Having a wooden home can be beautiful as it allows for faster building, provides excellent insulation, and is aesthetically pleasing to the eyes. However, even with the numerous benefits it brings, it also carries some drawbacks. And the most infamous disadvantage when it comes to having a wooden home is handling termite problems.  

Termites are tiny insects that survive in humidity. With their presence, they could chew through wood, giving your wooden walls a terrifying hole that you have no other option but to replace. They can even make your house’s structure unstable, which can harm your entire household. 

However, all is not lost. Listed below are some tips and tricks on how you can control termites on your property:  

1. Hire a Termite Control Service

Hiring a termite monitoring service is one of the most popular and fool-proof ways to deal with these pests. For one, they have all the professional tools and chemicals that could get rid of them instantly. Compared to a DIY approach, you will have peace of mind knowing that the problem is handled entirely. While their services might be an added expense, the benefits further outweigh the costs.

Ideally, you should hire a termite control service at least once a year so they can have a thorough inspection of your home’s health. They will give you advice on alarming issues that need immediate attention, and they may also perform extractions in the worst-case scenario and prevent further infestation. 

2. Use Borate On Wood

Borate is a popular termite repellant that can effectively fight off any termites inside your home, allowing you to get the benefits of having a wooden house without suffering from its drawbacks.

As it is a common chemical compound in house cleaners, all you need to do is spray it on wood before priming and painting to maximize effectiveness. It should help keep your home safe for decades. 

3. Remove Moisture

Termites survive and develop in moist and humid areas. To prevent them from damaging your home, you should remove the moisture inside and around your home.

You can begin by utilizing fans and promoting proper ventilation inside your home. You could also switch off your shower heaters and only use them whenever unnecessary. Apart from that, consider covering your indoor plant’s soil with rocks that’ll help retain its moisture better while also removing excess humidity. 

However, if you live in a humid climate, you might want to invest in a dehumidifier that’ll do all of the hard work. A dehumidifier will automatically remove any excess moisture inside your home, keeping it away from the possibility of termites lurking and damaging your home. 

4. Redirect Water Away

Apart from keeping your home dry, you should also try redirecting water away from your home as it could help to develop termites. You can begin by updating your gutters and downspouts and ensuring that you turn them away from your home. Moreover, you might want to consider extending your downspouts so they can have direct access to the drainage rather than letting it flow naturally. 

Apart from fixing your gutters and downspouts, you might want to install French drains as they could capture groundwater and keep them away from your home. It’ll be a great improvement that will benefit your home and keep them away from termites.   

5. Monitor Home Regularly

Constantly monitoring your entire home would allow you to see which areas you need to improve and maintain to keep your home termite-free. 

Ideally, you should monitor your home at least once a week from the inside and out and see if there are any differences in its quality and appearance. For instance, tap wood panels and check for a hollow sound. If it does, it might be a sign of termite infestation. Watch out also for blistering pieces of wood and frass (termite droppings that look like sawdust), as they are also good indicators. 

Lastly, check if some of your windows or doors are stuck or are difficult to close. This may be due to wood warping because termites have consumed the wood. 

Takeaway 

Keeping your home termite-free can be challenging, especially if you’re living in a humid area and having a wooden house. But with the proper maintenance and care, you can allow yourself to enjoy the benefits of having a wooden house without worrying about these pests that can ruin the aesthetic and functionality of your property. If you see signs of infestation, call for termite control services immediately.