Termite Prevention
Termites need three things from your house: moisture, wood, and a hidden way in. Take any one away and you've made yourself a much harder target.
The three things termites need
Most termite prevention isn't chemical. It's plumbing, gutters and landscaping. Fix leaks and drainage so the soil along the foundation stays dry. Break every place where wood touches soil. Keep the bottom of the foundation visible, so you'd see a mud tube if one appeared.
The full list, room by room and around the yard, is in how to prevent termites. One of the most common questions, about mulch, gets its own answer in does wood chip mulch attract termites.
Guides in this section
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Crawlspace Moisture and Termites
A damp crawlspace is the closest thing to a termite welcome mat. The soil stays moist, the wood stays soft, and nobody looks down there for…
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Firewood and Termites: How to Store It Safely
A woodpile is a termite buffet with a roof. That's mostly a problem for the woodpile, unless it's stacked against the house, where it becom…
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Landscaping That Keeps Termites Away From Your House
The strip of yard right against your house does more termite work than anything you'll ever spray. Planted and watered one way, it's damp, …
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Physical Termite Barriers: Mesh, Sand and Shields
Most termite protection is chemical: a treated zone of soil or a bait. Physical barriers take a different approach. They put something unde…
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Termite Prevention Checklist: Season by Season
Termite prevention isn't one big job. It's a dozen small ones spread across the year, each done when it makes the most sense. This checklis…
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Termites in Fences and Decks: The Wood That Touches Dirt
A deck or fence is often the only wood on a property that's sunk straight into the soil, and a deck is bolted to the house besides. That ma…
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Termite-Resistant Wood: Treated, Cedar, Redwood and More
No wood is termite-proof forever. Some woods are far less appealing to termites than others, and treated lumber can resist them for decades…
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Does Wood Chip Mulch Attract Termites?
University researchers have actually tested this, and the answer surprises people. Mulch isn't termite bait. But a mulch bed in the wrong p…
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How to Prevent Termites: Protecting Your Home From Termite Damage
Termites need three things from your house: soil next to wood, moisture, and a hidden way in. Take those away and most of the risk goes wit…
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Termite Pretreatment for New Construction
The cheapest moment to protect a house from termites is before the slab is poured, when the soil under it is still open. Most new homes in …
Questions people ask
What is the best way to prevent termites?
Keep the soil around your foundation dry, remove wood that touches the soil, keep mulch and firewood away from the walls, and inspect every spring. In high-risk areas, add a professional treatment or yearly inspection.
Do new houses need termite protection?
In termite-prone areas, building codes require it. Most new homes get a soil pretreatment or another approved method before the slab is poured.