How Do You Prevent Termites When Building a New Home in ?

The last thing you want is to move into a new home… just to discover that it’s already being targeted by termites. Thankfully, there are some steps you can take to prevent termites while building a new home. Consulting a pest control professional and taking some time to treat the soil or building materials can help you avoid an infestation before, during, and after construction.

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How to Prevent Termites During Construction

The most common termite species in – subterranean termites – rely on damp soil to survive. So, termite prevention starts much like construction: from the ground up. Follow these steps to avoid termites while building a new home:

  • Treat the soil to form a chemical barrier that deters termites from burrowing beneath the construction site. 
  • Use termite-resistant wood, such as pressure-treated lumber or cedar, which they are much less likely to infest. 
  • Promote drainage by investing in great excavation. Grading and sloping will prevent water buildup, preventing more problems than just termites. 
  • Keep wood off the ground, or at least off of soil. Store it on a tarp, on pavement, or slightly elevated on a stand. 
  • Use galvanized steel and other barriers, especially near the ground level. This will make it very difficult for termites to access your space. 
  • Limit the amount of wood that touches soil. Near your foundation, try using a concrete base to act as a barrier.
  • Ensure the home is ventilated to avoid moisture problems that could otherwise attract termites to your property.

How to Keep Termites Out of Your New Home

There are a lot of things to worry about when moving into a new home, but termites should be at the bottom of the list. That said, even with the proper precautions, these pests may still find their way inside. To get some peace of mind, contact a termite control professional for ongoing monitoring and exclusion. Licensed exterminators are experts on the behaviors and biology of termites, and they use that expertise to create long-term protection plans that keep termites out for good.