Termites would be good candidates for the witness protection program. They do not seek attention, tend to live in out of the way locations and would prefer to remain anonymous. The problem with this is that their behavior while ‘on the lam’ can lead to serious structural damage to your home.
How can homeowners stay one step ahead of termites? Rottler recommends the first thing homeowners do is schedule an annual termite inspection of their home.
Inspections are an often overlooked first step in the battle to prevent termites from infesting and damaging a home. Many times, homeowners wait until it’s too late to do anything.
What makes St. Louis, Kansas City and mid-Missouri homeowners to overlook a termite inspection? The cryptic nature of termites often lulls homeowners into adopting a “out of sight, out of mind” approach and that can be a costly mistake in the long run.
What Does A Termite Inspector Look For?
Rottler’s termite inspectors focus their efforts on the most vulnerable areas of a home. This includes inspecting all accessible areas including basements and crawlspaces, windows and door frames, around utility access points in walls and slabs, and settlement and expansion cracks in the slab.
The inspectors will start at the foundation and work their way up examining every crack, crevice and potential entry point for signs of termites and damage both past and present. They will look for visible signs of termite activity including:
- Crumbling or damaged wood
- Small pin-sized exit holes in wood
- Mud tubes on cinder block walls in basements or crawlspaces or on the foundation
- Hollow sounding wood
- Peeling paint
- Sagging/buckling wood floors or warped door and window frames
- Discarded wings from swarmers
Termite Prevention Tips
In addition to scheduling an annual termite inspection, homeowners can help protect their home against destructive termites and other wood destroying pests by taking these preventive actions:
- Fill in cracks in your masonry or concrete and repair/replace damaged exterior wood.
- Divert moisture away from your home’s foundation by installing properly functioning downspouts, gutters and splash blocks.
- Adjust irrigation systems to prevent them from watering stucco or wood siding.
- Reduce humidity in basements, crawl spaces and attics with proper ventilation.
- Remove old form boards, grade stakes, tree trunks and roots near your home, as they can attract subterranean termites.
- Do not overdo with mulch against a home’s foundation as it retains moisture and is an attractant to termites. Use a stone or gravel barrier around the foundation.
- Maintain an 18-inch gap between soil and any wood portions of your home.
If Rottler’s highly trained and licensed inspectors identify the presence of termites or wood destroying pests and organisms in your home, they will first determine the source of the infestation and then provide you with treatment recommendations.
Contact Rottler Pest Solutions
We can help you with termites. From our state-of-the-art Term-Alert™ termite protection system – to our $250,000 termite damage warranty – Rottler offers you the most comprehensive robust and effective termite defense system available on the market. Protect your home from destructive termites by calling to schedule a free termite inspection today at 877-768-8537.
