Termites cause over $5 billion in damage yearly, but prevention is easier and cheaper than dealing with an infestation. Follow these proven steps to keep termites away from your home.
Quick Answer: How to Prevent Termites
Fix all water leaks, keep wood 6″ from soil, store firewood 20+ feet from your home, maintain gutters, seal foundation cracks, reduce crawl space moisture, use minimal mulch, and get annual inspections. Remove moisture, food sources, and entry points.
What Attracts Termites?
Termites need three things:
- Moisture – Leaks, poor drainage, humidity
- Food – Wood, paper, cardboard
- Access – Cracks, wood-soil contact, gaps
Eliminate these = no termites.
5 Essential Termite Prevention Steps
1) Control Moisture (Most Important)
- Fix leaks immediately: under sinks, behind appliances, around toilets/water heater; repair dripping faucets and sweating or leaking pipes.
- Improve drainage: slope soil away from the foundation (about 6″ over 10 ft).
- Maintain gutters: clean twice a year; add gutter guards if trees shed debris often.
- Extend downspouts: 4–6 ft from the house.
- Crawl space health: install/maintain a 6-mil+ vapor barrier, keep vents clear, and consider a dehumidifier if it’s chronically damp.
- Irrigation: point sprinklers away from the house; avoid daily soaking near foundations.
2) Eliminate Wood-to-Soil Contact
- Keep at least 6″ of visible clearance between soil and wood siding/stucco weep screed.
- Set deck posts on concrete piers/footings, not directly in soil.
- Remove buried wood/construction debris and old stumps near the structure.
- Don’t stack landscape timbers or untreated wood against the house.
3) Store Materials Properly
- Firewood & lumber: keep 20+ ft from the home and elevated 5″+ off the ground; never store against exterior walls or inside the garage.
- Mulch: use 2–3″ depth, and keep a 12″ mulch-free gap along the foundation; consider gravel near walls.
4) Seal Entry Points
- Foundation & walls: caulk small cracks; seal pipe/wire penetrations; repair damaged weather-exposed wood promptly.
- Screens & vents: cover exterior vents with fine mesh; add screen covers at attic/soffit vents; keep them unobstructed.
- During remodels/new work: use pipe collars/flashings at slab penetrations and consider physical barriers where practical.
5) Regular Inspections
- Monthly (10 minutes): walk the perimeter; look for mud tubes, soft or blistered wood, wings near windowsills, and new leaks.
- Annually: book a professional termite inspection. Pros use moisture meters and specialized tools and provide written documentation so you can fix small issues early.
Natural Termite Prevention
Natural/low-toxicity measures can reduce risk but won’t replace professional termite treatment if termites are active.
- Cedar/cypress mulch (less attractive than some mulches).
- Diatomaceous earth (light dusting in crawl spaces—avoid inhalation).
- Sand/gravel bands along foundations; fine, well-graded sand is difficult for subterranean termites to tunnel through.
- Ventilation & sunlight: prune shrubs for airflow; keep the first foot of wall visible/dry.
Reality check: Essential oils and orange-oil spot treatments are limited-use solutions for very small, accessible drywood issues. For established colonies, you’ll need pro-level methods.
New Construction & Remodel Termite Prevention
Planning a build or major remodel? Lock in prevention while walls are open:
- Soil pretreatment before pour/backfill (termite barrier around footings/slabs).
- Borate treatment on framing and sill plates, especially near ground contact.
- Pipe collars/flashings at slab penetrations; seal all utility entries.
- Physical/shield barriers at critical transitions.
- Design for drainage: proper grading, downspout routing, and hardscape that moves water away.
- Crawl spaces: vapor barrier + cross-ventilation; consider conditioned crawl solutions where appropriate.
What to Watch For & When to Call Pros
Call a licensed termite inspection company if you notice any of the following:
- Mud tubes (often pencil-width) on foundations, piers, or walls.
- Wings (discarded near doors/windows) after swarms.
- Frass (pellets) from drywood termites—often beneath trim/jambs.
- Hollow/soft wood when tapped; buckling floors; tight-fitting doors.
- Visible damage to fascia, siding, or subflooring.
Termite Prevention vs. Repair Costs
Annual prevention: ~$200–$800
- DIY maintenance: $100–$300
- Pro inspection: $75–$150
- Treatment amortized (if used): $120–$500/yr
Repair termite repair costs when prevention fails:
- Minor: $500–$3,000
- Moderate: $3,000–$8,000
- Major: $8,000–$25,000+
- Severe/structural: $25,000–$100,000+
Bottom line: Prevention is 10–100× cheaper than repairs.
Your Termite Prevention Checklist
This Week
- Fix any water leaks (sinks, toilets, appliances, irrigation).
- Move firewood/lumber away from the house; elevate it.
- Ensure 6″ soil-to-wood clearance and a 12″ mulch-free strip.
- Walk the perimeter—look for mud tubes, wings, or soft wood.
This Month
- Clean gutters; add downspout extensions (4–6 ft).
- Re-grade low spots so water drains away.
- Seal foundation cracks and pipe/wire gaps.
- Book a professional inspection if due.
Ongoing
- Do quick monthly checks (10 minutes).
- Keep vegetation pruned back for airflow and sunlight.
- Maintain crawl-space vapor barrier and ventilation.
Ready to Protect Your Home?
Good Life Construction specializes in termite damage repair and prevention improvements for Sacramento-area homes. Our licensed team can assess vulnerabilities, document moisture issues, and complete code-correct repairs that help keep termites out.
FAQ
How do I prevent termites naturally?
Maintain dry conditions, keep mulch and plants away from walls, improve ventilation and sunlight, use gravel/sand borders, and consider cedar/cypress mulch. Natural measures reduce risk but don’t replace professional treatment if termites are present.
What attracts termites to houses?
Moisture (leaks, poor drainage), wood-to-soil contact, stored firewood/lumber on the ground, deep mulch against the wall, cardboard/paper storage, and dark, humid crawl spaces.
How often should I inspect for termites?
Do quick monthly walk-arounds and schedule a professional inspection once a year. High-risk homes (chronic moisture, older wood structures) may need twice-yearly pro checks.
Do new homes need termite prevention?
Yes. New construction isn’t automatic protection. Start prevention immediately—pretreat soils where appropriate, use borates on framing, install pipe collars, and design for drainage/ventilation.
Can I treat termites myself?
DIY prevention is great (fix moisture, store materials correctly, seal gaps). But active infestations typically require licensed professional methods (soil/bait systems for subterranean, localized treatments or whole-structure heat/fumigation for drywood).
