Constructing Your Ideal Home: Termite Prevention

Chomp, chomp, chomp. That could be the sound of termites invading and damaging your home if you don’t take precautions. But if you’ve chosen a new Ideal home, prevention and protection has already started!

Ideal Homes & Neighborhoods complete a series of three termite treatments throughout the building process of every new home, which is more than many home builders. The goal is not only to keep termites at bay short term but to keep them away from your new home for a very long time. “We use a non-invasive spray that can last up to 20 years,” said Mackenzie Christian, a builder at Ideal Homes & Neighborhoods. The first treatment happens even before we pour the slab. The second occurs before we pour the porches and driveway, and the third treatment comes after the yard gets its final grade. 

Why is the practice of baiting problematic?

“Dealing with termites is a huge inconvenience for any homeowner, and baiting is a slow process that does not guarantee immediate results,” says Christian. Even though this practice is common among many new home builders, bait stations must be refilled regularly, which affects the effectiveness and timeliness of the baiting system. Baiting can stop termites from reaching your home for a certain amount of time, but the non-invasive spray used by Ideal Homes & Neighborhoods prevents termites from ever reaching your home for a very long time.

Tips to keep termites at bay

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has listed these tips to help keep your home safe from termites:

• Fix any water leaks immediately.
• Keep vents free from blockage, including plants.
• Ensure that trees and shrubs are not planted too close to the house structure, and do not allow them to grow against exposed wood surfaces.
• Do not pile or store firewood or wood debris next to the house.

All Ideal homes receive the highest quality termite prevention from local pest-control companies. These reputable firms add a lot of value to a new home by protecting your investment long term.