Take termites seriously WARNING SIGNS OF AN INFESTATION

An infestation of these wood-eating bugs could cause expensive damage to a home

Termites are territorial creatures. They thrive all across Canada, though typically they’ll be more prevalent closer to the southern border, especially in areas where the ground tends to be sandier in composition. Some cities, including Toronto and Guelph, Ont., find themselves home to termite hot spots.

We don’t really know how quickly they can spread. When a termite infestation makes a big jump, it’s usually due to human intervention — transporting some infected wood from one place to another.

That said, if you hear about a neighbour having a termite problem, you’ll want to be proactive and have your home inspected. A few times per year, a colony will sprout flying termites, which can spread the infestation to a neighbour’s home.

When termites get into the structure, it’s not a cheap fix. I’m talking thousands of dollars, so do everything you can to keep your home off their menu.

So what do termites need to live comfortably? Moisture, food and shelter are the keys to their survival.

PREVENTING AN INFESTATION

For the most part, here in Canada, we’ll be dealing with subterranean termite colonies, but dry-wood termite infestations are another variety to watch out for.

As you might suspect, subterranean termites come from underground, usually entering the home from below. The biggest culprit that allows them in is through wood-to-ground contact, such as from a deck post, or a door frame.

First of all, you should never put wood in the earth that hasn’t been pressure-treated.

When you’re rebuilding your deck, use pressure-treated lumber that has been coated with a deterrent for termites. Even better, bolt your deck posts into metal brackets and set them in concrete.

Before getting to your main structure, termites will feast on what’s in your yard.

Remove any leftover tree stumps, and store firewood away from the main structure, ideally piled on an asphalt or metal surface. In fact, try to keep as much organic material away from your foundations as possible.

Garden mulch provides an attractive environment for termites.

This is another reason why I don’t like seeing gardens right up against the home.

Another piece of preventive maintenance is to ensure your yard’s grading is in good shape.

After a rain, if you’re seeing rain puddles gathering close to the foundation, you’re not only asking for moisture issues, but it could create an entry point for termites too.

Finally, is your A/C in good shape? If it’s leaking, get it looked at. The standing puddles created by a leaky A/C could provide the Trojan horse termites need to get in.

Dry wood infestations are a little harder to guard against because these little pests can enter the home from any level where they find an entry point. Keep up with the regular maintenance the exterior wood on your structure requires to keep it healthy and strong.

Termites are a tricky problem to diagnose. Usually you won’t know until you’ve already found evidence of their damage. What are you looking out for?

You might see pinprick holes in your drywall, wood may sound hollow when tapped, or may even be outright crumbling.

Once they’ve found a suitable home, a termite will shed its wings. They kind of resemble fish scales, and if you find piles of them, that’s a sign. You could also spot a pile of pellets that resemble salt and pepper.

When termites burrow, they need a lot of moisture and that can present by peeling or bubbling your paint, loosening your tiles, and discolouring your drywall.

Outside the home, look at the foundation for evidence of a termite’s mud tubes. You’re looking for earth-coloured tubes creeping up the foundation that are about the size of a thin drinking straw.

When they’re on the exterior foundation, they’re pretty easy to spot. Unfortunately, they can also be hiding in foundation cracks, inside walls, basements, or in the crawl space, making them hard or impossible to find.

If you find evidence of termites, call in a pest-control expert.

They’ll perform an inspection, confirm your infestation, and design a plan that will wipe out the infestation. Make sure you hire a team that offers a good warranty. Should the infestation return, they can come back to make it right.

To find out more about Mike

Holmes, visit makeitright.ca.