Thousands of homes suffer every year from termite infestation not only in areas in which these insects thrive and tend to be abundant. The damage on wooden structures caused by these insects is estimated to be worth millions of dollars in terms of repair costs in some heavily infested regions in the United States alone. There are other issues concerning the termite activity in buildings and yards as well – the insects are difficult to discover and so are the damages they have caused.

Further more, the extermination of the pests is not a short process and requires a lot of effort and professional expertise in order to be successful. Here are the most important things you have to know about the termite problem and some useful tips on how to prevent it and deal with it once it has occurred in your property.

Even before building or purchasing a home, you will have to have in mind the potential termite problem. One in every five homeowners is estimated to encounter it every year and no traditional insurance for the termite damages exists. Thus, it is essential that you take the necessary measures for protecting your property well in advance in order to save money and trouble later on. For those who have their home built, the best solution is to treat the wooden structures with borate solution.

This chemical substance is harmless to humans and mammals, but prevents the termites from digesting the wood and makes them starve to death. The treatment is easily and quickly done and most construction companies will readily offer it as part of their package of services. If you are buying a property, you must obtain the so called termite contract before concluding the deal. In some states it is mandatory and presents part of the contract, but this is not the case everywhere, so make sure you are supplied with one in any way.

Such a document is important because it presents the official report of any past or present termite infestations in the property and the damages the pest activity has caused. In this way the evaluation of the property will be more thorough and you will be able to take steps about protecting your home from infestations and killing the termite pest if such a thing has occurred.

In order to prevent a termite problem a number of appropriate solutions can be adopted. Firstly, if for some reason professional termite inspection has not been preformed, it is a good idea to have one done immediately. There are other things you can do to protect your home. A good insulation and maintenance of all parts of the house including the basement is the most basic thing you can do. Not allowing moisture and cracks to appear is essential for preventing the colony from entering the house.

The same applies to the yard and garden – the less vegetation and moisture it contains, the better. Also, make sure you clean your yard from all wooden debris permanently and adequately. It is not a good idea to have wooded structures outside your house such as patios and sheds, unless they are preliminarily treated with borate solution. If the area, in which you live is known to be heavily populated with termite colonies, you might want to take the protective measures one step further and have sand or steel barriers protecting your property.

The termite problem solution should be left to the professionals once it has occurred. The termite control company will offer the most suitable solution that will work best in your case. The pesticide application for the extermination of the insects is the quickest, very efficient and least expensive method that is also safe for humans as long as the approved products are used according to the instructions.

The newer bait system method usually takes longer to take effect and might not work out in all occasions. But it is completely harmless and can be adopted as a permanent measure. It will ensure the long term removal of the pests and an effective monitoring for future infestations. No matter the method used the termite controller will provide the necessary warranty and a termite pest insurance plan of their own covering for future infestations and damage.

Termite Fumigation