Termite Damage Repairs! Do you have a termite bond?
Termite Damage Repairs! Termite Bonds are a must if you live in or near the Savannah area. Our climate is Ideal for termites, we see the damage caused by termites on a regular basis. The root at your back door that you have been planning on getting fixed but just haven’t gotten around to it.
Termite Bonds
Many reliable pest control companies offer termite bonds. They are different types of bonds, some bonds cover current infestations. Some provide a guarantee against future infestations by providing ongoing prevention and inspections. Some bonds even cover damage caused by future infestations. The type of bond you have depends on the company you are using for your termite bond.
Do I have a Termite Bond?
Most new homes come with a termite bond but you the homeowner must renew it. So if you have questions on whether you currently have a bond pick up the phone and call to verify, it only takes a second and may save you thousands.
How can I help prevent termites?
A homeowner can do numerous things to make their home less termite friendly? 9 easy steps
- MIND THE DOOR FRAMES: Over the years areas of your house will show signs of what appears to be water damage around the doors. The areas that shows this damage depends on the side that gets the least amount of sun. Precipitation pools against the home and along the foundation and being that it has no sunlight it stays wet throughout the day this will encourage foraging activity.
- PRUNE TREE LIMBS: Some houses get hardly any sunlight because of trees. If feasible trimming back tree limbs that block sunlight from expeditiously evaporating precipitation will help prevent worker termites from foraging towards your home area. Ensure your home dries out quickly to suppress foraging activity.
- MULCH: Piling mulch around your foundation is a dangerous practice, this is another reason we love Pine Straw. Some homeowners let it accumulate to the point where the foundation is no longer exposed and mulch reaches the siding. This provides a direct avenue of entry for termites. Mulch holds moisture and facilitates the breeding of fungus. Termites love this and will gravitate to an area that harbors such an environment.
- GRIND THE STUMPS: Most of us have had trees removed. Being homeowners we try to save a penny where we can. Most Tree companies including us charge an extra fee to grind the stumps. So most often our client opts out of the stump removal. The only reason they are having the tree removed in the first place is it has fallen or causes an imminent danger. Well leaving the stumps puts your home in imminent danger of a termite infestation. Stumps collect precipitation, promote fungal growth and often have roots extending towards your foundation. This is the “perfect environment” for termite activity. Grinding the stump will allow the root system to die quickly, expose any termites to predatory birds and enable easier drying after precipitation.
- CLEAN THE GUTTERS: Backed up gutters will cause water to pool in your wall voids. Wet insulation and wood is a common cause for “satellite colony” termite issues. This prevents the company providing Termite control products from controlling termites most of the products base their strategy on the fact foraging termites returns to the soil every twenty-four hours. If you have moisture in the home any sort the termites will no longer need to return to the soil compromising the mitigation process and products
- DIVERT THE DRAINS: Ensure all gutter drains divert water away from the home. Most have a gutter that drains directly on the ground at the foundation. This defeats the purpose of the gutters intended purpose of moving water away from your home. We recommend installing a French Drain to move the rainwater away from your foundation. At a minimum, we recommend drain extenders that will reach a concrete driveway or walkway.
- ELIMINATE WOOD CONTACT WITH THE GROUND: When wood contacts the ground it provides a direct conduit to termite nesting sites. Wood that extends into the soil will eventually be attacked by foraging termites. If you have no other choice but for the wood to contact the ground use pressure treated wood (example fence post).
- STORE FIREWOOD OFF THE GROUND: Never pile firewood directly on the soil against your home’s foundation. We all want to put it right by the door against the house, this is a bad practice. Place your firewood away from your house we also recommend covering the firewood with a tarp of some sort. This helps prevents other pests also ensures your firewood is dry and ready for use.
- TERMITE BOND: Having a trained professional examine your home on a quarterly or annual basis will reveal any conditions that leave your home open to invasion.
Below we have a few pictures of a home in Savannah, GA. This seemed like a small area of rott, which the homeowner attempted to fix. The second picture is what we found when we removed the door to replace the frame. Not only Termite trails but actual Termites working just as hard as we were.
