Protect Your Home or Apartment from Termite

Termites destroys the foundation of building and eats up the furniture, window, cupboards and stationery. Termites are of ground nesting and wood nesting. Ground nesting termites are responsible for damage of building and its structure. Wood nesting eats wood in house such as furniture, wooden fence, wooden stairs, etc. Precaution against termites are essential before they end up in losing or damaging your property.

Precaution against termite

Whether termite treatment is done for your apartment or not, precaution against termite helps you to prevent termite and protect your property and belongings. Following are some precaution methods to prevent termite.

Avoid leakage: Dampness in or around building attracts termite towards your apartment or building. Gutters and drains should be kept clean to avoid leakage of water. Keep kitchen and bathroom clean and ensure there is no leakage in external or underground pipe fittings.

Seal Cracks: Crack on plaster of walls or concrete blocks and foundation give access to termite in the house. Patch up cracks and cavities in masonry with cement mortar as termites can enter the building through them. Seal the crack and prevent termite from entering the building or apartment.

Destroy nests of termite: Destroy nests or colonies of termites where termites live and cause damage in building. Destroy the nests under the ground, in the soil and treat wood or furniture with anti termite treatment.

Avoid sources of moisture: Termites are attracted dampness or moisture due to leakage or blockage of water supply and sewerage pipe. Keep rain water and other sources of waste water away from foundation of the building and construct platform protection in and around your apartment.

Eliminate wood products: Wood products like cardboard, paper and other wooden products which are sources of termite food in damp state should be eliminated in or around your home or apartment. Treat wooden stairs, fence with anti termite treatment. Remove all wooden piles, stumps, yard debris, garbage etc around your home.

Eliminate entry point of termites: Treat bottom and sides of excavated portions of all walls with chemical before starting construction work in foundation. A thorough inspection should be done to determine the extent of termite infestation, their spread and route of entry to the building. Eliminate dampness and moisture in or around your home to restrict the entry of termite.

Avoid contact of susceptible timber with ground by using termite-resistant concrete, steel, or masonry foundation with appropriate barriers. Termites are attracted dampness or moisture due to leakage or blockage of water. Eliminate entry point of termites and keep your bathroom and kitchen clean. If your home or apartment affected by termites, same can be treated using termiticides or chemicals.

Termite control methods

During construction of building, precaution are taken by treating soil around the foundation with suitable chemical or insecticides. If your home or building has not treated with anti-termite chemicals, you can protect your building after construction. Following are various termite control methods.

Pre-Construction chemical treatment: This is the most common method of termite treatment during construction of building. In this method, a chemical barrier is made between ground and masonry of the foundation to prevent termites.

Post-Construction chemical treatment: The building which is not treated with chemicals or insecticides during construction is treated after construction. The treatment comprises drilling holes at the wall and floor junction level and filling it after pumping in sufficient quantity of chemicals for preventing termites.

Boric Acid: Boric Acid dissolved in water and painted on affected area will keep termites at bay for years. This is a wood treatment, often used in the preventative stages, but many believe it also helps curb current population growth.

Freezing: When only small areas have been infested by termites, a freezing process is used. Liquid nitrogen is pushed into afflicted structures, freezing walls and termites in their tracks. This method is recommended in beginning stages of growth.

Bait Stakes Treatment: In this method, only wood is placed inside the stakes. When termite gets inside the stakes, replace wood with termiticides. Exposed termite transfer the termiticide to all the termites it gets in contact with, thereby killing the entire colony.

Liquid Termiticide: Liquid termiticides are usually applied completely around and underneath a structure covering all areas where termites might gain access.

Repellant Termiticide: These termiticides are all pyrethroids. Pyrethroids are fast acting nerve poisons that are highly toxic to termites but have low toxicity to mammals.

Precautions for handling chemicals or termiticides

• Use gloves when handling chemicals and thoroughly rinse contaminated gloves in water after use.
• Read label or instructions before using chemical or termiticides.
• Wash your hand and wear clean cloths after application of chemicals or termiticides.
• Keep the chemicals out of reach of children and pets.
• Cover food and water containers when treating around livestock or pets area.
• If symptoms of illness occur during or shortly after spraying or dusting, contact a physician.

Termites are destructive insects that destroy or damage building and wooden furniture, wooden stairs etc. It is better to prevent them than treating after damaging your property or furniture. Termites are attracted to dampness and moisture. Avoid leakage and cracks in your building to prevent termites. You can seek professional services for preventive measures or eliminate existing termites. You need to inspect your building and surrounding for sign of termite activity and regular follow up are essentials to prevent termite entering in or around your building or apartment. Do you have any tips or methods to fight against termites?