Termite prevention tips for Texas homes

A serious termite infestation will ruin the value of your home and require costly treatment and repairs if you ever want to sell the residence. For this reason, every homeowner in Texas should take preventative measures to reduce the threat of a termite infestation.

Here are the most important termite prevention tips in this regard:

• Seal up any holes or cracks you find along the outside of your residence. Check the openings for pipes and utilities and make sure there are no access points for termites.
• Make sure your crawl spaces, attic areas and basement regions of your residence are dry and ventilated.
• Fix all leaking pipes, faucets and AC units found in the outer parts of your home.
• Never let rotting roof shingles remain unrepaired. Also, fix soffits and fascia that need attention.
• Keep the weather-stripping around your windows in good condition.
• Don’t store your firewood close to the home. Keep it at least 20 feet from your residence and elevated five inches from the ground.
• Inspect foundations around your home for mud tubes created by termites to enter your residence. Also look for wood and bubbling paint emits a hollow sound when you thump it.
• Use splash blocks and calibrated gutters to direct water runoff well away from your home.
• Never let mulch touch the foundation of your home by providing at least a 15-inch buffer.
• Keep a close watch on all exterior parts of your home made out of wood, skirting and doorframes.

Never let a termite issue go unattended. As soon as you see the signs of termites, contact a professional. This will ensure that you don’t run into high repair costs or potential legal problems when selling your home at a later time.