How can wood be treated to prevent termites?
Many homeowners live in fear of a termite infestation because of the severe damage that can happen if one is able to flourish undetected. Even a small termite colony can cause thousands of dollars in damage to the average home, which makes termite control essential.
There are several different steps you can take to prevent a termite infestation, including a wood termite treatment. Today, we’re going to discuss a few different types of wood treatments along with other ways to prevent termites from being attracted to the wood on your property.
Options for Wood Termite Treatment
Wood termite treatment isn’t very expensive and it can save you thousands of dollars in damage and a huge inconvenience later on. Although no method is foolproof, they work great in conjunction with other termite prevention methods.
Here are four types of wood treatment you can try:
Buy Pressure Treated Wood
If you’re doing any home improvement projects such as building a new fence or putting in some outdoor furniture, you have the option of purchasing wood that’s been pressure-treated. This means that some type of chemical preservative containing insecticide has been placed inside the wood with the use of pressure. This doesn’t guarantee that termites will stay away from the wood, but it significantly reduces the chances.
Buy Naturally Resistant Wood
Certain types of wood will naturally deter termites better than others. Two of the most popular are cedar and redwood because they have developed natural insect repellents. Teak is another popular type of wood that some homeowners will use because it’s more dense than other types, making it much harder for the termites to chew through.
Treat Your Home’s Existing Wood
Many homeowners choose to treat their existing wood, which is a pretty simple, do-it-yourself project. You can either treat it before you paint or stain the wood or use a borate spray that will keep both termites and carpenter ants away. If you choose either of these options, do it when the weather will be clear so that it can properly dry.
Seal Your Home’s Existing Wood
If you want to go even further, then you may want to consider sealing the wood, as well. A wood sealant will prevent moisture from penetrating the wood and damaging it. This will make the wood less susceptible to being eaten by termites.
Other Strategies to Deal with Termites
The best way to prevent termites from invading your property is to target the wood contained in your structures and outside furniture. Each wood termite treatment listed above will be very helpful in keeping the termites away.
Here are a few other ways that you can protect the wood in your home:
Keep Mulch Away from Your Home
Many homeowners aren’t concerned with mulch attracting termites because they don’t really think of mulch in the same terms as trees or houses. Since mulch consists of wood chips, termites find then just as delicious as parts of your house. Mulch that’s close to your home makes entry easier, so be sure that you move it away.
Remove Rotting Wood in Your Yard
One of the most beneficial attributes of termites is that very eat rotting wood. This helps reinvigorate a forest, but all it does in your yard is entice termites to get onto your property. If you have any dead wood in your yard such as an old tree stump, get it professionally removed so that they’re no longer lured to your property by it.
Move Firewood Away from Your Home
We’re starting to sound like a broken record here, but firewood can also be a big problem. If firewood is necessary for heating your home, you obviously can’t avoid it entirely, so you’ll need to move it as far away as possible. Like the mulch listed above, this will help reduce the chances of getting termites.
Remove Moisture from the Yard
Moisture is the other big attractant for termites because they’ll need a reliable source while they’re eating your wood. Although you can’t do much about the moisture naturally found in the ground, removing standing water after a rain can help deter termites. If you install any kind of water structure, you should avoid putting it too close to your home.
Contact ProHealth Pest Control for Wood Termite Treatment
Whether you do it yourself or hire a professional, wood termite treatment is a great way to keep the pests at bay. If you suffer a termite infestation or would like to get your place checked out, ProHealth Pest Control can assist you. Reach out by calling us at (727) 308-2543 to schedule an appointment and learn about our tentless termite treatment options.
