened by termites.

Background: Termites are the most destructive insects to wood in buildings. There are drywood termites, which can live without moisture, and the subterranean, or ground- nesting, termites which are a serious problem in southern states. Subterranean termites live in colonies in the ground and need moisture to survive. They may build earthen tunnels from the ground up to the wood, and they will sometimes completely eat away the inside of a piece of wood while leaving the out side surface intact. Chemicals for protecting against and controlling termites are toxic and should be applied with extreme caution, preferably by an experienced technician.

 

What to do: Check for termites at least twice a year. Call an exterminator to identify any large numbers of flying insects that you can’t identify during spring and summer (termite mating season). Look for earthen tunnelings along masonry foundation and basement walls, around openings where pipes enter walls, and along the surfaces of metal pipes. Check all cracks in slabs and loose mortar in masonry walls. Also check all joints where wood meets with concrete or masonry at walls, slabs, or piers.
   Inspect all wood and wood structures that are near the ground, especially those that touch the house, such as fences, wood trellises, and carports. Examine crawl spaces that provide moist conditions, as well as windowsills, door thresholds, porches, and the underside of stairs. (Be on the lookout for peeling and blistering paint.) If you suspect that wood has termite damage, probe with an icepick or penknife. If the point penetrates to a depth of ½ inch with only hand pressure, it’s a good indication of wood damage from termites.

Special advice: When chemical treatments are necessary, the procedure is to dig a trench about 1-foot wide and 3-feet deep next to the foundation wall and pour insecticide against the exposed wall surface and into the trench as it backfills. (Check with an exterminator or your local county extension office for recommended chemicals.) The chemical solution is also applied at locations where wood and masonry meet at a joint, and to areas that have earthen floors. Note: if chemicals are used inside the home, the room or space must be well ventilated and vacated for a period of time.
   To help prevent termites from be coming established, direct all surface water away from the home, allowing no water to accumulate at the foundation. Cover the earth of unpaved basements with plastic film, 4 mil or heavier. Crawl spaces should be at least 2 feet high and kept well ventilated. Keep untreated wood no closer than 6 inches to the ground. Seal all openings where pipes pass through foundations or walls of the house with caulking compound. Seal any cracks or points of loose mortar in masonry walls. If there is a termite shield around the foundation it should be straightened and turned down at least 2 inches at about a 45° angle.

Helpful hint: To help reduce termite problems, make sure all scraps of lumber or stumps are removed when a building project is completed. Also keep crawl spaces clear of wood scraps.