Pest issues are fairly common now and then in and around homes. But did you know that they could spell trouble to your home’s foundation? That’s right! Those annoying little critters could compromise the structural integrity of your home.
And as you probably know, fixing a home with compromised structural integrity could mean thousands in repair costs. The repairs will cost you around $5000 on average, but you could pay up to $10,000 or even more – depending on the extent of damage to your foundation.
Therefore, as a savvy homeowner, protecting your home against pests should be among your top priorities.
In this article, you’ll learn 6 tips on how to protect your home’s foundation against pest damage.
But first…
Bugs Commonly Found Around a Home’s Foundation
1. Termites
Termites can quickly do serious damage to your foundation, or to the structures that have contact with it. While these dreaded creatures can’t damage concrete, they can munch on the wood on the other side of your concrete foundation.
2. Carpenter Bees
Carpenter bees, particularly female bees, like to burrow through the wood to form their nests. And when doing so, they will use any suitable materials they can find, including decks, furniture, and foundations.
3. Carpenter Ants
These are usually black but may sometimes have yellowish or reddish coloration. They can measure up to 13 millimeters in length. Just like their winged counterparts, carpenter ants love wood. They will cut through it to form their nests and make room for movement.
4. Pill Bugs
Children often call these “rolly pollies”. They are creepy and can roll into a ball when touched. While commonly found around home foundations, pillbugs are harmless to a home’s foundation. Most homeowners simply consider these pests a nuisance.
6 Tips on How to Protect Your Home’s Foundation Against Pests
Tip #1: Seal cracks and holes.
Making your home airtight is the best way to keep critters away from your home. Critters usually make their way into a home through cracks and holes in entryways, crawl space, doors, windows, and siding.
Therefore, if you notice any gaps, act fast. Caulk usually works great at sealing any small holes and gaps.
Tip #2: Get rid of excess moisture.
Most insects like to in damp areas. And, the reason is that bugs aren’t able to regulate their body temperature. So, if the soil near the foundation of your home is damp, then you are telling insects that the area is open for business.
Many things can cause the area around your foundation to get damp. For example, improperly functioning gutters and downspouts, and plumbing issues. If you can’t, however, pinpoint where the problem is coming from, hire professional services immediately.
Tip #3: Declutter the area surrounding your home’s foundation.
Decluttering is always a good idea, whether doing it in your home’s interior or exterior. When your home is surrounded by junk, plants, and wood, you are inviting insects in.
Therefore, rake leaves regularly, avoid stocking firewood up against your house, and plant trees and shrubs a couple of feet away from your home.
Tip #4: Use mulch sparingly.
Mulch has both aesthetic and plant health benefits. However, improperly using it can lead to termite problems. The moisture-retaining properties are what attract the termites. And since termites don’t consume mulch, it makes little difference what type of mulch you use.
When using mulch, make sure to use it sparingly. Also, make sure it never gets into contact with the framing or siding of windows and doors.
Tip #5: Eliminate wood in contact with the ground.
Earth-to-wood contact affords termites’ easy access to shelter, moisture, food, and direct, hidden entry into your home. Wood structures like the siding, and window and door frames should be at least 6 inches above the ground surface.
To do this, you may need to support posts or steps on a concrete base, cut the bottom off wood latticework, or mulch back from the foundation.
Is pressure-treated wood termite-proof? Contrary to popular belief, it’s not. Termites can still enter the wood via cut ends and cracks, or build tunnels over the surface.
Tip #6: Ensure your yard is sloped correctly.
Most bugs can be controlled simply by reducing moisture. When your yard is sloped incorrectly, it can cause rainwater to flow towards your home. According to most experts, for efficient drainage, paved surfaces and landscaped areas should have a minimum of 1% and 2% slope respectively.
Doing so will ensure that rainwater drains away from your home and minimize bug issues around your foundation. Also, the less the water there is in your foundation, the less the chances of encountering foundation problems.
Insects don’t belong anywhere near your home. They are not only a nuisance, but they can also be destructive. When faced with a pest problem around the foundation of your home, use these 6 tips to rid yourself of the menace.
Got Wildlife? Got Pests?
If you think you have a wildlife or pest-related problem, make sure to contact us by visiting www.wildlifexteam.com or by calling 855-WILDLIFE so that we can sort the problem out for you.
Thanks & have a great day!
-Wildlife x Team International