Watch for telltale signs of termite colonies
Living on Canadian soil has its benefits, such as world-class resources, a robust economy and workforce and nature’s playground in our own backyard. Another huge benefit — especially as a contractor and homeowner — is something that our soil doesn’t have: a lot of termites.
That’s not to say we’re termitefree. But for now, termites aren’t a big issue for the majority of Canada.
Where are they?
There are some areas in southern Ontario (including Toronto), Winnipeg, southern Alberta and southern British Columbia — including Vancouver — that have been known to have termites. But you need to do your research. Every area is different.
I always say never ignore your environment. If you’re building in an area that’s known to have termites there are construction measures you can take.
Building against
termites
Termite clues
First, all stumps, roots and wood debris needs to be removed to a minimum depth of 300 mm (11¾ inches) under the building. Then, there should be a minimum clearance of 450 mm (17¾ inches) between structural wood elements and the ground below them.
If you live in an area where foundations are insulated there needs to be a metal or plastic barrier between the insulation and finished materials. This stops termites from passing through or behind insulation.
Structural wood supported by anything directly touching soil needs to be PT, or pressure-treated, with a chemical that’s toxic to termites.
Why is it important to make sure wood elements are resistant to decay? Because termites need soft wood to tunnel through to create passageways and nests.
But unlike carpenter ants, termites will actually eat the wood — and not just wood. They’ll feed on all cellulose-based material: books, boxes, furniture and drywall.
The damage termites wreak on homes is a direct result of their eating habits. The products we use to build homes just happen to be on their menu. But homeowners rarely see the damage happening because termites eat wood from the inside out.
For example, if you find wood in your home that sounds hollow when you tap it there’s a pretty good chance it is hollow. Termites make wood look like Swiss cheese on the inside until there’s nothing left but dust — or at least what you think is dust. Termite poop actually looks like sawdust — go figure.
By the way, the technical term is frass — not termite-poop. (I don’t want to get more angry emails.)
If you think your home could have termites your best bet is to call a professional pest inspector. They know exactly what to look for and how to find it.
What can you do?
Termites love moisture. So call a professional to repair anything that’s leaking, including faucets, water pipes and A/C units. Keep your gutters and downspouts clean. Keep your vents clear and open — adding screens to outside vents is also a good idea. Remove plant materials around your home that could attract these critters.
Your next job is finding a qualified contractor who has plenty of experience dealing with these kinds of pests. They’ll block access routes by sealing up cracks where bugs might enter. They will make sure water is diverted away from your foundation. And any structure they need to fix should be done with materials that can stand up to nature’s demo team.